The Gida Initiative - protecting Motu cultural heritage
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ABOUT PROJECT GIDA
Invigorating Motu Cultural Heritage
Papua New Guinea
(Central Province marked in red)
INTRODUCTION
The Motu tribes traditionally inhabit thirteen villages in the narrow tropical savannah belt along the coast of Central Province, Papua New Guinea. Port Moresby sits in the middle of this belt (see above map).
The Motu were once a primarily seafaring people who built enormous, multi-hulled sailing ships (lagatoi) and navigated by the stars to trade their pottery for sago with the Kerema people across the Gulf of Papua to the swampy west.
Their traditional culture has been growing increasingly diluted over the last 140 years since exposure to western ideology, values and practices. The change began with the landing of the white man, who was, and still is, referred to as Taubada ('great man'), a term that reinforces profound deference. This deference has been so ingrained as to be perpetuated by the Motu people themselves through national independence right into the ultra modern age of iPhones, Climate Change and the Global Indigenous Movement; it is manifested by the steady and alarming decline of their daily traditional cultural practice.
It is progressive to understand and recognise that adherance to tradition does not necessarily mean backwardness or impracticality. It is not about reverting to a bygone era, recreating history or indulging in pageantry, but about grasping meaningful expressions from the old and the new, to live and revel daily in the incredible diversity and richness that one has inherited.
It is time to revise current practice and try to make room for practical knowledge and skills that were developed over millenia; things that gave character and depth to Motu society, which can continue to do so for future generations of proud, strong Motuans.
It has never been more critical for Motuans to retain their heritage and culture. There is increasing pressure for the Motu village of Hanuabada (the largest Motu community with a current population of over 30,000) to be relocated away from Port Moresby to allow inhindered growth of the metropolis, whilst giving unrestricted usage of traditional Motu land and waterfronts which comprise much of Port Moresby. Generations of neglect in health and welfare, and recent lethal police raids on Motu communities for minor offences are well documented. The Motu are being weakened, not strengthened - an advantage in the process of their final displacement, which for the integrity of Motu society may very well be the estocada. If urgent action is not taken, the Motu may find themselves fragmented and washed up, out of harm's way of the city and nation, held together with only a frayed and unravelling cultural thread.
In the process of cultural salvation one must remain realistic. Some ancient practices may have been negative or harmful, eg tribal warfare and human trophy collection - they may best be kept in the history books. Some elements may still be useful today, eg Motu herbal medicine - let's try to evolve them so their advantages may be utilised. Some elements may have been abandoned because they were poorly judged or inadvertantly wiped out in the days of White Supremacy, eg pottery - let's investigate the possibility that they are still relevant/useful/enriching but only need re-thinking or cultivation. The Motu must examine their cultural dilution, to stand up and embrace their very identity and fight for what they cannot afford to lose.
Listen to 'Vieke'. This song is from Hanuabada village. It can be sung solo, or in a group.
PROJECT GIDA
Project Gida (or Gida) is the umbrella name for activities designed to protect and invigorate fading traditions. ‘Gida’ [pronounced GHEE-da] is the Motu word for 'embers’ - remnants of a fire. This name was chosen to hit home the idea that the embers of Motu culture can either be left to die down to cold ashes, or fanned back into flame. It’s a choice; the former requires the decision to take no action, while the latter demands the decision to take immediate, urgent action.
Gida is the brainchild of Tomás Dietz (Australian, of Motu descent), who is launching the inaugural Operation 'Raro at Boera' in collaboration with Laurabada Consultancy (Cairns, Australia). The goal is for Gida to eventually be driven and managed by the on-ground Motu community itself, to endow it with longevity from their own enduring inspiration and commitment. With enthusiastic support from the PNG Office of Tourism and Culture, the Elevala Women's Group, and a fast growing number of individual villagers themselves, this goal is already well on it's way to being realised.
Funding:
Gida currently has no formal affiliation with any organisation. It is community oriented and non-profit, funded solely by Tomás Dietz and donations from members of the community.
RELEVANCE
It is by finding relevance that ancient knowledge and cultural practice can be given the chance to endure and contribute to cultural well-being. Indeed, without relevance, any tradition is doomed. Relevance is Gida's key to success. Gida is not about preserving traditions in a jar, where any revival becomes a task of resurrection from the dead. Rather it’s focussed on ensuring that living traditions maintain purpose and relevance, and are practical to modern day Motuans and their increasigly metropolitan life-style.
IMPACT ON SOCIAL FABRIC
It’s lamentable that the Motu people have come to lose touch with a significant proportion of their traditions in their process of modernisation. Importantly, I see a correlation between the loss of traditional culture and the fraying of the social fabric. Gida’s goals have the potential to greatly reinforce the fabric of Motu society, to give today’s youth, and future generations a living heritage that carries its people forward with an unshakeable sense of identity, pride and place.
OBJECTIVES
All projects under Gida will pursue four main objectives:
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to work closely with living treasures - elders experienced in Traditional Cultural Practice (TCP);
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to document every detail of living traditional cultural practice;
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to identify and implement ways in which the modern lifestyle will support TCP;
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to empower Motuans to align future decisions and practices with the aims of Gida, and take ownership of the Project.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
In order to raise awareness, inspire and motivate Motuans to proudly wear the mantle of tradition, I have launched a Facebook Group, also called ‘Gida’. Members are welcome from all walks of life, since the traditions of the Motu people are also human traditions that belong to every person on this planet. Thus the impact of the successful work of Gida will undoubtedly have enormous, far-reaching and enduring psychological, social, ecomomic and historical significance.
SUB-PROJECTS OF GIDA - 'OPERATIONS'
It can be safely said that in the traditional Motu culture, every aspect of the complex web of cultural expression is interlinked, and interdependent. When one expression weakens, it is the beginning of the unravelling of the entire web. When the webmakers are gone, or are unable to repair the web, it is doomed to exist no more.
These myriad elements of cultural expression and their attendant specialised vocabularies include:
hunting; herbal medicine; first aid; bushcraft and survival skills; bush foods; fishing; navigation; making canoes; ocean voyages; knowledge of weather patterns; knowledge of animal behaviour; weaving; singing; dancing; making musical instruments; agriculture; indentification of flora and fauna; making ceremonial costumes; making every day wear; architecture; sorcery; children's games; technical vocabulary; cookery; legends; pottery; tattoos; etiquette; social ties and kinship; making fire; finding water; making dyes; cosmetics; jewellery; brideprice; trade; making string and rope; knots and fastenings; carving; preserving food… and the list goes on.
Each of these aspects will be tackled by the Gida Team as it gains momentum, each under its own unique title, such as 'Operation Labana' for hunting, 'Operation Biru' for agriculture, 'Operation Kinimura' for herbal medicine, 'Operation Raro' for clay pottery, etc. Within each Operation may be sub-sections, which will be called 'Chapters'.
To peruse current Operations please engage the drop-down menu under the 'Current Operations' heading in the navigation bar at the top of this page.
Our immediate task is the salvation of traditional pottery production, under 'Operation Raro'. Pottery production is almost extinct, practiced by only one woman in Boera Village. This is Gida's first call to action, launched under 'The Boera Chapter'.
Gida is not for profit.
We rely on public donations to continue productively.
Please support our work with your kind donation.
Thank you.