Introducing the people of Sikaritai, Papua, Indonesia

The Sikaritai live in Papua, the easternmost province of Indonesia. Their language, also called Sikaritai, is used as a language of wider communication by some of the surrounding language groups. The Sikaritai live in four small villages in the area where the Idenburg and Rouffaer Rivers empty into the Mamberamo River about 250 km west of the city of Jayapura. Much of their area is quite flat and swampy.

The Sikaritai make their living by hunting and gathering food in the forest, as well as planting gardens and fishing in the rivers of the area. For getting their drinking water and for washing, they mainly use the river. The area of the Sikaritai is not serviced by electricity or telephones. Their main mode of transportation is by riverboat along the many rivers that wind through the area, or simply by walking. They build their homes from materials from the forest. Most of the children attend primary school, but there is no further education available in their area. The Sikaritai often intermarry with the neighboring language groups. Polygamy is still quite common among the Sikaritai, with many men having two or three wives.

The majority religion of the Sikaritai is Christianity. The church is established in the area, but there is still a strong influence from traditional religion. There are a few Sikaritai who are training to be pastors or ministers among the people.

The Sikaritai are in great need of community development. They have basically no health care and no source of clean water. Their education level and literacy rate among adults is quite low. The church also needs strengthening as the influence of traditional religion is still strong, and polygamy is quite common in the area.

Pray for the need of mother-tongue translators from this people group.

Pray that they will have the Word of God in their own language which will impact and change their lives, lead them closer to God and worship the only One and True God in Jesus Christ.

Please pray for the missionaries who are serving this people that God will give them protection, wisdom and spiritual strength in sharing the love of God to these people.

Thank you for praying for these people. For more information, please visit Joshua Project Website or click on this link

Sikaritai of Indonesia

They are one of the people groups who live on the Island of Maluku, at Southeast Maluku, eastern coast of Yamdena. The population of this group is 47,000 people. Their primary language is Yamdena. There are about 90% Christians, but they still practice some traditional beliefs and live in the dark, and most of them are nominal Christians. They need to know that it’s only God and one God to be worship, the one in Jesus Christ.

Please do pray for this people needs (please visit Joshua Project website to get more information) spiritually and physically.

Currently there is a team among this people group who are working on the language project and beginning to translate the Word of God in the language of Yamdena.

Please pray for this translation team that God will protect them, guide them and strengthen them while working on this project.

Pray also for the people will have the Bible in their own heart language so that they may live in the power or the Word that life changing and they may gain deeper understanding of God and deeper relationship with God.

Please click on this link to go to Joshua Project website:

Joshua Project – Yamdena of Indonesia

Pray Today for Metawaian of Indonesia, where the tsunami&earthquake taken place last Monday (25th) and they still in a great need of help. The disaster relief teams have been sent there though facing so many obstacle because of the waves so high up until now. Reported (Kompas on OCt 27th and 28th) that 311 died & about 426 are still missing. They need our prayers and also the relief teams who are helping these people.

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Introduction / History
The Tawoyan people (also called Tabojan, Tabuyan, or Taboyan) are almost all involved in tapping rubber trees. They also grow rice and harvest rattan vines. Farmers will cultivate fields until the land is depleted and then move to new fields. Also swallow nests are gathered and sold for birds nest soup. To add to family income, the women and children above 10 years of age typically weave different products for sale.

What are their lives like?
Common transport for traveling to district capitals is a small motorboat. The area government is developing roads, but during the rainy season, public transportation is only available once a week on market day. Trade and business is almost completely dominated by newcomers from the Banjar and Bakumpai people groups. The Tawoyan from Gunung Pure have not even developed a market system yet. Therefore, it is no surprise that there is not a single market in the area.

The Tawoyan people do not practice polygamy. The husband is the head of the household, but the opinions of the wife are not to be neglected. There is freedom for women to express their opinion. Both husband and wife have the right to work outside of the home.

What are their beliefs?
Most Tawoyan people follow Kaharingan beliefs. They are obligated to offer food to the spirits of departed ancestors in a ceremony called warah. A cave in the Angah Mountain was designated as a place of ascetic meditation by the Sultan Mangkusari. According to their beliefs, some things which possess special magical powers are Air Silo, a special sacred water and Pupur Silo, a face powder made of finely ground rock sold as a cosmetic that has the power to attract men to women.

Taken From (c) Joshua Project.

For More Information about these people and how to pray for their need, please click on the link below: