Indigenous people of New Guinea
The indigenous peoples of Western New Guinea in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, commonly called Papuans, are Melanesians. There is genetic evidence for two major historical lineages in New Guinea and neighboring islands: a first wave from the Malay Archipelago perhaps 50,000 years ago when New Guinea and Australia were a single landmass called Sahul and, much later, a wave of Austronesian people from the north who introduced Austronesian languages and pigs about 3,500 years ago. They also left a small but significant genetic trace in many coastal Papuan peoples.
Dani people from the central highlands of Western New Guinea, Indonesia
Children dressed up for sing‑sing
Yali in the Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia
Girls from Papua New Guinea
Indigenous peoples of Oceania
The Indigenous peoples of Oceania are Aboriginal Australians, Papuans, and Austronesians. These indigenous peoples have a historical continuity with pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories. With the notable exceptions of Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands, indigenous peoples make up the majority of the populations of Oceania.
Moai in Ahu Tongariki, Rapa Nui
Māori child learning the haka in a painting by Gottfried Lindauer
Dani people from the central highlands of New Guinea
Thomas Baines with Aborigines near the mouth of the Victoria River