Reminiscing Childhood Memories of Lake Kutubu

If I have to recall any childhood memories then it takes me back to my days in Pimaga Station in Lake Kutubu. 

 I have my two best buddies, we call ourselves Wames now but they are Wamenes by blood grew up eating Kui in the land of Pimaga Station. Most of our teams have left Pimaga to pursue opportunities or because of work and other commitments in their lives but Kensa and Heysala still lives where they used to be. 

I could remember everything we did as a child growing up in Pimaga Station. It was a surprise visit to where we grew up as kids after two decades. I went there for some work with WWF on their project and our base for the week happens to be the place that I grew up. 

As a child growing up in Pimaga, we could never end a day without visiting Wara Sura. If we could not catch up near the DPI station or at the end of the airstrip for a swim then the next stop would definitely be Bumsusu for play Peggy Touch over the water. We could tease each others ability to swim and play same time. So to avoid going home with a "meriman" nametag we could play a fair game over it and that was our highlight each time we visit Wara Sura

Among us the SBD boys were big guns like Sibi Kai who is a boss and a leader in his own right, Vincent Vege still living in Pimaga, Willie Sese lives in POM with dad and his families, Philipmon Sese is still in Pimaga and others. 

On the other hand, Damaiyu Village boys like Disibu Waiya still hanging around in Iputapa village, Maraiyu Sawage lives in Goroka now and facilitates negotiations for Kandobo landowners, Manasa Bogo is now a Pastor with ELCPNG in Morota Church, Port Moresby were our good mates to team up. 

During our childhood adventures, we all could hang around because we from the eastern end of Tanuga Primary School and follows the one main road to and from school. Whilst on the western side boys from Borotage areas I could remember are Kuiboi, Kolex a local businessman now and Awamena or Albert  who was the tallest boy in our class and now a contractor to Digicel PNG in Kutubu area. 

From 1994-1997 we had best of our memories recorded with Tanuga Primary School and appreciate the mentors and teachers like Mrs. Jonathan Tai, Mr. Fasinambo retired and lives in Daga Village now. Mr. Esamabo of Yobob Island also retired and lives on the island. Not forgetting the headmaster; Mr. Guguambo for the leadership, he has also retired and lives in Orokana station and works for ELCPNG now. I owe it to these special people whom one way or the other played a part in my educational journey from Tanuga Primary School and on. 

Few of the female schoolmates from Pimaga Station those times have excelled in life and working elsewhere in the country or became public servants like my sister Roslyn Minape is teaching again in Tanuga. Lyn Nick is a Policewoman now in Pimaga while Linda Gumong is teaching at Mubi Primary School near Mubi river. 

I still remember others like; Hersely Haro who is a Secondary School teacher now, Rose Ware was married to one of my countryman from Enga, Shahabo Tebia is working with Oilseach Moro, Tracy Itonu whose parents where DPI officers in Pimaga and from Samarai but is out of reach at the moment and details are sketchy. Gracelyn Tai lives somewhere in Port Moresby and working with a government department. 

Whilst visiting some of those childhood dwelling places in Pimaga weren't the same used to be before, it brought tears into my eyes. One of those special places for us was the Pimiga Council Chamber where I used to live with my family. There used to be a small mango tree on a well looked after lawn.  That is the place where I used to learn how to balance myself on bicycles lend to me by Heysla and Kensa. 

I will never forget Heysala as he was a specials person in our group and was our DJ master. He could easily sneak into the classroom with him a mini radio/ cassette player (those times without boombox). We could take turns to rewind or forward the tape with sticks and pens  to select the best song during lunch break or while walking home from school in the afternoon. 

Heysala could even bring his big stereo to school when there is a school term holiday closing picnic in the school. We could try all our best ways to utilize the used batteries to backup the power supply so that we keep the party momentum going with music. Living up to his hobby, now he owns a DJ set in his house and is the best place for station boys and friends to hangout having few restricted beers anytime - provide your own fuel for his genset and you have the DJ with best music.  

I remembered that; we were best mates within our class and respect for each other meant so much for us. None of us could even try a nib or bottle of beer those times, even we had money, music and freedom on term holiday party at our disposal, we never tried beer in our lives. I tasted my first beer after university in 2010 and I do not know when they tasted their first beer.  

Looking back to these days, there's always a primary school drunkard during the school term holiday closing parties or loud music everywhere from their many boombox when group of  classmates walking home or to school. Chewing buai and smoking cigarettes are norm these days for primary school students but for us, it was totally different and when I look back, it was the sense of respect that played a major role in our lives as primary school students those days. We have had respect for our teachers with fear and classmates were our best secret keepers in anything at all. We do real boys staff and not men's stuff (looking for drugs or home brew. 

