That morning, Mama Sherly and other members of the Zakan Day women’s group were ready at Salafen Village’s beach. Some long boats are lined up there. A few moments ago, the Zakan Day group gathered and worshiped at the Salafen Imanuel Church as part of the opening ceremony of Sasi.
Right after that, the people of Salafen Village and the Zakan Day group sail to the Sasi area in the sea to conduct an opening Sasi ceremony, followed by pulling out the Sasi signboards in three locations. The customary ritual conducted by Agustinus Day as the leader of the sub-ethnic Matbat, requesting a blessing from the ancestors so that the Sasi harvest is abundant and blessed.
Read: Why Orangutans?
On November 15, 2023, the Women's Sasi Group from Salafen Village, North Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency, reopened their sea Sasi after it had been closed for more than a year, on September 29, 2022. After being officially opened, the Zakan Day group and the Salafen community could harvest. The results of Sasi, such as sea cucumbers, were harvested for only eight days; then, the Sasi designated area will be closed again for another year.
Sasi is one of the customary practices for managing natural resources, both on land and at sea, and it is still applied in Maluku and Papua. The management of the Sasi area is carried out according to the principle of opening and closing management within a prior agreed timeline. This tradition forbids taking any natural resources by anyone before Sasi is opened.
Traditionally, the management of the Sasi region is carried out by men. However, in some villages on Misool Island, Raja Ampat, including Salafen Village, the Sasi region is managed by a group of women, such as the Zakan Day group. Consisting of 10 people, this group is chaired by Serly Widya Dakam Day, who manages the Sasi area, covering 497.85 hectares of sea, including Tanjung Nilam to Je'i Kamku.
"Women must play a vital role in protecting nature. Continuing the Sasi tradition is one of our efforts to ensure the sustainability of our natural resources. The Zakan Day group also involves the younger generation, so they hope the Sasi tradition will continue to be implemented in the future, "said Sherly, who is called Mama Sherly.
Another groups of women in Salafen
Besides the Sasi Zakan Day Women's Group, there are other women's groups in Salafen Village, such as the Wan and the Ilen group. These women's groups specialize in crafts and food processing as their alternative livelihood.
The Wan group is a group of weavers’ women chaired by Heidi Maria Rumfabe. The group of eight members produces traditional Papuan woven items, such as noken bags, areca nut baskets, hats, mats, bamboo combs, and other craft arts. This woven product is a form of preservation of traditional Papuan culture and is one of the alternative livelihoods for members of the Wan group.
Like the Wan group, the other women in the Salafen village, who were skilled at processing sago into various snacks, formed another women's group called the Ilen group. The Ilen group passes down their hereditary tradition from their ancestors in creating culinary sago-based cuisine, which is a staple food for the people of Papua. In the hands of these women, the sago is processed into grilled sago, sago cake, coconut sago, sago porridge, and others.
"This sago is a daily staple food; if we do not form a sago group, the tradition will disappear. So, by making processed sago, we helped maintain the tradition of our ancestors. We hope that this group can survive and can be passed down to the younger generation, "said the treasurer of the Ilen group, Perolone Elwod.
The products produced by the Wan and Ilen group are from their rich natural resources, and these products are marketed to several areas around Misool.
Support the strengthening of the role of women
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) has been in Salafen Village since 2021. As the development partner of the Southwest Papua Provincial Government, YKAN continues to support the strengthening of women’s roles in conservation, including the Sasi tradition. YKAN assisted the Zakan Day Sasi management based on science.
"Sasi " is a tradition that must be maintained because it is closely related to conservation activities. We assisted the Zakan Day group in managing Sasi appropriately to preserve marine life. That way, the benefits of the Sasi tradition can be felt continuously, "said Luke Rumetna, Senior Manager Bird's Head Seascape.
To the Wan and Ilen group, YKAN assisted them in developing processed products with higher economic value by introducing a variety of products and assisting their marketing scheme. YKAN also provides financial training and facilitates a business license process. In the future, YKAN plans to help with the marketing of woven product items and sago in Sorong City and other areas in Papua.
With the support of YKAN, we hope that the women in Salafen strengthen their social position. They can be housewives at home and work just as men do.
Read This Next
Ten Ways to Unlock an Ocean of Opportunity
Read about ten strategies to protect and restore more of the ocean and reduce the impacts of climate change, while exploring examples of these efforts around the world.
The Mango Tree's Long Journey in Kudus
The assistance of YKAN colleagues also allows village officials and residents to identify and work together to overcome their various challenges.
Borneo Good Cacao: The Artisan Specialist
The good quality and the good sustainable practice of the cacao farmers have made them the top choice for chocolate artisan specialist.