THE DAWN HAS FINALLY COME TO THE TORRICELLI MOUNTAIN RANGES

Torricelli Mountain Range as a legislated Protected Area- and the Torricelli Mountain Range Communities Inherent and Intrinsic Connection to the Land

This article analyses the Tenkile Conservation Authority’s 2016 Annual Report objectives accessed from www.tenkile.com. The two main objectives analysed are:

1.       Objective 3 “Establish the Torricelli Mountain Range as a legislated Protected Area to ensure the protection of all biodiversity and culture.”

2.       Research & Benefits- Research has been conducted in the name of the protection of Tenkile (Scots Tree Kangaroo) by researchers and experts from overseas in association with the TCA in the Conservation areas.

The Tenkile Conservation Authority (TCA) in its Annual Report 2016 stipulates in the Objective 3 to “Establish the Torricelli Mountain Range as a legislated Protected Area to ensure the protection of all biodiversity and culture.”

While this is a good direction towards conserving the flora and fauna, other questions have to be properly answered. Questions such as whether ‘all’ (where the Tenkile/Rengile [Tree Kangaroo] and other endangered species are found) Torricelli Mountain Range communities’ ‘informed consent’ is taken. On this note, in the Melanesian culture, ‘informed consent’ in this light does not merely refer to an individual making a decision which is the concept in the Western world. Rather, it is a communal thing as the ownership to the land is a clan thing, thus, a communal consensus has to be reached.

 

The second question is whether the Torricelli community is prepared to accept the change and development. In regards to the later, development does not merely relates to the changes that happens in the communities rather it is holistic in nature. It also applies to the people themselves whether they have been prepared to undergo change and embrace the change. On this note, the activities and the moratorium agreement is now affecting the normal livelihood of the people and this has to be supplemented. In the meantime, TCA has provided basic services such as water tanks and has supplemented the people’s protein diet by introducing farming of Rabbits, Fish, Chicken and so forth, although the success is  minimal. On that note, the idea on Conservation is very good; moreover the conservation has to be sustainable in terms of providing alternative ways of income to the people and showing them how to survive without hunting and doing activities that disturbs the habitat of the endangered species.  

The majority of the people in the Torricelli meanwhile are illiterate and have no other ways of making ends meet without their land. Besides, in the Torricelli context and in Melanesia, the Land is the people’s heritage, it is their life. Thus, in this light, to take away the life of the people (their land) and impose conservation is simply destructing to the intrinsic value of the people who very much have a strong connection to their land. Henceforth, the TCA regardless of whatever form of business it engages in for that matter must be able to communicate this effectively to the people. In addition, no companies, no amount of money, whatsoever, is able to compensate the value of land and what it means to the Torricelli people. To the people, land is simply the extension of their life, it is their life. Furthermore the Conservation, its partners and the government must be prepared to provide alternative means for the people to continually sustain their living once the land is gone and some of their traditional and cultural rights that are inherent are taken away from them once Torricelli Range becomes a fully protected area.

Research and Benefits

The Tenkile Conservation Authority for some time now has collaborated with overseas researchers or permit overseas student researchers to do research within the Torricelli Mountain villages according to their Annual reports. On this note, whether ethical clearance has been given by the National Research Institute or the Environment and Conservation institutions within the country is not known. Moreover, it is evident from the TCA publications that research has been going on in the Torricelli Mountain range. This now pose a concern that has to been questioned from all possible angles in the context of research itself.

First of all, research is very important because it establish facts and new conclusions to make the world a better place to live. However, there are also darker sides to research as far as the history of this country is concerned. In this regard, history has demonstrated that key governmental research institutions within the country lack facilities, capital and logistics to effectively protect the interest of the people. A typical example of the darker side of research that gained world-wide attention in 1995 was the Jenkins saga (Taubes, 1995).

Thus research also has a darker side even in this modern world if code of conduct is not adhered to. Within this perspective, research in Melanesia is characterised by giving and getting. According to (Trompf, 1991, p.64) “Melanesian social life is a constant give and take”. Therefore, the researcher and research institutions must take into account the ‘giving and the getting’ and this should be experienced in tangible terms not merely by research participants but the communities as a whole because land is a communal asset. The Belmont Report specifically enjoins researchers to have regard for the beneficence of participants (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioural Research, 1979; National Health and Medical Research Council, 1997, 1999; Sieber, 1992). In the context of the Belmont Report, while this is true for the biomedical research on human participants, it is also very true in the Melanesian context where land is life and giving of land for something is the giving of life as it is intrinsic in nature and comes with serious consequences if not managed properly.

In addition according to Togolo (2002, p.214), “one distinct difference between Western and Melanesian understanding is summarised by the holistic epistemology of the Melanesian, such that single causes are unlikely and effects are caused by the conjunction of disharmony or harmony between communities, people, and natural elements of the world.” Thus in this notion, research should not be conducted just to be conducted without any obligations to the participants and their rights to the land, the animals and the environment.

Further Thoughts

In conclusion, Tenkile Conservation Authority is a major conservation programme that is happening in West Sepik Province and the country at large. It is paving the way forward for the West Sepik Province and the country to engage in sustainable development projects that is environment friendly as opposed to the country’s development norm of engaging in non- sustainable projects (projects that destroys the environment).

