Wild partners : indigenous worlds and industrial giants in Papua New Guinea / Patrick Guinness.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Guinness, Patrick, author.

Series:

Monographs in anthropology series

Monographs in anthropology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lakalai (Melanesian people)--Social conditions.

Lakalai (Melanesian people).

Ethnology--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Ethnology.

Language and culture--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Language and culture.

Social change--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Social change.

Natural resources--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Natural resources.

Palm oil industry--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Palm oil industry.

Logging--Papua New Guinea--West New Britain Province.

Logging.

West New Britain Province (Papua New Guinea)--Social life and customs.

West New Britain Province (Papua New Guinea).

West New Britain Province (Papua New Guinea)--Economic conditions.

Physical Description:

xiii, 268 pages illustrations 24 cm.

Other Title:

Indigenous worlds and industrial giants in Papua New Guinea

Place of Publication:

Canberra, ACT, Australia : Australian National University ANU Press, [2026]

Summary:

Wild Partners traces the history of the Maututu Nakanai of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. According to a Maututu ontology, or worldview, they are surrounded by a forest filled with threatening wild forces. It is believed that outstanding men and women pioneer ways to engage these forces to bring benefit to their village community. In recent times, the Maututu have had to engage with human outsiders, including government officers, church administrators, industrial managers and migrant settlers, who like their mythological counterparts have threatened to disrupt the established world. This study captures Maututu approaches to the threats and challenges they have faced over the last hundred years--the proclamation of the Christian world, the dislocation of the Pacific war, the development programs of the colonial and independent governments and the industrial expansion of oil palm. The challenges have at times threatened the very essence of their being through the destruction of forests, loss of land, competition for schooling and health care, marginalisation within the oil palm industry and the emergence of 'big shot' individuals who ignore community obligations. Maututu have adapted to these threats, becoming successful oil palm producers and prominent professionals throughout Papua New Guinea while seeking to rejuvenate Christianity, protect forest and marine environments and build partnerships that benefit their village communities. Central to these efforts has been partnership with outside forces.

Contents:

List of illustrations

Acronyms

Acknowledgements

The wild and home

Partners

Foreign crops and home initiatives

The violence of logging and oil palm

Village oil palm as engagement with the wild

Home and outside: Ontological points of tension for village oil palm

Accommodating the wild and transforming the domestic

Spirit partnerships in industrial times

Restoring the wild as partner

Conclusion

Glossary

Appendix

References.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Other Format:

Online version: Wild partners : Indigenous worlds and industrial giants in Papua New Guinea.

ISBN:

9781760467159

1760467154

OCLC:

1548612913

Publisher Number:

90104394219