Oral culture has been rooted in Indonesian society and it should be wisely documented and preserved of its existence if we don’t want to lose one or many cultures exist in this archipelago, and the tribe of Tepera in this Cendrawasih land is one of them. The origin of the Tepera and Tepera Wauna hisÂtory is an indigenous people who has been living in the customary laws of Walya DukÂlru, Walriyo Duklru, Shina Duklru which loÂcated in the coastal area and in land within the boundaries of customary laws that have been agreed since the ancestors days in the slope of Mount Depon (Deponsero) with two indigenous tribes named as Tepera Suwa and Tepera Onusu and eleven Tepera outside which is divided into East and West coast of North Jayapura.
By : Nia S. Amira
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The Kingdom of Tanah Tabi is located in the region of Jayapura, Province of Papua and is a traditional kingdom of Ondoafi TeÂpera Wauna Yowalri with an indigÂenous leader who performs his role as the protector, welfare manager for his people and conservationist. InÂdigenous leader who is called as OnÂdoafi is surrounded by communicaÂtion officer between Ondoafi and the head of traditional administration. His authority is divided into six strategic areas; i n c l u d Âing Defense and Security, Finance, Justice, Cross Relations inter OndoÂafi, Economic and Supplies in which there are some related affairs to the existing fields that grow and develop in the society.
Ondoafi, who is he then? Prior to the influence of modern states with a multi-layered government system, there has been a genuine constituÂtional system in The Kingdom Tanah Tabi in Jayapura led by the head of state the original [read: indigenous]. The head of state is called as OndoÂafi or Andwafi which has the original constitutional authority that is based on the patrimonial monarchy soverÂeignty “Yakweh” or Allah or God (The power of Solar).
As the Head of Indigenous State, undoubtedly Ondoafi has his own people, territories, and limited natuÂral resources and the government of autonomous regions such as prime minister and the governor of the reÂgion. Great Ondoafi oversees more than 1 village and the constitutional and governmental system is held only by the tribe Tabi Jayapura with its 8 sub-divisions of culture.
What is the most important meaning of the existence of the KingÂdom of Tanah Tabi located in ProvÂince of Papua, which borders the countries in the Pacific Ocean?
The Kingdom of Tanah Tabi conÂducts the constitutional system of this customary laws needs to focus on the developing of customs afÂfairs that governs the fundamentals and details of the harmonious inÂteraction relationship between humans, beÂtween humans and God’s creation such as animals and plants as well as with all things inanimate and the human relationships with the powers of superÂnatural religious nature exist within the universe.
As for the need to develop a harmonious relationship in the interÂaction between humans meant in the context of the broader culture with neighboring countries that had been living for generations and inhabited areas in the Pacific Ocean, for example only with Papua Nuigini, Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, and even Australia and Hawaii in the United States of America. Due to history background and geographical proximity, in the future Ondoafi as Head of Indigenous State, he needs to think about a dynamic movement with the community groups that have been mentioned above if there is necessary to make closer ties in various fields in the future.
The existence of customary law community groups continues to evolve and change in accordance with the rotation of age which is socially influenced by the development of science, technology and the influx of new cultures that can not be blocked because of the progress of time. The main thing is how Ondoafi can act dynamically addressing contempoÂr a r y swift so what possessed people in the customary laws ground can be utilized in good way for the welfare of the peoÂple’s lives.
Looking out to the ocean, we see only the calm blue ocean waves, and a moment of foresight, the beautiful lands from neighboring perennial that mutually accept the bonds of friendship, including the small dot being named as Hawaii in American continent is in one line of the same ocean.
