Namatota Village in Kaimana

Beautifil Namatota Village (photo: kemenparekraf.go.id)

Namatota village is inhabited by Papuan people from the Koiway Tribe. In Namatota Village, there is an administrative government led by a village head and a traditional government led by a king of Ombaier descent. Where Namatota Village also functions as the center of the Namatota kingdom which has existed around the 16th century and still exists and is recognized for its existence. Currently, the Namatota Kingdom is led by King Randi Asnawi Ombaier. Namatota is the name of one of the old kingdoms in Papua. which had an important role as a trade route in the past and became one of the nodes of the return of Papua to the Republic of Indonesia.

TOLERANCE TRACK IN NAMATOTA

The Namatota people are all Muslim. However, they have highly respected the value of tolerance from the past. This can be seen in the existence of the YPK Elementary School (Christian Education Foundation) as the only school in Namatota village since the time of the gospel teachers (the missionary era) until now. Even when the local government intended to change the status of the YPK Elementary School to a State Elementary School, the community was not changed, partly because this elementary school has become part of Namatota's history and identity that upholds the values ​​of Tolerance.

This can also be seen from the still strong relationship between the Namatota people on Namatota Island and their Christian relatives who live in the villages around Triton Bay. One of them is the presence of women from the village of Maimai who bring their garden produce to be sold in namatota by rowing a boat. They don't just sell, they do this to visit their relatives who inhabit Namatota village for a few days. And when it was time to go home, apart from bringing the money from the sale, they also brought the fish given to them by their relatives in Namatota.

SASI TRADITION

For generations, the people of Namatota village generally make a living as fishermen who adhere to customs, with local wisdom that is still practiced today. one of them is through sasi enggama culture/tradition. The Sasi Gama tradition is present as a form of local wisdom in the use of natural resources, which is the answer to the preservation of the wealth of aquatic resources in Namatota.

Sasi gama, an area will be closed within a predetermined period of time based on an agreement. The closing begins with a traditional ritual ceremony using the symbol of a coconut fruit.

This ritual symbolizes gratitude to the Creator for the blessings of marine products, as well as a symbol of payment to nature. Buka Sasi lasts for two weeks. As for the size of the animal that can be taken and left, it is set by King Namatota.

When the ritual of breaking Sasi is performed. The procession of harvesting Sasi marine animals is carried out using the traditional method, namely molo. Molo is a diving activity to take results on the seabed, without using a breathing apparatus or diving tube. Usually, people do molo seafood using only traditional equipment, namely molo glasses made of wood for the frame, and glass taken from bottle caps.

It's different with Lompa Fish Sasi. This tradition can be found every time tourists visit Namatota. Lompa fish (Thryssa baelama) are very numerous and live freely on the beach in front and behind the village of Namatota. By the King ordered to take enough to be consumed when there is no side dish at home or taken as bait for fishing. With a note that it should not be taken using a container but taken with bare hands. It is believed that this lompa fish, according to the residents of Namatota, has a legend that binds them or anyone who eats lompa fish will be bound forever with Namatota Village.

ECO-TOURISM IN NAMATOTA

From the existing cultural roots, the development of Namatota Village as the first tourist village in Kaimana district, was agreed with the Ecotourism pattern. Where the purpose of namatota is to open up to receive tourism, not just to make a profit. But to preserve nature, environment, culture and customs.

Ecotourism in Namatota is not only limited to offering natural beauty and making a profit. But in it there are values ​​of Conservation, Education, Community Participation and Economics. That the Namatota people are the owners, custodians, managers and at the same time the beneficiaries of tourism activities. This is contained in the planning document for the development of the Namatota model village tourism village as a compass in realizing Namatota as a Kaimana Tourism Gateway with community-based Marine Villages for marine sustainability and community welfare.

Ecotourism allows humanistic interactions where the community is involved in being tourism actors, sharing daily stories of the happiness and simplicity of life from protecting nature to visiting tourists. On the other hand, even though Namatota has tourists with different cultural backgrounds, Namatota should not lose his identity and identity as a Papuan (black skin, curly hair) and Islam. No less important, tourists who visit are expected to learn how to protect nature, especially the sea, which is the life of the Namatota people.

Developing Namatota as a Tourism Village, the community is supported by the Culture and Tourism Office of Kaimana Regency and in partnership with the EcoNusa Foundation, Sebumi id, UID, CI Indonesia, Kiamana Photography Community, Communications and Information Service and PEMALI Association.

In Namatota, accommodation is available for 5 (five) residents' houses which are used as homestays, village inns at affordable prices, bungalows on Raja Beach and for those who like challenges or the outdoors can camp at Temaumum Beach.

Some unique fish species that are only found in Namatota waters are Heteroconger mercyae, Pentapodus numberii, Pseudochromis jace, Siphamia stenotes, Paracheilinus nursalim, sand walking shark (Hemiscyllium henryi), and Pomacentrus fakfakensis. In addition to the natural beauty of the underwater world, the waters of Namatota village are also part of the marine park of the world's coral triangle, namatota is also a home, a place to play, eat and shelter for large biota such as Bryde's whales, whale sharks and Indopacific humpback dolphins. , and manta rays. In addition, there are also hawksbill and green turtles that like to roam among the seagrass beds that are still awake. The number of snorkeling and diving spots with colorful soft corals makes the world's divers have the same dream, at least once when they dive here.

Tourists visiting Namatota are presented with the experience of swimming with a very friendly whale shark, an experience that will not be forgotten. The beauty of the sunrise at the top of the hill with tracking that is not too tiring, meeting the captivating sunset in Namatota, tourists are also invited to tour around the village, do kayaking activities with traditional boats, snorkeling, diving, swimming, tour through the mangrove forest, bird watching, interacting with lizards (soa-soa), exploring unspoiled forests, tracking to hidden lagoons (hidden lagoons), visiting prehistoric sites (prehistoric paintings on karst rock walls) enjoying the typical namatota treats, enjoying fresh young coconuts, enjoying culinary Typical local Namatota, see the activities of women Namatota weaving tomang (noken typical of South Papua) and enjoying the traditional dances of the Koiway tribe.

If you are lucky, when you visit, tourists can meet the magic hour in namatota. (The magic of time in Namatota) Is that… come on, visit Our Village – Namatota Village in Southern Papua.

Source: Kemenparekraf