It is estimated that less than half of the Asmat, Casuarina Coast speakers have understood the gospel but there are a number of Catholic churches in this northern Awyu region and the Evangelical Christian Church in Irian Jaya and Reformed congregation also have churches in the language area.
They primarily live by fishing, gathering sago, hunting, and eaglewood logging in this river-dependent area. With their land at an altitude of less than 100 meters above sea level the Awyu, Northern people can best be accessed by airplane. A Missionary Aviation Fellowship airplane base is located in Boma on the language border.
They enjoy dressing up traditionally with gourds and kasuari bird feathers to greet visitors. They also perform welcome dances with drums and arrows.
There is 1 junior high school in the language area.
The women join in the work by gathering food, fishing, and gardening. The clothing people wear is generally modern but rarely washed. The people eat fish, sago, and sago worms. The Awyu, Northern people use knives, steel axes, bows and arrows, and shovels as tools. Houses are usually framed with log posts having palm or cement floors and plank or tree stem walls. Roofs are made either of tin or interwoven leaves. For economic infrastructure in the area there is a SSB radio in Boma, some personal generators for electricity, and a community satellite TV. The people get their drinking water usually straight from the river or a well. There is a health clinic in Kouh.
The Awyu, Northern are sometimes known as the Dyair, Djair, Yair, Awyu people.
Scripture Prayers for the Yair in Indonesia.
| Profile Source: GMI Papua |
