Indigenous Groups In Yogya

There are not many indigenous groups in Indonesia, let alone Yogyakarta. Some of the indigenous groups in Indonesia are Kubu and Sakhai of Sumatra, Wana of Central Sulawesi. Most are now threatened with the loss of their hunting grounds through deforestation and trans-migration projects. There are also proto-Malay tribes like the Batak of North Sumatra, the Torajans of South Sulawesi and the Dayaks of Kalimantan. There are also the Papua, those who are darker-skinned, more heavily built and generally with tight curled hair. Some of the Papuans includes the Dani of Baliem Valley, and the Asmat, wood carvers living the swampy plains of the southern coast.

Lastly, there is the Orang Laut, or sea gypsies, found all over eastern Indonesia. They live on boats or in stilted settlements on the seashore.

There are no indigenous groups that can be found in Yogyakarta, or Java. This is because the city is located on the Special Region of Yogyakarta, which is the smallest province in Indonesia. Yogyakarta is the only province in Indonesia that is still governed by that area's pre-colonial monarchy; the Sultan of Yogyakarta serves as the hereditary governor of the province.

The nearby presence of Mount Merapi is also another reason. Its activity may have cause the extinction, if any, of tribes or indigenous groups living around the area.