Yes, for the Torricelli people, it is a dawn to a new era with a promising future. However this future is also fragile and is vulnerable to extrinsic factors that can break and destroy the future. Hence, more support is needed from every professional from the Torricelli area and those of the government and the nationals who have the patriotic feeling to ensure benefits to the people is maximised. Altogether, this is needed to ensure that holistic sustainability is achieved in the project before the dawn truly becomes the day.

REFERENCE

All images are assessed from www.tenkile.com

National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont Report: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. USA.

Taubes, T. (1995, November 17). Scientists Attacked for ‘Patenting’ Pacific Tribe. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 270, 1112. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/2890331

Tenkile Conservation Alliance. (2016). 2016 Annual Report. Retrieved from www.tenkile.com 

Togolo, M. (2002). My land my place: the times they are a changing: The Melanesian philosophy of land and development in Papua New Guinea. In N. Sullivan (Ed.), Culture ad Progress (pp. 214-228). Madang: DWU Press.

Trompf, G. W. (1991). Melanesian Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 

THE WAY FORWARD: LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT

Papua New Guinea and especially West Sepik Province and for that matter Aitape-Lumi, as a collective people, has to shift from looking at the developments aspects that involves international companies (Asians and others). Looking at a typical case scenario especially in Aitape, for so long there were numerous involvement of logging companies and others of similar nature which mainly involved Asians. These companies come and go whilst others renewed their contracts or are now engaged in new forms of development. The Aitape peoples’ association and engagement in such development forms for so long has depleted us of our resources and no tangible change has emerged as a result of these development engagements. The logical question now that entails to such development approach is, “Do we as a people, Province and Country continue in the same path?”

PNG whilst on the verge of achieving independence, the newspaper article by Canberra Times (1973) published a section that states that the way of life for the developed world is possible because the third world is exploited. This idea for some time now underlies the need for the international companies to make profit in the name of development among developing countries. On the other hand, poor living conditions and standards in the developing countries such as PNG press forth their need for development which is provided by the international companies. However, conceptualizations of development with international companies in the developing countries have always been positive and negative.

Meyer (2004) observed that there are both positive and negative impacts of multinational enterprises in emerging economies. Peredo, Anderson, Galbraith, Honig and Dana (2004) assert in their analysis that the main issue among indigenous people and the international companies is that, the indigenous people have always try to actively assert rights over their resources against the international companies dealing with development. Whiteman (2009) later supports this concept by stating that while indigenous people appreciate development by international companies, the people are often poor and do not have control over developments taking place in their land. This altogether adds to the list of description of the relationship of developing countries and the international companies.

In the light of the above discussed arguments, studies have indicated otherwise that we as individuals and as a people should shift our development approach. This is a wakeup call for us now to focus more on local development or indigenous development. This approach means that, we as nationals should start rising up to carry the developments ourselves. Development in this regards involves our personal contribution to our families, our communities, districts, province and the nation at large with whatever capabilities and resources that we have. So much knowledge, skills and expertise have been wasted and eventually buried in the grave when we become selfish and live selfish lives.

What should I do, what must I contribute?    

Reference

Canberra Times. (1973, February 26). And here’s three ways to get involved: social action. Canberra, ACT: 1950 – 2007, p.18. Retrieved from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/

Meyer, K. E. (2004). Perspectives on multinational enterprises in emerging economies. Journal of international business studies, 35(4), 259-276. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400084

 

Peredo, A. M., Anderson, R. B., Galbraith, C., Honig, B., & Dana, L. P. (2004). Towards a theory of indigenous entrepreneurship. Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 1(1/2).

Whiteman, G. (2009). All my relations: Understanding perceptions of justice and conflict between companies and indigenous peoples. Organization studies, 30(1), 101-120. doi: 10.1177/0170840608100518

 

 

 

 

CIRCULAR               

West Aitape Inland Grassroots Development is a non-profit, Non-Government, volunteer and community-based organization. It is an Organization that is organized to add value to the lives of the Aitape-Lumi people without cost. The name of the Organization for clarification purposes suggests the scope of work that it is currently operating in its initial stage. Upon its establishment and successful development delivery, the Organization will increase its scope of work and catchment area to cover Aitape-Lumi district. This will culminate in the change of its name in the near future.

We are a volunteer CBO that specializes in providing free development consultation services and facilitate community based development trainings every year. Further, we also engage and facilitate community base development projects. All of this is done with a patriotic spirit and love without cost.

Having given the brief profile, we are pleased to announce that our first ever programme will be carried out this Christmas.  The week long programme will fall on the third week of December from the dates December 15^th to the 22^nd of December, 2019. This initial programme will be held in Koiniri village, ward 12 of West Aitape LLG.  

 The features of this programme will cover free trainings and awareness on:

       1.      Land Tenure-ship and Development (customary Land and others)

2.      Law (legal aspects of development)

3.      Health programs (varieties)

4.      Eco-Tourism and Development

5.      And others of similar nature

6.      With a short evening worship program

 The free training and awareness program will be conducted by likeminded individuals who are experts in their filed. They are people of pedigree who would love to give back to their communities without cost. Thus, the organization provides the platform by which they are more than happy to voluntarily share knowledge, skills and expertise to add value to our communities.

 In addition, the climax of the program is the official training and launching of the Organization’s Eco-Tourism Project.

 In closing West Aitape Inland Grassroots Development is committed and dedicated to create a community based development momentum with God first approach that will very soon have a thunderous and rippling effect right throughout all our beautiful villages.

Please plan to be there.

On behalf of the committed West Aitape Inland Grassroots Development Team,

 Jan Epera Yomun (WAIGD President)