Back in Pimaga station and nearby villages like Daga and Iputapa , most people I knew have grown old and some could not remember me well but when Heysala and Kensa took me over to Daga village for a community gathering and when we sipped in our cash contribution for a community obligation; there came the introduction of wonder boy Nathan David Minape, he is our son, who grew up here and attended Tanuga Primary School with us and lived here in the village with us most of his times. 

Now everyone could remembered me as a small skinny whiteman that hangs around at Bumsusu and at the end of the airstrip on weekends with my late mum fishing. 

It would have been more fun and interesting only if more of my classmates from Tanuga Primary were around so we could track and trace those I'm missing out on this script. 

If Kensa Lavare and Hesala Lavare cannot remembered all of our classmates then I will be interested to trace the student roll book of our days at Tanuga Primary Schools and produce an interesting piece out of the different pathways we took after Tanuga Primary School.

Pics: (L-R ) Kensa Lavare , Nathan David Minape & Hey Lavare at Daga 1 Village

2nd Lagaip Sangai Festival set to revive lost culture and tradition.

The 2nd Lagaip Sangai Festival is set for 28th -29th July at Wanepap Primary School Field in Laiagam and is expected to feature more than 50 young males coming out of Sangai initiation to display at the festival ground.  

Sangai is a ritual performed in most parts of Enga to initiate and signify the maturity of young boys to culminate into adulthood in the society. The young men at adolescence age are subject to the purification process against any imperfections attained from maternal contamination at birth or whilst growing up. 

Hence, the Sangai initiation became the cultural and traditional ritual to sanctify and prepare the young males into adulthood in the community. 

This vibrant Engan culture has come to inactivity in the late 1990s due to factors such as tribal fighting, rural to urban drifting and others that has resulted in sabotaging of costumes together with the sacred sites where Sangai initiation is conducted. Within the context, man’s house seems to have been none existent to uphold some cultural and traditional values related to Sangai. 

The Western culture invasion and Christianity have also contributed to the radical impacts on the way of life resulting in fading away of indigenous cultures and traditions in our societies and Enga has no exception with Sangai ritual losing its significance. 

People who keep the Sangai initiation rituals (teachers) are becoming rare today or have lost values due to influences of western cultures. Many Sangai teachers might have forgotten those sacred Sangai chants and magical songs that attune with the local languages to instill affluence during the initiation which is affirms the ritual.     

The effects of climate change and population increase have also contributed to destruction of the sacred Sangai sites in the forests. The obstruction of the cultural or traditional norms in respect to the sacred Sangai sites are also contributing factors which led to degradation of the value and losing its significances that the sites hold.  

In the Engan societies, Sangai is the art of teaching moral and cultural values to men. It guards young people to be responsible members of the community in accordance with norms and customs. 

Through the Sangai initiation, young people have to undergo a weeklong ritual purification in the bush (sacred Sangai site) under the supervision of Sangai ritual teacher. Some aspects of the Sangai initiation are synonymous to religious practices whereby past sins have to be confessed and cleansed through eye-washing ritual. 

The secrecy of Sangai is enshrined in mythical plant called "lepe" which must not be contaminated or disturbed anyhow and guarded by culturally strict rules. The owner of the lepe plant is the Sangai ritual teacher and he has the stringent cultural and traditional adherence protocols to keep it alive and growing or else he loses the values of the lepe and finally dies away.

The Lagaip Sangai Festival was launched in August 2019 by the Executive Director for the National Cultural Commission, Mr. Steven Kilenda and the inaugural festival was held on September 2020. More than 50 young men were featured to set first ever record in Enga after decades of Sangai initiation absence in Enga. 

The aim of the festival was to revive the Sangai culture by involving older people to pass on traditional skills and knowledge to the younger generations through practicing. The Sangai Festival was identified as an illustrative platform to sustain and restore the culture that teaches the moral values to the young men to be responsible citizens of the Engan societies and maintain the principals of men’s house (Haus Man). 

Lately, the Sangai Culture has been silenced by various factors in Enga and was at the edge of dying away slowly or was dying away silently. The absence of Sangai Culture and ritual initiation in Enga has its impacts felt directly or indirectly in Enga. The recent chaos everywhere in Enga with tribal fights have their own reasons but moral values in human were missing with absence of Sangai. Young men were living in their own and making their own decisions unlike used to be living in men’s house ‘Haus Man’ and follow the Sangai cultural norms and practices with the guidance of the elders and teachers of Sangai.       

