Independent Papuan research institute

A Papua whose people still know who they are.

Where every clan, language, place name, ancestor, song and story is remembered and held by Papuans themselves, so that no power can erase or rewrite Papuan memory.

The Memory Atlas of the Nation of Papua

Three worlds of Papuan memory

Every record in the National Library of Papua belongs to one world, with a written reason. It is never counted twice.

Cosmobian

The world Papuans come from: land and place names, clans and families, languages, cosmologies and ancestors.

—records

Resistance

The world that has defended it: leaders, organisations, declarations, events, and the named dead.

—records

Synthobian

The world built over it: officeholders, laws, military operations, companies, schools, missions and settlers.

—records

Visitors see counts only. Names, clans and villages stay closed until the Council of Guardians approves the opening of the archive. Live counts appear here once the Library moves to this site.

By place

Seven customary regions

The Library is organised by customary region, then province, regency, district, village, clan and family. Choose a region to open the Memory Atlas.

From the Library

Papua in numbers

Population

Papuan and non-Papuan population over time, with each figure tied to its source and year. Figures from different sources are never added together.

See the population charts

Named deaths

The dead are named only with their family's consent. Non-Papuan and unresolved deaths are recorded separately and never added to Papuan totals.

See the named deaths panel

Publications and media

Latest work

Working Paper

[Title of the newest working paper]

Kurumbi Wone Working Paper Series

Book

[Title of the newest Wone Press book]

Kurumbi Wone Series

Manifesto

[Title of the newest manifesto]

Kurumbi Wone Manifesto Series

Podcast

[First episode, coming soon]

NATAKA: Voices of Papuan Memory

Next seminar

The NATAKA Seminar Series

Monthly online seminars, each presenting a working paper, a Library collection or a guest speaker. The first date will be announced here and in The NATAKA Bulletin.

Method and ethics

How we protect memory

  • Consent before disclosureMemory belongs to the families and clans who hold it. Nothing sacred, and no name of the dead, is shared without their consent.
  • Elder reviewClan histories, genealogies, sacred places and the names of the dead pass review by the Council of Guardians.
  • Counts only in publicVisitors see numbers, not names, until the Council approves the opening of the archive.
  • Evidence before claimsEvery record names its source. Identity is never guessed from a surname. Nothing is counted twice.

Read our Method and Ethics

While there are still elders who remember

Help rescue memory

Donate

Fund field recorders, language recording, the Library and free publications.

Ways to give

Become a member

Receive the Bulletin, seminar invitations and new working papers. Free for Papuans in Papua.

Membership

Contribute a record

Send a record or a family memory. It goes to review before anyone else sees it.

How to contribute

The NATAKA Bulletin

News of the Library, new publications, seminars and workshops, sent by email.

We use your email only to send the Bulletin. See our Privacy Policy.