Ancient tradition keeps Indonesian floating village alive near mangroves
In a remote Indonesian floating settlement women maintain their ancestors ways of life in mangrove forests. The six-generation-old practice helps sustain their community of 700 people
In the south-east part of Jayapura Indonesia Petronela Merauje walks through her water-bound neighborhood gathering local women for their next-days forest work (a practice thats been around since the late 19th century). Her home - the floating village of Enggros sits right next to dense mangrove forests
The villages age-old tradition called Tonotwiyat - which translates to forest-work has been passed down through 6 generations of local women. This custom sees the female residents heading into nearby mangrove areas: collecting shellfish catching fish and getting wood for their daily needs
The small but tight-knit community of seven-hundred inhabitants keeps their ancestral ways alive through this practice. Their floating homes - built on stilts above water create a unique living space where nature meets tradition; the surrounding mangroves serve as both workplace and life-sustaining ecosystem for these sea-dwelling people