Undeniably, Laiagam District has been branded "Wild West" due to so many tribal fighting in the area. However, through the Sangai Festival, the negative branding of Laiagam will be turned into something positive to set a new perspective that will change things from time to time until Laiagam becomes new Lagaip Paradise as it spells out on the 2021 Lagaip Sangai Festival Theme; The New Dawn of Lagaip Paradise is at the Foot tip.  

This year's festival is proudly sponsored by Enga Provincial Government, DDA Lagaip Porgera and PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. Nevertheless, the Lagaip Sangai Festival Committees and Chairperson Mr. Tony Sulupin is calling on the Laipian and Kaimul elites to support the festival to impact the youths in a positive way. 

2021 Lagaip Sangai Festival Flyer 

Young women mingling to take their initiated man away 

Young woman with their family members or tribes standing beside their initiated male boyfriend

Young initiated males whisked away by the female friends and their family members 

The Survival of the Engan Traditional Dance – An Analysis of the Mali

 ABSTRACT

The traditional Enga dance (Mali) is one of the traditional rituals that is gradually dying away at present due to non recognition of its significance from both modern and traditional context and there is a shifting phenomenon in cultures and languages. Previously, the traditional Enga dance (Mali) was hosted for reasons that cannot match today’s purposes. 

Furthermore, the importance of Mali from both modern and traditional perspective is not understood by majority of the Engans at present due to the current trend existing between modernity and cultures, traditions or customs. Currently, Mali is one of the major tourist attractions in Enga getting popular with the annual Enga Cultural Show with its bandwagon ‘Sili Muli’, an all women dance (Mali) group. 

However, there are certain shifting cultural factors that have influenced the Engans to overlook the significance of the Mali and the authenticity of the associated cultures, traditions and customs or such of the Mali does no longer exist. The interest and eagerness to participate and learn has been minimal among the youths and the Mali is losing its purpose and authenticity. 

The shifting in the cultures and languages seems to have highest impact in the lives of the younger Engan generations and the focus in cultures traditions and customs get minimal attention. 

As a unique culture and tradition the Mali needs to be maintained and preserved at these times through promotion by engaging tourism and creating awareness in the best possible ways to sustain and create interest among youths to rejuvenate and protect Mali from losing its values. 

Enga Province has minimal economic activity and with the support of the Provincial Government with funding in awareness, cultural promotion and preservation through tourism activities. There are possibilities of encouraging younger generations to learn how to preserve and sustain the Mali dance to help understand and values of the cultural and traditional aspects of Engan life. Thus significance of the traditional dance is distinguished from the modern and contemporary dance to ensure the discussions and findings of the research to propose certain mechanisms to help maintain and sustain Mali from dying away silently through modern influence.

Overview

It is interesting to see that through the influence of the one language spoken throughout the province, the cultures and customs practiced in the traditional societies are same throughout also in Enga Province unlike other provinces in the country. 

However, through church, education, employment and rural to urban migration have much influence on the Engan Mali and its unique cultures, customs and traditions. Hence, among the cultures, traditions and customs, Mali is one of the significant part of the Engan tradition and culture which is silently dying away. 

Though there are some Mali dance performances in the events with contemporary costumes, the authenticity and pride on the Mali dance seems to have lost its value. Out of the Mali analysis the same detrimental factors are identified to have greater impact on the traditions and cultures of Enga and there is no exception to other cultures and traditions of PNG amid the 800 plus language groups that are dying away in the similar manner. 

Traditional dance or Mali is seen as a cultural event but its purpose and significances to host this event varies. This view is sported by Akii Tumu’s views on his book titled ‘View of The Enga Culture’ which stated that, in the past most singsings (Mali) took place to gather people to discuss upcoming feasts or exchanges, but today they are held primarily to raise money for the public facilities, to celebrate holidays or other important events (Akii Tumu et al, 1989:47). That means Mali is losing its cultural values and significances but into commercialization with contemporary costumes which simply means imitating the authentic Mali Dance but of no substance of pride and cultural values into the Mali.

Background and Context

PNG Cultures and its Shifting Cultures and Languages

Today in most PNG Societies seems to have the oral tradition as a historical source but the reality of the full traditional ways of life are dying away silently as we all shifting our focus to modernity and developments in the country. The concept of imparting skills and knowledge, learning and imitating of traditions and customs from the great ancestors of the tribes or clans seems not to exist these days. 

