The term 'New Guinea Natives' refers to the indigenous people of New Guinea, which is an island located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The native people of New Guinea are known as Papuans, which is a term derived from the Malay word for 'frizzy-haired'. Papuans are believed to have been living on the island for over 40, 000 years and are culturally diverse, with over 800 distinct languages spoken across the island.