Mee

Who are the Mee?

The Mee are an indigenous people of Central Papua, Indonesia, mainly living around the Paniai, Tigi, and Tage lakes. They are also known as Bunani Mee, Ekari, Ekagi, Kapauku, or Tapiro, but prefer to be called Mee, meaning 'true human.' Their identity is shaped by their shared language, oral history, and traditions, including distinctive bark clothing. The Mee maintain strong ties with neighboring groups through trade and cultural exchange.

Where do the Mee live?

The Mee homeland is the Paniai Lakes region in Central Papua, Indonesia. This area is marked by three large lakes—Paniai, Tigi, and Tage—surrounded by highlands and valleys. The land is fertile and supports farming, fishing, and gathering. The region’s landscape and resources have shaped the Mee’s way of life and their interactions with neighboring peoples.

What language do the Mee speak?

The Mee speak the Ekagi language, also known as Ekari. This language is central to their identity and daily life. Indonesian is also spoken, especially in official or wider communication. The Ekagi language continues to be widely used within Mee communities.

How do the Mee live?

The Mee traditionally make their living through farming, fishing, and crafts. They cultivate crops suited to the highland environment and fish in the lakes. Trade with neighboring groups is important, using cowrie shells as traditional money. Mee women are known for making and wearing moge, a type of barkcloth clothing. Their homes and tools are adapted to the local landscape and resources.

How is Mee society organised?

Mee society is organized around family and clan ties, with oral history playing a key role in maintaining group identity. Marriage and kinship connect different families and clans, and decisions are often made through discussion among elders and leaders. The Mee have a tradition of trading and maintaining relationships with neighboring groups, which helps sustain their social structure.

What do the Mee believe?

Most Mee today follow Christianity, with a minority practicing Islam or traditional beliefs. Rituals, art, and music remain important in community life. Traditional dress, such as barkcloth clothing, is still worn on special occasions. The Mee’s beliefs and practices reflect a blend of old and new influences.

The history of the Mee

According to Mee oral history, their ancestors came from a place east of the Baliem Valley. They developed trading relationships with neighboring groups, using cowrie shells as money. European explorers first contacted the Mee in the early 1900s. The Dutch pilot Frits Wissel later documented the region’s lakes and settlements. The Mee have been known by several names given by neighboring peoples and outsiders, but prefer their own name, Mee.

Mee life today

Today, the Mee number over 316,000 and continue to live in Central Papua. They face challenges related to health, such as past outbreaks of neurocysticercosis. Their culture and language remain strong, though they also use Indonesian. The Mee are recognized for their resilience and efforts to maintain their traditions amid change.

Questions people ask about the Mee

Sources and further reading

• Mee (ethnic group) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data

This page was written with AI assistance from the sources above and checked automatically before publishing. It may contain mistakes, and it is no substitute for hearing from the Mee themselves. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-02.