TREVOR FREESTONE
KONO IS MY STEP MOTHER and, like the spirit of most New Guinean Highlands villagers who like her have passed on, she shows a great interest in her relatives and clansmen:
Kono [pictured right with Kariango and me] wants everyone to understand that the Highlanders never considered themselves poor. Their interpretation of wealth was far different from that of Westerners.
The Highlanders have always measured their wealth in the amount of land the clan owned and what their share of this land was.
This land provided food, water, building materials and a source of supply for bilas and objects for traditional ceremonies.
Their wealth was measured by the number of valuable feathers the family owned and these would be proudly displayed at every opportunity. Pigs were also an important indication of wealth.
A large number of pigs was an indication that the owner must have the use of a lot of the clan’s land on which to grow food for the pigs. Some pig owners even had more than one wife so their pigs would receive the attention they deserved.
The rainforests that belonged to the clan were divided, with each family allocated an area. My family had the use of large areas of rainforests in the Daulo area which was a source of the beautiful feathers that everyone treasured.
The rainforest also supplied us with unpolluted water for washing and drinking.
Our health was a real asset, and my ancestors survived for many thousands of years without a hospital or aid post. They had developed treatments and resistance to many of the diseases that occurred.
Our children were also part of our wealth. We treasured them and this was shown at our ceremonial singsings when each family would try to outdo its neighbours in decorating and showing off the children.
The children were our future and the big men of the clan would give them strict rules to follow and enforce these rules.
Each clan fiercely defended itself, its property, and its families. This gave each clan a sense of community which was another form of wealth.
It was not until outsiders entered our domain and brought with them disease and the idea that money was real wealth that I saw problems arising. New diseases, corruption and a breakup of the family unit as our children left home to chase the almighty kina.
The villagers’ real wealth is still their land, as is their rainforests and the clear water that flows in the streams.
My concern is about the lack of knowledge and understanding of the leaders of my country, Australia, and many of the large mining companies.
Who gave the government the right to pass laws that could take my people’s land, their minerals, and even take away their rights? This is simply wrong.
Our land belongs to my people and just by passing laws in some far off Haus Tambaran doesn’t make it right to alienate it.
To send in troops to enforce these new laws shows a complete disrespect for my people’s traditions and customs their rights and their belief in their entitlements as citizens of Papua New Guinea.
PS, Who is Bob Carr?
Great article, Trevor. Love the perspective of your step-mother, and frankly could not agree more.
PNG as a subsistence farrago of cultures, was far richer than any western nation, by any measure, today.
Posted by: Alex Harris | 12 June 2012 at 08:23 PM
Trevor - Excellent article. There is however one significant fault, maternal mortality, ignored behind your reference to traditional "wealth".
Feathers and pigs were the mark of prestige. Your mention of children as an afterthought is significant. However the importance of women is only mentioned in relation to their "purpose" in raising pigs.
One major contributor to PNG having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world is the absence of concern (no perceived value) for pregnant women.
Perhaps an effort to promote the value of the family unit (man + woman + children) would be a good start.
Posted by: Laurence Quinlivan | 09 June 2012 at 09:26 AM