The culture in Papua exists because of its continuity with natural conditions. Indigenous peoples who still hold fast to the culture in their respective tribes are indigenous peoples who understand how important culture is to be able to have an impact on the surrounding environment, especially the natural environment. The Irarutu Tribe as one of the indigenous tribes inhabiting West Papua certainly understands very well how there is continuity between the culture they preserve and the nature they protect. One of the activities carried out by the Irarutu Tribe is utilizing Pala or knowing as nutmeg plants available in the customary forests around where they live. Pala plants are not just plants that they then continue to exploit to be used or later sold. However, Pala plants are plants that must be maintained with various customary rules that accompany them. In fact, anyone who does not respect the use of Pala plants and does not take part in caring for them will receive quite severe customary laws. Along with the development of the times, Pala plants have become one of the economic commodities needed by the community. The Irarutu Tribe also realizes that the Pala plants that they have maintained and used as needed have quite a lot of demand from outsiders. So the Irarutu Tribe tries to meet the existing demand but still maintains their culture of having to guard the Pala plants.
The uncertain natural conditions have an impact on the Pala harvest that is guarded by the Irarutu Tribe. The urgent needs of the community make the Pala plants harvested prematurely and that will damage the condition of the Pala plants. Finally, the Irarutu Tribe returns to carrying out the ritual that they have maintained for a long time, namely the Sasi Pala Tradition. This tradition aims to prohibit anyone from harvesting Pala plants for a certain period of time until the time for the main harvest. Sasi itself means prohibition.
The Sasi Pala Tradition begins with the presence of men playing the tifa and women dancing the Sirosa by shaking their legs. Furthermore, the traditional leader of the Irarutu Tribe begins to carry out the ritual by reciting prayers to the spirits of their ancestors and then crossing two bamboos on the Pala plants as a symbol of the prohibition of touching the plants.
The hope of implementing the Sasi Pala Tradition is that the community will remember to maintain the sustainability of nature and not only exploit it to meet economic needs. The balance between nature and humans needs to be maintained. The Irarutu tribe has since ancient times continuously balanced between needs and the preservation of nature. So it is not surprising that the Pala plants produced are one of the best quality agricultural products from the land of Papua. From the amount of Pala sales, it can support the indigenous people of the Irarutu tribe until now. So indeed, maintaining sustainability should be a form of gratitude and thanks to the Pala plants that have supported them so far.