The children are living far away from their villages, parents and families for education or work and unable to participate in few of the cultural activities that happen in the village to learn and understand. The language seems to be one main barrier to learn as most of the people now seem to communicate with English, Pidgn and Motu. 

The chances to teach the traditional cultures and customs to the younger generation seem to be narrow leaving a gap for most of the traditions and cultures which can be helped revived and sustained. In Enga, the way of doing things which were passed down the generations to generations are at risk of bridging and living through these days when everyone’s focus is into modernity (Wiessner & Tumu, 1998:27). 

Thus the Enga traditional dance followed the same pattern of sharing, teaching and imparting knowledge to save and preserve the historical and traditions values, genealogies of historical narratives which became the basis of its existence but the current shift in cultures and languages will have much influence on the younger generation to lose their focus into the traditional values which need to preserve and own by virtue or lose it entirely forever. 

Yet the practical sides of most cultural and traditional ways of doing things in the country are diminishing as a result of shift in the tradition cultures and languages into modernity and Enga is no exception to losing its cultures and traditions which dominates the province as a monolingual society which is significant to the Melanesian cultures.

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s View on PNG Culture from Tourism Viewpoint   

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) identifies cultural tourism as a significant source for national tourism growth due largely to the fact that authentic cultural experiences are Papua New Guinea’s biggest selling tourism product. 

The UN World Tourism Organization stated that cultural tourism accounted for 37% of global tourism and forecasts a growth rate of 15% per year. This is particularly true for Papua New Guinea as travel statistics show increased arrivals during the months of July to September as a result of cultural festivals staged in various parts of the country, especially the Mask Festival, Hagen Show, Hiri Moale and the Goroka Show, other cultural festivals, village tours and homestays that were worked into the travel itineraries always prove attractive for tourists and are a common feature in many successful tour operators’ packages for PNG.

 PNGTPA’s major challenge in cultural tourism marketing and promotion has been aligning the modern or ‘Western’ concept of tourism as a business with the Melanesian cultural practices of shared resources and land ownership. The cultural norms and practices are of values that does not need forced interaction with the outside world (eg tourism) but rather respect and adherence.   

Hence, PNGTPA works closely with tour operators, industry players and tourism industry associations to help reinforce, support and preserve the local communities and their culture. Partnerships in tourism are vital for Papua New Guinea especially in the preservation of culture and the natural resources of a particular community where our lives are connected to.

 PNGTPA’s most successful partnership projects with the community have been the Surf Management Plan headed by the Surfers Association of PNG (SAPNG). This project aims to ensure that the sites or communities that comes under declared surfing sites receives shared benefits through fees and implement rules that limit the number of surfers to protect the environment and maintain sustainability. 

The Perceptions, Experience and Lessons on the Research

As a passionate citizen promoting cultures and traditions of the country, I was always interested to learn and discover the various cultures and traditions in PNG. Reading from the books, hearing and learning from schoolmates or by visiting places have always inspired me to know a bit of different culture and tradition but those seemed to have been only stories to me. 

I have intended to understand in detail if those cultures do exists in its full contexts today and still being practiced. Sadly, the values on cultures and traditions have changed and the contemporary cultures have dominated what used to be a way of life and authentic culture, tradition and customs. I have came to known that, throughout the verbal interviews for my research most of the youths I met could not speak any native languages from either of their parent’s side but English and Pidgn were the only languages most of them seems to know as first and second languages.

Undeniably, most of the traditions and cultures are native and the ways of teaching, learning and imparting is only with native languages because some of them are scared and to understand full, one should be native and fluent with the native languages to know and understand better. It was a good lesson to discover that native languages plays pivotal role in maintaining and preserving cultures for it is the only channel to know and understand cultures, traditions and customs. Hence, the language is part of the cultures and traditions of most people in PNG and losing the knowledge and understanding of language is directly loosing the tradition and cultures.

Contribution of Research Paper and Recommendations

The research contributes to the remarkable work done on the Enga culture and traditions by Aki Tumu, Alome Kyakas, Associate Professor Roderic Lacey, Polly Wiessner, SVD Missionary Philip Gibbs and few others who have done a tremendous research into the unique cultures of Enga. 

Their early efforts and contributions have set foundation for a lot of quality research in the field of Enga culture and traditions. Hence, my research is also a contribution to their endless efforts as they paved the way for such specific research into traditional Enga dance (Mali) to happen. 

This specific research on Mali contributes towards the aims to preserve the traditions and cultures of Enga initiated by some of the mentioned authors and researchers. My research was broad in nature but other researchers in the future will have to focus more specifically into cultures, customs and traditions to uncover the underlying factors of its extinction and find solutions to rejuvenate and set up a concept that will not only help Enga but other dying cultures in Papua New Guinea as well.

