Noken in Papua: Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Identity, and the Possibilities and Limits of Everyday Peace

Background: Noken is a living Indigenous cultural heritage practice in Papua associated with cultural identity and knowledge transmission, while its proposed contribution to peace requires careful assessment. Objective: This study examines the cultural and social meanings attributed to Noken and evaluates the extent to which available descriptions support claims about social cohesion and everyday peace. Methods: A qualitative, interpretive document-based analysis synthesizes the cited literature on craft knowledge, women’s participation, intergenerational transmission, social connectedness, and peacebuilding. The manuscript provides no verifiable primary fieldwork or documented conflict cases. Results: The sources describe Noken as a practical and symbolic cultural resource and highlight women’s roles in maintaining and transmitting traditional knowledge. Everyday uses and exchanges suggest possible connections with social relationships, but no evidence presented establishes that Noken directly mediates disputes, prevents violence, or produces reconciliation. Conclusion: Noken’s cultural significance and potential relevance to everyday cohesion are distinguishable from proven peacebuilding effects. Community-led safeguarding and location-specific empirical research are needed to examine these possibilities further.