|
|
Throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans are an amazing variety of communities exemplifying the diversity of the human population. ENDANGERED ISLANDS EXPEDITION will work with a collective of islanders to create a dynamic portrait of uniquely distinctive cultural perspectives, all of whom remain deeply connected with ancestral traditions.
Our series will begin in the Pacific Ocean with a focus on regions in the countries of Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Trobriand Islands and Kiribati. In the Indian Ocean our projected destinations include West Papua and the Mentawai Islands.
The intention of ENDANGERED ISLANDS EXPEDITION is to find locations that exist far outside of highly developed, highly trafficked areas. We will avoid heavily populated regions, common tourist destinations and urban centres, instead seeking out remote places that remain relatively inaccessible, where traditional lifestyles are widely practised.
|
|
The objective of ENDANGERED ISLANDS EXPEDITION is to work with indigenous peoples in some of the most richly diverse and remote regions of our planet to preserve their knowledge before it is lost to us permanently .
|
SAMPLE LOCATIONS OF THE EXPEDITION
|
- SIBERUT, THE MENTAWAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA
- THE BANKS, TORRES ARCHIPELAGO, VANUATU
- THE GILBERT ISLANDS, KIRIBATI, MICRONESIA
- ASMAT TERRITORY, WEST PAPUA
and others:
FIJI ISLANDS
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
THE MARQUESAS
TONGA
TUVALU |
|
|
|
|
|
SIBERUT, THE MENTAWAI ISLANDS
INDONESIA |
|
- The Mentawai are considered to be one of the best preserved indigenous cultures in the world
- They face aggressive government intervention to eradicate traditional practices
- They are a shamanistic people, spiritually connected with their disappearing jungle environment
- Their Sikeireis (Shamans) know the secrets of every plant in the rainforest |
| The small Mentawai Archipelago is made up of four islands located about 150 kilometres off the coast of west Sumatra. The largest and most northern of the islands is Siberut, which is inhabited by roughly 23,000 Mentawai people and a small number of migrants. Abundant in endemic species and lush rainforest, Siberut’s isolated geographical location has resulted in little documentation of the island to this day. Only on Siberut do the Mentawai people continue to adhere to ancestral traditions. Sadly, Mentawai sacred and customary practices are facing extinction due to government outlawing of their animistic religion, iconic tattoos, traditional dress, and what is the last Mentawai stronghold, the ‘Uma’ or clan house. In addition, massive destruction of their rain forest is wiping out hundreds of species of sacred medicinal plants and trees. Among the Mentawai people, trees are owned rather than the land, which has allowed for easy exploitation by logging companies. |
|
|
|
|
|
| THE BANKS - TORRES ARCHIPELAGO, VANUATU, MELANESIA |
|
- Vanuatu is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world
- The Banks-Torres islands are the least accessible in the country, untouched by modern development
- Powerful oral tradition, ancestral mythology and ceremonial practice remain vital to ni-Vanuatu
- Changes in village institutions and perceptions of authority structures pose a significant cultural and environmental threat |
| Vanuatu is one of Melanesia’s four independent states. Largely untouched by modern development, its population is just over 200,000, spread throughout a chain of 83 islands. Though the country’s highest concentration of population lives in the urban capital of Port Vila, the majority of ni-Vanuatu (indigenous inhabitants) live in rural areas maintaining subsistence based agriculture. All of Vanuatu comprises a rich culture of tradition and ritual with an amazingly diverse and complex collection of over 100 distinct cultures and languages. In the northern region are the Banks and Torres Islands, the most inaccessible in the group, entirely untouched by modern development. Here, indigenous traditional communities are the norm where a strong cultural identity is manifested in ritual celebrations and social life. Vanuatu’s world renowned practice of sand drawing – a method of illustrating legends, folklore and tradition by drawing symbolic figures in the sand through uninterrupted movement - has been handed down over generations and was recently proclaimed by UNESCO to be a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’. With no written language, this form of cultural representation is of paramount importance to the preservation of Vanuatu cultular heritage. |
|
|
|
|
|
THE GILBERT ISLANDS, KIRIBATI
MICRONESIA |
|
- Indigenous martial art, ceremonial dance and initiation rites are traditional customs still widely practised
- each community is governed by a chief and council of elderly men
