Fragile peace? Reassessing indigenous conflict resolution among the Yali of Yahukimo, Papua

This study examines the effectiveness and limitations of customary conflict resolution among the Yali community in Yahukimo, Papua, focusing on its capacity to address collective trauma and sustain peace. Employing critical ethnography, data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews with 27 participants, and document analysis during two months of fieldwork. The findings demonstrate that customary reconciliation practices, including pig feasts, symbolic exchanges, and public ceremonies, maintain strong cultural legitimacy and restore social relationships through shared values. However, these mechanisms inadequately address psychosocial trauma, particularly among women and children, while institutional tensions between customary authorities and formal state mechanisms undermine sustainable peacebuilding. The study highlights the limitations of symbolic reconciliation in addressing deeper emotional wounds and structural inequalities. It proposes a hybrid reconciliation framework integrating indigenous cultural practices, culturally sensitive psychosocial support, and formal recognition of customary governance. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of cultural legitimacy, inclusive healing, and institutional collaboration, this study contributes to indigenous peacebuilding scholarship and demonstrates that sustainable reconciliation requires moving beyond ceremonial settlements toward comprehensive approaches that address collective trauma and strengthen locally grounded peace governance.