A school in Yaniruma in the heart of West Papua

[rudolfby]

mantap sobat sobat..

[millionanderson]

Thank you, JoeStargazer, for this whole amazing vlog!

[bapade]

Mereka jangan dijadikan konsumsi publik murahan, mereka adalah saya, saya adalah mereka, ya begitulah potret sebenarnya suku suku di pedalaman Papua, kami miskin dan papa di tengah kekayaan alam kami yang begitu tersohor ke seluruh dunia.. dosa siapa ?

[magimee]

itu lagunye ketua dprd Yahukimo.ONES PAHABOLONG sh

[JoeSTARGAZER]

Honestly, I don't really know the answers for your questions. As an Indonesian, I can travel anywhere in this country and actually I've travelled to most parts of it. Believe me the diversity of this country is so huge. I am still amazed by the different languages, cultures, ethnicities etc. I guess I am lucky to be an Indonesia. It's a very beautifully colourful country.

[theshadowboy607]

beautiful harmony=]

[JoeSTARGAZER]

Hey the military is equiped with trainings and tools and other equipment Made in Your Country. At least the fanatic christian missionaries do something to help these people. Unlike you who can only complain and do nothing.

[JoeSTARGAZER]

: LoL

[JoeSTARGAZER]

I am afraid I have to disagree with you. They just grasp the little opportunity to learn and they have the RIGHTS. In their daily life these kids still have a very strong sense of their culture and are proud of them.

[JoeSTARGAZER]

Yes, most of them. They need Indonesian so that they can communicate with their Koroway neighbours and other nearby tribes. BTW I just came out of another expedition with the Mek in the Yahikimo mountain range. Will upload my latest footage soon. I am still in Jayapura. cheers

[theshadowboy607]

cute singing

[JoeSTARGAZER]

Thank you. :)

[DinoonVacation]

I am curious. I just finished watching a show on the DOC called "Living with the Kombai Tribe: The Adventures of Mark and Olly" The video you have posted of the Kombai ladies singing, as well as many of the other films of that tribe, were part of that show. Where you there during the filming of that Documentary?

[OrangOrangGila]

I would not call Mark and Olly's project a documentary ... it was nothing more than an ego boost for themselves ... they paid the locals to act and do the things they did ... the local communities are 100% dependant on tourism for an income ... and their project was film merely a couple of hours walk from Yanirumah! Their project was a sad mis-representation of the Kombai people!

[JoeSTARGAZER]

I was surprised with your comment. How can you judge their personality from watching a 6x40 min film? Why did't you ask yourself before you made your comment whether your comment is actually the projection of your ego.

[OrangOrangGila]

I have read Mark's journal for the project and "Campron and Cannibals". I have a masters degree on the social development of the Papuan people and their situation ... a section specifically looked at the Korowai/Kombai people where I have travelled extensivly starting in 1995. The Kombai people are not a bunch of naked jungle dweller who have never heard of things outside of their village ... Mark and Olly played up the primative to sell the project ... that is not my ego, but there's.

[JoeSTARGAZER]

Of course, they are not a bunch of naked people. After the bible was introduced, some of them went to schools and universities. In fact some have become government officials. Who said that they never heard of the outside world. Traveling extensively there might not make your opinion is always correct. I am afraid your comment is ad hominem toward Mark and Olly. Why don't you just contact them yourself?

[JoeSTARGAZER]

:) Yes. It was great fun working with them.

[JoeSTARGAZER]

They can speak Indo (credit to the old regime). A documentary filming project. Some experts say these people deserve the same opportunities. But others say to leave them just like they were before. Missionary work is blamed for conversion which actually not much. Papuan Christians don't change much and lose their identity. It IS a matter of time soon. It's just hard to imagine there are some occupants of this world still live like their ancestors thousands years ago.

[JoeSTARGAZER]

No they don't. Yaniruma is where the last landing strip before I went to the Kombai village (see other clips). There is no electricity in the village. Only one or two people have AM radio. there is no road for cars to move anyway. There is no way to transport cars from outer world. No one there has a TV. None of these kids wear flipflop let alone shoes.