Page 38 - Inzist Special Edition

WE ARE

PACIFIC

For so many years, Indonesia has always been
considered as Asia because of its similarity in
language, culture, and culinary that are heavily
influenced by Asian countries. However, there
is a part of Indonesia that many people often
overlook. It is the eastern area that receives a
significant influence from Pacific cultures.

With more than 300 ethnic groups spread
across the 17,500 islands, Indonesia is a
multicultural nation. From Sumatra to Borneo
Island (Kalimantan), Java and all the way to Bali-
Lombok, are predominantly Asian. On the other
hand, those living in North Sulawesi (Celebes),
Maluku (Moluccas), Eastern Nusa Tenggara,
West Papua and Papua, are characteristically
Pacific.

Statistically speaking, in 2020, around 13 million
Indonesian population live in those five William Aupito Sio, Minister for Pacific People & Maori community
provinces in Eastern Indonesia, which
comprises Polynesian for Maluku, Micronesian
for Sulawesi, and Melanesian for the rest. This
total population is more than half of the entire
Pacific countries’ population.

The Melanesian traces can be found in tradition
in East Nusa Tenggara, such as traditional
greeting by pressing one's nose to another
person is identical to Maori's Hongi. "Lima" in
Bahasa is similar to "Rima" in Maori, which
means five, and there are many other
similarities. Furthermore, the similarities also
extend to culinary products like sago, yam, taro
that people in Papua like to consume.

Uplifted by Samoan community