Portrait of the author 

I'm from Papua New Guinea - #ImFromPNG

Why in PNG, people don't get patriotic over this beautiful nation and instead inclined towards ethnicity, provincialism & regionalism?

 When meeting up with a fellow citizen in PNG, this question seems to be always there. 

Where are you from?

From outside of PNG, the media describes PNG as an improvised island nation in the Pacific or worse the cannibalism practicing island in the Pacific.

I don't mind whatever outside views they have on PNG and my people but I'm proud to call myself from Papua New Guinea and not a province, region or ethnicity that is Unknown to the outside world.  Ethnicity segregation is a basis of domesticated racism in PNG which most people intentionally promote or unknowingly involved but have negative social impacts in the societies.

We have obvious resentments of nambis against highlands or vise versa. Tari or Engans are not anyone's favorite for a friendship, relationships or trust. We always see them as aggressive people, but - is it good putting everyone into the same basket for the convenience of the radical ethnicity assumption?

Individuals in PNG might have their own personal judgement or perception against the Sepiks, Manus, Tolai, Nips, Samarai, Kerema, Papua, Daru, Oro Kaiva or Buka people to satisfy his or her own ethnicity, province and region's radical views. This is how PNG domesticated racism exists but one forgets to understand that; No race or ethnicity is better than another in PNG or anywhere in the world, all humans were made in His own image and likeness - We are the image of the Man Above Us. 

Maybe someone heard from someone saying; those ethnic people, province or region's people are like this and that, etc. It might have happened between two people and that's their experience but we tend to believe what is told and view other persons of the same ethnicity like same species of piglets would behave. We tend to forget the human values, integrity and ethical qualities one human is born with, which makes him/her different and unique human being.

In reality, people are born different and unique, have their own mindsets and personality; not all people are same type of person despite coming from same family, ethnicity, province or region.
Rationally, people are born individually unique and different from each other and not in a day like piglets.

Some people in PNG are so obsessed to say ; I'm from here and there with radical ethnicity related segregation ideologies which are being put up for show at Provincial Day Celebrations in PNG. 

We do not realized that, such ideas are keeping us secured in our little places whilst PNG remains unexplored to ourselves despite a PNG citizen living the entire lifetime in PNG. Hence, you cannot experience change or see it happening to you because you into your little secured world  build on ethnicity ideologies and don't know the diversified nation of Papua New Guinea. 

You still living in PNG, yet you are scared to go to Buka because there is tensions from the decade old crisis, you do not want to go to Enga or Tari because of tribal conflicts, you do not want to go to Samarai because you heard of cultural practices. Similarly you have developed assumptions of some places in PNG and you think your area and people are only the better people all over the world and in PNG but that's definitely a radical ethnicity view and racism. In fact, you are still PNG citizen living in Papua New Guinea and these places are part of your country.    

Even you are from PNG but you haven't seen PNG and explored PNG yet because of your own mindset pinned into ethnicity and racial segregation ideologies which is a fear and insecurity. People hold onto such radical ethnicity ideologies as prides to live in their little world within PNG. However, the outside view of PNG remains as; an improvised island nation in the Pacific where cannibalism is practiced - and in it your ethnicity, province or region is included.

So I don't deny the fact that, #ImFromPNG and have the passion to travel around my own country, meet with people of different ethnic groups amongst the thousands in PNG, share their experiences and stories; be like one of them because we live in a country called Papua New Guinea referred by tourists as last frontier and off the beaten track adventure paradise.

Its a shame if you are from Papua New Guinea but haven't seen more than 5x provinces in PNG, rather lives in your own little world within PNG thinking world knows your ethnicity, region or province but never in your smallest radical ethnicity dreams.

Be rational, end the so called domesticated and radical racial segregation (racism) and be proud of PNG, one of the Unique countries in the world which I proudly see it this way; a continent with 22 countries or a country with 22 states that has thousands of amazing cultures, rare species of flora and fauna with diverse marine biodiversity that are unique to the world.

A country that has natural landscapes that remains eligible amongst the wonders of the world, rare flora and fauna species, diverse marine biodiversity and cultural traditions that are beyond the UNESCO heritage listing criteria. We have more to be proud of as a Papua New Guinean than a radical ethnicity obsessed racist.

Our own limitations are driven by domesticated racism, racial segregation and radical ethnicity promotion in PNG by individuals and groups intentionally or being personally obsessed with ethnicity promotions. 

