Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 10:47:34 -0400
To: boyer@cs.utexas.edu
From: Habalal Nabalal (bop@cenderawasih.net)
Subject: Irian

...

"Irian" is actually a Biak word. It was suggested by Frans Kasiepo who was
West Papuan. He suggested the name at the Malino Conference.

I am from the central highlands of Irian and my fiance is from Biak. I have
had confirmed both by Biak people and other sources that "Irian" is a Biak word
- it means "hot place" or "Volcanic area".

There really is no indigenous name for the island. New Guinea is a foreign
term, Papua was also not an indigenous name for the island, and it was
considered insulting. But "luckily", there was a name that had been proposed
by an activist from that island, this very Irian, so they were happy to
accept it as the name for the island.

The following is a quote from a Biak poem (the words with a * are Biak
words):

   Father Kayan* (means rich man)Sanawi* (Manarmakeri*) stand up, you are
   holy. You eclipse the sunlight on Mount Yamnaibori*, the mountain of the
   maiden of Biak* In order that we may put everything on board and leave for
   irian* the mainland. For my eyes have beheld the morning star (Sampari*)
   rising, which did not stay in Jumamba* in the east.

Another source says: 

   The name of the Island from the beginning has been Irian, which was used
   by the Portugese governor of the Moluccas in 1536,...in 1545 governor de
   Retes uses the name Nuvea Guinea...

1. Source: Koreri - Messianic movements in the Biak - Numfor Culture Area
by Freerk Kamma, 1954 printed by JN Voorhoeve, translated by Mrs. M J van
de Vathorst - smit pg.27 

2. West Irian and Jakarta Imperialism (pg 34) by Kees Lagerberg Published
by St. MArtins Press New York, NY 

...

Mayom