Empowered Through Noken
Merry Dogopia has empowered hundreds of Papuan women in the past five years. She has gathered and coached craftswomen to produce high quality and competitive \'noken\'.
Merry Dogopia
Through noken, Papua’s traditional woven bag, Merry Dogopia, 46, has empowered hundreds of Papuan women in the past five years. Merry has gathered and coached craftswomen to produce high quality and competitive noken.
“Let’s finish the noken. Let’s work with high spirits. Tomorrow is Feb. 20 already,” Merry said to encourage four women weaving noken at a workshop in Angkasa, North Jayapura, Jayapura City on Monday (19/2).
In the 4 x 6 square meter room, Merry and her four colleagues were racing against time. They had to complete 60 noken – an order from a government institution – by Feb. 20. A total of 11 craftswomen were involved in completing the noken. Five craftswomen, including Merry, worked at the gallery while six others worked at home.
Noken has received global recognition. UNESCO declared noken as intangible heritage on Dec. 4, 2012 in Paris.
Typically, residents in Papua’s mountainous areas use noken to carry food, such as sweet potatoes, and other items. Noken can also be used to carry infants. Noken is also called the second womb for Papuans.
Noken can be made from bark or nylon threads. Craftswomen in Jayapura have generally used bark from Wamena, Nabire and Yahukimo. Today, however, many craftsmen produce noken from nylon thread because of the high price of bark, which needs to be flown into Jayapura. Each roll of bark costs between Rp 100,000 and Rp 150,000.
The order for noken is a blessing for Merry and her colleagues. Each order will earn them Rp 6 million, to be divided among them equally. From the income, the craftswomen can fulfil their daily needs and pay their children’s school fees.
In a month, Merry could receive two to three orders, from government offices, tourists or people who want to take items for their family outside Papua. In addition to the craftswomen in Angasa, Merry has also coached five groups in other regions including Dok V, Abepura, Waena, Argapura and Bhayangkara. In total she has trained 156 people.
The six groups form the Aniya noken community. She treats each group fairly, with each having the same output target.
From home
Merry started her business as a noken maker in Jayapura in 2012. Her husband, Nimbrot Pigome, is an elementary school teacher in Sarmi regency. He chose to stay in Jayapura to accompany his six children in Papua’s capital city.
Merry sold noken at her house in Angkasa. In early December 2012, she was surprised to learn from the news that UNESCO had declared noken as a world heritage item. “I was so proud when the international organization recognized noken as a world heritage item. Since then, I promised to develop noken as a quality product of Papua,” she said.
She added that one way to realize her goal was to form groups of craftswomen. “Without unity among the craftswomen, the noken cannot progress,” said the woman from Paniai.
In early 2013, Merry invited noken craftswomen who sold their items on sidewalks in Jayapura to setup a group. Initially, only around 60 craftswomen were willing to join.
Merry made a room in her 8 x 9 square meter house into a headquarters for the craftswomen. From there, she ran training sessions for the craftswomen to produce high quality noken, with a particular focus on coloring and good weaving technique.
“Usually, non-Papuan customers like noken with colours that aren’t too bright, such as black, grey or light blue while Papuans like yellow, green or red,” Merry said.
Noken made from wool thread are sold for between Rp 30,000 and Rp 600,000 while noken made from bark are sold for Rp 50,000 to Rp 8 million. The most expensive Noken is made from bark, which is flown in from Wamena, Nabire and Yahukimo, including the bark of orchid trees.
To market the products, Merry has a broad network of people interested in noken. “I do not teach the women how to weave because it is their expertise. But, I give them information about expos or festivals. They can earn up to Rp 3 million each,” she added.
Many noken craftswomen have become interested in Merry’s Aniya community. In 2016, the Papua Noken Association was established with Merry as its chairperson. The organization consists of 16 groups with 353 members.
Merry and her colleague’s effort to produce quality noken has faced numerous challenges, such as access to bank loans and workspaces as well as marketing. Almost 90 percent of Papua Noken Association members have sold their product on sidewalks or at markets.
Father inspiration
Merry said she got her inspiration from her late father Herman Dogopia. Herman was an elementary school teacher, who pioneered education in Jayawijaya regency in 1960s.
“My father dedicated his life to teaching in villages even though the pay was very low. He often said life is more meaningful if we share with others. I apply his message in my life,” Merry said.
Merry’s efforts to empower noken craftswomen has received praise from many, including awards from the central government. She has promised not to stop her fight to improve the livelihoods of noken craftswomen in the future.
“I will continue to assist them until I am no longer strong enough to weave,” she said.
Merry Dogopia
Merry Dogopia
Birthplace/Date: Wamena, Jayawijaya, March 10, 1972
Husband: Nimbrot Pigome
Children: Ricksoin Pigome, Ferdinand Pigome, Ronald Pigome, Gilbert Pigome, Grace Pigome, Kristin Pigome
Education: Elementary school SD YPPK St Yusuf Wamena (1982-1987); Junior high school SMP YPPK St Thomas Wamena (1987-1989); Nurse School in Wamena (1989-1991)
Awards: UKM WOW 2016 from Cooperatives and Small, Medium Business Ministry; Inspiring Papuan Mom 2015 from the Women and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise
