Remote Tribe Expedition (Ketengban Tribe Papua)

The Ketengban people inhabit an area on the north-eastern side of the central mountain range in the IndonesianProvince of Papua, on the island of New Guinea. They live in an elevation varying from 6500feet in the mountainous region to 1500 feet in the northern hills and number between 12000-14000 people.

Ketengban language has been classified as Papuan stock and part of the Mek family in the Trans new guinea phylum. There are four different dialects: the Central, Eastern, Western and North-eastern, though all are mutually intelligible.Bounded in the east by Eipomek and the Mek Language, to the west by Apmisibil and the Nggalum language, and to the northwest bordering the less inhabited lowlands, were people speak the more unknown Lepki and Yetfa languages.

 

 

West Papua

West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea, nowdays being Indonesian territory. The eastern part of the Island is the independent country of Papua New Guinea.

New Guinea is one of the least explored places on earth (almost) matching the Amazon, and being the second largest island in the world. West Papua alone is home to over 300 tribes and languages. To this day there are tribes that live in a high degree of isolation because of the poor development of infrastructure. Because of this isolation many people living in the interior of West Papua still show a great variety of old cultural traits. However, Indonesian plans to expand industry and promote nationalism in the region, will for sure have major (cultural) impacts on West Papua in the years to come.

KETENGBAN TRIBE

The Ketengban live near Papua New Guinea border, east highland slopes scattered, east of Eipomek [eip] and west of Ngalum

The aim of this expedition is the Eastern Jayawijaya mountains (formerly: Star mountain) and the headwaters of the Taritatu River (formerly: Idenburg) in Papua / Irian Jaya. Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of this mountain region, it has remained virtually unknown until today.  The demanding and exhausting trek takes us through the territory of the Ketengban.
Black Magic is omnipresent. Before a woman comes down, a temporary hut is built it where she brings her baby to the world. Afterbirth and hut are incinerated after the birth so that the placenta can not be eaten by pigs. This would otherwise cause that the pigs will no longer grow. The tribes use their natural medicine for the treatment of diseases. A cure for cancer is obtained from the Pandanusfrucht for example. Traditional ceremonies are performed at birth, death, and building a House. Dead were wrapped in bark and sent in the treetops on the journey into the spirit world.
A unique expedition which leads through the last primary rainforest of New Guinea and allows deep insight into the traditional way of life of the mountain people. This tour is only something for very experienced Dschungeltrekker and several Papuan traveller.