- The maneaba is the community meeting house, Next to the war canoe it is the masterpiece of THIS culture
- The Gilberts are low lying atolls, under serious threat due to global warming and sea level rise |
| Kiribati is an isolated group of small islands spread out over more than one million square miles of ocean. Almost all of the islands are low atolls enclosing lagoons, rarely more than 12 ft (4 m) above sea level. The people of Kiribati are Micronesian with Polynesian ancestry. The Gilberts comprise 16 of a total 33 islands, most of which are so remote, visitors of any kind are exceptionally rare. From missionary influence, Christianity is widespread throughout the Gilberts, however ancient belief structure based in the power of magic, ritual and the spirit world (anti) is still widespread. This original belief system is rarely recognised as the religion of record, but often forms an undercurrent to a Christian substructure. Presently, Kiribati is faced with increasingly serious environmental degradation including increased coral mortality, decline in fisheries and other marine life, loss of biodiversity in mangroves and other indigenous flora and shoreline erosion. Many of the islands will become uninhabited long before they disappear, as salt from the sea contaminates underground fresh water supplies. |
|
|
|
|
|
ASMAT TERRITORY, WEST PAPUA
INDONESIA |
|
- The Asmat are deeply connected with ancestral spirits through an animistic belief structure
- Known for their exceptional designs in woodcarving, considered among the world’s finest
- The Asmat continue a difficult struggle to retain ancestral land and cultural heritage in the wake of a repressive military regime
- Magic, ritual and ceremony bind the Asmat people to each other and their environment |
| West Papua, also known as Irian Jaya, is the western half of the second largest island in the world, Papua New Guinea. Along the remote south-western coast of Papua live the Asmats, a tree-dwelling tribe renowned for their unique cultural practices. For centuries the Asmat have been dedicated to appeasing ancestral spirits, producing a wealth of superbly designed canoes, sculptured figures, and drums. Boldly painted and carved shields are the most significant and powerful artistic expression of the Asmat people. Ritual practice and ceremonial rites remain an integral aspect of Asmat social life and a continuity between tradition and modernism is common in Asmat custom. Both the Asmat culture and their environment are currently in serious jeopardy from repressive government intervention and irresponsible commercial activity. The Asmat, along with all indigenous peoples of Papua remain committed to the struggle for cultural and political autonomy. |
|
|
|
|
|
- strong oral tradition and dance play a vital role within indigenous communities
- many village elders are dedicated to retaining knowledge of Fijian custom, protocol, and tradition
- of Fiji’s more than 300 islands, many are remote and entirely undeveloped where indigenous villages thrive |
- PNG ranks within the top 5 most diverse places on Earth
- exchange of wealth is based on a complex and ancient system of reciprocity
- next to the chief and sorcerer, the garden magician is the most important person in the village and magic and ritual remain central components of indigenous culture |
- most people consider themselves as part of an immediate family of 200 and can trace their family lineage back at least 10 generations
- sharks are worshiped and believed to be the reincarnation of ancestors
- there are over 80 different local languages and even more dialects
|
- modern development has not reached the Marquesas and traditional culture remains strong
- the island group contains the biggest collection of historic remains in the whole South pacific
- traditional Marquesan culture almost disappeared under French influence, however there has been a strong movement toward revitalising indigenous tradition |
- Tongans believe strongly in the extended communal family unit, with no real sense of possession over their children
- the main aspects of culture that have remained throughout generations are song, dance, gender roles and the concept of respect
- Tongans maintain a complex family ranking system whereby the eldest female (and her descendants) hold higher rank within the family than males
|
- it is predicted that the islands of Tuvalu may be submerged within the next 50 years
-Tuvalu is one of the smallest and most isolated nations in the world where traditional life is still an important and visible ingredient in daily life
- the outer islands of Tuvalu consist of self-governing villages and live mostly from subsistence agriculture and fishing |
THE LIST OF EIE LOCATIONS IS IN DEVELOPMENT AND IS BECOMING MORE LOCALIZED.
|
© Copyright 2003 - 2005 Endangered Islands Expedition Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
