Identity Construction of Emeyode Ethnic Group (The Relationship of Sago and Emeyode Ethnic Group in South Sorong Regency, West Papua Province)

Sago palm area in Indonesia is approximately 5.5 million hectares, and approximately 5.2 million hectares of sago palms are found in Papua and West Papua Provinces. West Papua Province has the largest area of sago plants in Indonesia with an area of approximately 4,749,424 million hectares, and South Sorong Regency in particular is an area that has the largest area of sago plants in the province. Of the area of sago forest in West Papua Province 510,213, South Sorong Regency has the largest sago forest with 148,004, or approximately 29%. Based on the facts above, this study aims to explore the local community knowledge about the relationship between sago palms and the Emeyode ethnic group; and describes the construction of Emeyode ethnic group identity through sago. The characteristic of the ethnographic method is participant observation, by observing directly the sago plants, and the Emeyode ethnic group in terms of its relation to sago. The interview method is used to uncover the relations of sago with the Emeyode ethnic group. As a result, it shows that there is a relationship between sago plants and the Emeyode ethnic group in terms of cultural values. Specifically, sago is perceived as a gift from the "giver" to the Emeyode ethnic group as a source of food, as well as a symbol of the construction of the Emeyode ethnic group's identity. Therefore, maintaining and preserving sago plants means protecting the life of the Emeyode Ethnic Group.