Community
The 1050 kilometres of the Fly River, as well as its tributaries the Ok Tedi and Strickland Rivers, are the defining feature of the Western Province. People have used the river for more than 15,000 years as a source of water, food and transport.
Most of the people living in the Fly River system today work their hereditary lands as subsistence 
gardeners. Scientists believe that people have lived in the mountains of what is now the Western Province for more than 15,000 years, and settled the lowlands over the past few thousand years.
Prior to 1968, when ore was discovered in Mt Fublian, the Wopkaimin, Yongom and Awin people of the Star Mountains lived off the land as they had for centuries, with virtually no contact with the outside world other than trade with their nearest neighbouring tribes. It is estimated that the population of the area around the current site of Tabubil was around 700 people.
The establishment of the Ok Tedi Mine has brought many changes to the people who live along the Fly River, most of whom still live in village communities, of between five and ten clan groups. Many of these villages have their own distinct language, or tok ples and communicate across language lines using English, Tok Pisin or Motu.
The town of Tabubil has grown to an estimated population of around 15,000, including up to around 7,500 informal settlers from regions nearby, such as Olsobip, Telefomin, the Highlands and West Papua. Tabubil is now an important regional centre for government and local village communities. It has primary and secondary schools, churches, a hospital, supermarket and a large number of locally-owned businesses.
People in areas affected by OTML's operations are paid compensation under various agreements and trusts. Company officers are in regular contact with villagers about the administration of these agreements, environmental issues, development of village infrastructure and many other matters.