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should be established so that the
eastern and western populations can
have a national synergy. Contextually,
cross-cultural activities, such as
festivals, mobilizations of students
from universities, sports, cultural
missions, and even promoting
culture abroad are strategic ways to
strengthen Indonesia’s unity and to
generate an amalgam. One thing that
has not been discussed broadly is the
lack of contribution of Papua and the
eastern part of Indonesia in general
to the development of national
Above: Betel nut chewing, a practice which is still found culture. Investigating and tracing the
widely in Papuan culture. momentum of local culture, including
local wisdom must be done in the Eastern Indonesia to enrich Indonesian history and to
create Indonesian civilization.
The Melanesian population faces the challenge of playing a greater role in the national
development. The key to this is to promote better education and to alleviate poverty.
Better education can contribute to a better population performance nationally, at the
same levels or even better than their fellow-countrymen of the Mongolic Race. There are
two important achievements known worldwide from the ancestors of Melanesians; the
oldest finger paintings in the world discovered in Maros Cave and the oldest agricultural
development center in the world. These two significant discoveries should be better
known and should motivate and also inspire the development of local people in various
fields at the present time not only nationally, but also globally.

Acknowledgments
I would like to extend my gratitude to my colleagues, Prof. Dr. François Sémah,
Department of Prehistory, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, Dr.
Daud Aris Tanudirjo, and Fr. Harry Widianto for their comments and advice given to
refine this writing.

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