Kau, Kaunak | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 8,000 [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (South Papua) | |
| Languages | |
| Citak, Indonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (especially Catholicism) and animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Asmat • Diuwe • Awyu |
Citak people (Kau or Kaunak; [2] also known as Cicak which is the exonym of the Awyu people for this ethnic) are an ethnic group that inhabits South Papua, Indonesia. They use the Citak language (Kau Adagum) as a language of communication between the people of this ethnic. Based on its dialect, this language is divided into Tamnim, Diuwe, and Citak dialects.
Initially, the Citak people led a semi-nomadic life, living in small villages scattered around the Brazza River. After being forced by the Dutch East Indies government, they began to live permanently in larger villages, This was intended to make it easier for the Dutch East Indies government to control them. [3]
The Citak people uses a matrilineal kinship system with the custom of settling down and marrying matrilocally. Apart from that, the Citak people also did not recognize the clan system. Although this slowly changed with the arrival of the Christian missionary. [3]
The Citak people inhabits the upper reaches of the Brazza River and is bordered to the east by the upper reaches of the Digul River, while to the west it is bordered by the Pulau River and the Wildeman River. [2] To the west live the Asmat people, to the south are the Awyu people (Mitak). Their language has similarities with the Asmat language, so that some linguists tend to classify them as one of the Asmat-speaking people. [3]
Their villages are Daikut, Samnak, Sipanap, [1] Senggo, Kunasuma, Basman, Tiau, Amazu, Binerbis, Bidneu (Bidnew), Vamu (Vomu, Fomu), Ipem, Binam, Vakam, Bi-Namzein (Mbinamzain), Womin, Sagamu, Buruba, Abau, Komasma (Kumasma), Vou, Imembi, Patipi, Piramanak, Burbis, Binam, Sagis, Emenepe, Tokemau, Dja-wok, and Asserep. [2] [4] Administratively, the area inhabited by this ethnic is included in the district of Citak Mitak (Senggo Village), Mappi Regency, South Papua, Indonesia. The population of this ethnic is around 8,000 people. [1]
The staple food of the Citak people is sago supplemented with fish and meat. Sago and fish are the products of women, while meat is the result of hunting by men. The men hunt using boats measuring 4 meters long, smaller than the family boats which are 10 meters long. [3]
The relics of the Citak people which are in the Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress are stored in the Yupmakcain collection. According to the museum's director, Eric Sarkol, the name was given by his predecessor Yufentius Biakai. According to Biakai, the name Yupmakcain is the emic name of the northern areas of Binam and Mbinamzain. Some examples of this branch of tribal art are drama and fine arts which are part of traditional ceremonies. Similar to the Asmat people, some of the carving art is in the form of shield carvings with color choices similar to other southwestern art styles such as the Asmat and the Awyu peoples. [3]
According to Pido, a zauwaibit (war leader) who came from Senggo Lama, initially this ethnic lived in tree houses but then changed because it was dangerous for small children who could easily fall. The ancestral legend of this tribe is Agu Ibit which was narrated by Pido to Josef Haas in 1981 (translated based on recordings by Alexander de Antoni, Stefanus Supprobo, and Cornelis in Senggo, 2007):
Agu Ibit stepped out of the water onto land. After spending the night in the river, he sat on a ki tree, and then he also sat on a tinak tree. After defecating he then urinates in the morning. He then jumped from tree to tree, then on top of the tree he faced west. Then you put on a belt made of shells and a necklace made of dog teeth. He then stood up with stiff legs and opened his hands on the ki tree. "Oh ki tree, please grant good weather, so that your arms can move freely", in a cheerful voice, "I'm looking for something to eat, please don't let it rain, I want to hunt big rats, cassowaries, and fish in the river. If there was a woman there, I would want to hit sago". Fo....fo.... Then another woman said, "I stayed in this afternoon to breastfeed the baby". It's a very hot afternoon, and I want to go far away. Agu Ibit has promised good weather. On the ki tree, on the kuru tree, on the badam tree, on the utua tree, wood tree, pambam tree, tinak leaf, tree leaves, sago palm. Sago palm leaves, your gaze is shining. Agu Ibit, Agu Ibit, Tanambitda ('male-foot sun' another name for Agu Ibit), Tanambitda, your eyes shine all day long. Now you will depart from east to west, until you disappear. [2]