We need to open up our mindsets and time to explore PNG when you cannot get to man-made monuments, parks and cities of the world due to Covid19 Pandemic restrictions. There is lot more to explore in PNG that will amaze and keep you awe. 

You need to get out of your ethnicity wall, think and act like Papua New Guinean in your own country. 

There's more to see in PNG and yes - #HaveYouSeenPNGyet?

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PNG Traditional Herbal Medicine - undiscovered mystery

Among the thousands different tribes, cultures and traditions in PNG do exists the mysterious ways of curing illness and diseases by using plants from the natural habitats with generational skills and knowledge.

In PNG, we often get ourselves confused between herbal medicines with witchcraft. They are two separately different topics and witchcraft seems to connect with superstition for better or worse, depends on the user and purposes of its existence. On the other hand, the traditional herbal medicine practice is a set of skill and knowledge passed on from generation to generation to cure diseases and illness.

Leaving out the controversial issues associated with witchcraft, let me discuss the significances of how much I understand the traditional herbal medicines. I'm not a practitioner of the traditional herbal medicine but my grandmother does as well as others I've been with and saw them doing it.

In reality, the lives of the PNG indigenous people are connected to the natural environment one way or the other. Hence, anyone from the family, tribesmen or friends knows one or two plants in their natural habitats that have medicinal values and its uses. One might have lo learnt the skills to prepared and knowledge to apply on specific illness or diseases.

The methods involved in preparation of the traditional herb could be a special generational tradition. It could involve some sort of traditional spells or without it depends on the traditional herbal medicine practitioner, the value and purpose of the medicinal plant and illness types.

Some people in PNG still value to use the traditional herbal medicines to avoid development of modern medicine resisting illness in their body and side effects that could have or they shifted to traditional herbals medicines after developing serious resistant side effects in their body with medical drugs.

Somewhere in PNG, a traditional herbal doctor can help a snake venom victim to live again, mend and heal a fractured bone or joint, heal a terminal illness like cancer, asthma, leprosy, tropical ulcers, TB and others.

It is believed that, those illnesses that ever existed with our ancestors have a traditional herbal cure but we prefer modern medications and treatments for various reasons.

Undeniably, our ancestors have lived through the sicknesses like diarrhea, pneumonia, headaches, joint pains, fever, etc. with the use and application of traditional herbal medicines. There is no good reason to run into pharmacy and hospital all the time with these common sicknesses in PNG. We need the help of our traditional herbal doctors to manage such sicknesses easily.

Sadly, we are loosing the skills and knowledge of the traditional herbal medicine practices because of our own ignorance or we the PNG people want the easiest turn around in life with modern medicines and treatments.  The modern medicines and treatment are modern lifestyle convenience but cost is another considerable factor in the situation with costly side effects in some cases. Hence, the substitute or alternate option is to seek the help of the traditional herbal doctors on the common diseases or illness and those that are manageable by traditional herbal doctors.

There could be conflicting ideas from Christians on the application and use of traditional herbal medicines but all we need is healing and recovery from the illness or diseases just like after receiving treatment from the modern hospital with their medicines.

As mentioned earlier, some of the traditional herbal medicines might accompany special spells and customary observation rules during and after treatments - its no different to hospital treatment requirements and restrictions on the treatment.

Seen the Chinese, Indians and other Asian countries practicing traditional herbal medicines and its a thousands of decade old tradition which we PNG too can do it. The Asian traditional herbal doctors works closely with modern practitioners in medicines and medical doctors. They have traditional herbal pharmacy as well and treatment room for patients. (I might have seen one of those in Taiwans old city in 2018 during a stint with TICA).

In PNG its sad to see or hear of someone dying from curable illness and diseases. Only if our legislators can make some reforms that gives opportunity to traditional herbal doctors to work with modern practicing doctors and pharmacist would make some biggest difference in PNG societies where hospitals are unreachable in a day.

We never know but let's believe in our trade mark expression - Expect the unexpected. A traditional herbal doctor might have the secrets of curing cancer but tucked away somewhere in the inland and remotest parts of PNG or on an isolated island in PNG with his or her traditional knowledge and skills on the herbal medicines to cure cancer. 

How can we bring such person out of reach to ease the costly thermal therapy and other associated cancer treatment costs ?

Through the government reforms and legislation, it will present an opportunity for someone in the areas such as inland Rigo, remote islands off Samarai and hinterlands of Netyam Yalaim to commercialize his/her Traditional Herbal Medicine skills or knowledge to save a life when modern hospitals are beyond their reach.

