Collaboration with local community, government, and CSOs help to strengthen customary institutions.  This was demonstrated during the Tambrauw Indigenous Peoples' Institution (LEMATA) Customary Meeting which took place in Fef District on January 19, 2023.
 
An organization or community institution known as a "customary institution" is one that has been set up by a particular customary law community. 

They also play an important role in carrying out government tasks, implementing projects, and fostering community development at the village and sub-district levels. Because of this, customary institutions have a big responsibility getting and keeping people involved in the community.
 
Paulinus Baru, who is the leader of LEMATA said that the Insituttion would eventually become a forum for coordination  shared by major tribes in the Tambrauw district, namely the Abun, Miyah, Irires, Mpur, Moi Kelim, and Biak tribes, to move toward better indigenous people-based development.

LEMATA will also put out a book about the history and formation of Tambrauw district. The goal is to bring back to life important Tambrauw warriors who fought for their people. They will build a traditional house that will serve as a center for Tambrauw Customary Law Community (MHA) activities, to improve their coordination with the local government, and make it a venue for learning and sharing their ideas.
 
The customary meeting began with a traditional ceremony, which started around 08.30 local time. This is carefully observed as part of their effort to revive their culture. 
 
The ritual was carried out right next to the Aka Wuon-Samdhana Joint Mess in Ibe Village. This ritual must be done in order to get blessings from community elders who helped the villages and Tambrauw Regency grow and change in the past.
 
After the ritual, the invited guests walked to the meeting location and were greeted by a traditional dance from one of the tribes. Those present included the Special Staff for the Presidential Representative for Papua Febiola Ohe, Head of Monev Data for Special Autonomy for West Papua Provincial Secretariat Vitalis Yumthe, West Papua MRP Representative, Tambrauw Regency Regional Secretary, Former Secretary General of AMAN Abdon Nababan, and several members of the Tambrauw Regency House of Representatives.
 
Local government representatives who attended this event hoped that the cooperation between elements in Southwest Papua region will continue to be strengthened. 
 
Southwest Papua is one of the priority lifescapes of Samdhana, where we bring together our various approaches in grantsmaking, direct capacity development, facilitation support and policy development support to help build community resilience. ###