One of them from the remotest parts of PNG can be brought into save a life of a patient in a hospital which modern treatment and medicines cannot help recover. This will be amazing and wonderful to acknowledge and appreciate but how to make it happen is far from reality with legislation and other aspects of laws surrounding health and medicine needs to accommodate the traditional medicine practice.  

We need to sustain our ways of doing things that are suited to living our lives the PNG way. Most of our traditions are unique and have values that will be lost if not practiced by emphasizing its importance like the traditional herbal medicines practicing skills and knowledge.

If PNG has more than 800 different cultures and traditions that fascinates the visitors and citizens too, then among them are our traditional herbal medicines that can do unbelievable wonders if we can legislate to protect and value them.

It does not require intensive lab tests and research skills to discover a traditional herbal medicines. It is our value, our tradition and our way of life that have sustained and protected the lives of our ancestors for ages.

In conclusions, if a legislated reform permits  herbal doctors to practice traditional herbal medicines, one might surely have the secrets to healing Covid19 and other diseases like HIV AIDS too.

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A turmeric plant which has many medicinal uses.
Source. Internet 

PNG's founding Chief's unsettled chiefly farewell and tribute amassing.

 

A hero is someone who has given his life to something bigger oneself. _Joseph Campbell_

I was born after 1975 but growing up hearing stories of my dad and older people, the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare (GC SMTS) was one profound leader who led with pure gold coated heart to unite a country that would have been into fragments if it was late 80s or 90s if we did vied for independence.

This native PNG bloke with teaching interests, a radio personality turned politician was a brilliant tactician behind PNG's Independence. 

He presented precisely to the people at the rallies to inform people of self governance and independence. As a former radio announcer, he did tremendously well on the airwaves to bring awareness to the wider PNG audience. 

He was loved, admired and followed by many PNG people those times because of his ability to lead the nation into independence was a dream bigger than himself.

The radio announcements and rally presentations in major townships were never enough for GCSMTS, he flew to the provinces and walked miles, rode the rough seas on the boats or hiked to the mountainous districts in the Highlands.

His Highlands tours includes remote Baiyer in WHP and Laiagam in Enga including parts of Simbu. My dad met up with him when he was a translator for Kiaps in Laiagam and told me of this Wanwara Sepik dude. He was open, transparent and charismatic in all his approaches, a rare Sepik personality. He always reference him with Late Malipu Balakau whom my dad had close relations back those days. 

88They were blokes who could lead as true leaders because they grew up in Hausman and Chieftaincy genes were naturally instilled whilst  the Western leadership traits (Westminster) were learnt and blended well for a PNG's own style of leadership to take the country forward.

A unique kind of leadership that can negotiate for power between our European colonizers and more than 800 different tribal leaders of PNG. A daunting task without the support of modern luxury and convenience. Late GCSMTS took the bull by its horn to win a battle with personal sacrifice and the ultimatum goal was won on 16th September, 1975.  

So looking back to the historical data, GCSMTS visited the Highlands (including Laiagam) in June 1972. Then on, I do not know when again the now Late Grand Chief set foot in Enga or Laiagam. I grew up hearing stories from my dad about him, his province during his Kiap patrol duties to Strickland River and Sepik boarder areas.

I began reading his profile when I was in Grade Six through a Oil Search Magazine and I was his great follower. At times, I paused to understand how he was born and his parents took care of him during the WWII days. If there's anyone that GCSMTS does shares his childhood growing up experiences and memories, my curiosity will settle at ease because he is no longer around to tell me and others himself of his childhood days.

A village kid has had the destiny and dream set straight on his mind that no-one knew but the Man above knew and planned that he would be one day significant leader of the nation of many tribes and his people shall happily called him Grand Chief (Papa bilong PNG), yes I'm one of his fortunately an independence child.

As his fan and follower, I've never lost focus on him with his active leadership as MP and Prime Minister of PNG or after he retired from politics in 2016. I do not know how it felt like to quit on a fatherly role over his sons and daughters of PNG. I'm for sure, he made a very difficult decisions ever in his life which could be another lesson for us to learn and follow.

An agony that has been never settled in my life is the time when some young immature leaders have shown no respect for him and took the PM portfolio by force in 2011 when he was on the sick bed in Singapore. A total disgrace with no show of respect and empathy over the situation a father of PNG was in - how can such be forgive?

That was never enough, they called him stranger in the Parliament when he attended Parliament sessions after the illness.
For GCSMTS, he forgives and forgets, that's his unique and gold coated leadership trait. However, for me as a follower of Late GCSMTS, I've never forgiven those people yet.

For now, I'm seeing and reading various tributes and sentiments expressed by PNG sons and daughters towards our late GCSMTS as well as from fellow foreign colleagues, friends and diplomats during this time of grief and sorrow but there's nothing satisfying yet for nearly 80% of the PNG population to agree or disagree about his burial site at Kreer Heights in Wewak.

The late GCSMTS prepared himself to rest at Kreer Heights in Wewak some 5years back which most people of PNG did not know and the MPs of Parliament knew but seems like an intentional oversight by the MPs.

The late GCSMTS planned for himself to be buried out of Independence Hill and at Kreer Heights in Wewak which none of the MPs talked about it earlier or debated in the floor of the parliament when he was alive because this is of national importance too.

Now, it's too late for the MPs or other concerned parties to talk about the change in burial site because a Will is before his coffin.
Any debate now will not have effect on the change of the burial site, hence the Will needs to be honored now.

If I were one learned MP then I would have planned and invited late GCSMTS (when he was alive) to my district or province to give him a fitting farewell when he retired from politics. Kudos to Hon. Pila Ninigi, the MP for Imbongu who knew what he was doing by inviting the Late GCSMTS to Imbongu on September 2019 for celebrating the District Cultural Show. 

The Imbongu people hosted late GCSMTS and bided a fitting farewell and now they should be proud of what they did for the Grand Chief.

Credit also to Hon. Sir Julias Chan for hosting the Late GCSMTS for the 45th Independence Celebrations in New Ireland Province.
I'm sure the late GCSMTS honors you and Hon.Pila Ninigi's efforts to host him as a special guests during those events in your provinces.

I only wish if my Governor of Enga or Lagaip/Pogera MP did something similar to what Imbongu MP or Governor Sir. Julias Chan did for late GCSMTS so he could touch and feel the 20th century Enga and Laiagam when he was around to reminisce the 1973 memories.

Now, the request for flying late GCSMTS dead body over to 22 provinces seems higher wish for people of PNG but this won't make any significant impact for our wish to see him alive and well. We all missed his lively presence to smile and hand wave us once and for a lifetime farewell - not over his coffin.

My only hurtful feeling combined into my sorrow and grief over GCSMTS is that, why didn't he scheduled with those MPs and revisited the highlands places of 1973 he visited as a young Sepik fellow - I know, its too late now.

Rest in Eternity GCSMTS, Enga's Laiagam bai still stap Wanwara bilong Sepik olgeta taim.

PNG Community Information Center (PNGCiC) donates reading books to Sirinumu Primary School

“A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.” Salman Rashdie

During the 2020 Graduation for Sirinumu Primary School the school board decided to send an Invitation to PNG Community Information Center (a voluntary reading book collecting and donating origination)

The PNGCiC advocates reading to improve literacy from elementary to adult in the communities. It is a voluntary activity in which PNGCiC partners with interested community-based organizations, churches and schools to promote this concept of reading books for literature improvement.

Hence, Sirinumu Primary School is one of the selected sites for PNGCiC and setting up of the Community Library started in 2015 when a feasibility study into tourism product viability was conducted in the area. The need for Community Information Center (Library) was proposed and the school took the ownership on the proposed idea to make it a reality and the first boxes of books were donated to the school in 2018.

Additional sports equipment (soccer balls, volley ball with net, basketball) and exercise books were sponsored by @Theodist through the good friends Ryan and Jason Pini.

In the recent 2020 Graduation Day, PNGCiC presented more than 80kg books in 3x boxes with a pledge to collect more books for the school in the near future with focus in; (i) collecting books/literature and documents relating to Koiari people (culture and history) (ii) collecting books/articles/research documents and information relating to Sirinumu Dam (iii) and encourage the locals to document their own traditional stories ,myths and legends to preserve in literature form instead of oral histories.

PNGCiC will be working with interested schools (especially in the remote areas) on voluntarily basis to setup similar Community Information Center (library) to help improve the literature levels of our children as well as the adult population.

If any individual, group, organization, state agencies, institutions or companies would like to donate any used reading books, copies of research documents, case studies about communities in PNG then do not hesitate to contact us. We will liaise with you with our volunteers on the ground for collection of the donations.

Follow this site for other updates of PNGCiC;

https://business.google.com/u/2/dashboard/l/12483113598050573355

The photos attached are from the recent reading books donation at Sirinumu Primary School during the 2020 graduation ceremony.

Local youths carrying the book boxes from the boat to school

The graduation grandstand with donated reading books on the left

The graduating students of 2020 

loading of books onto the community boat from the Dam Bridge