Oral History Programs
In many parts of PNG, there are
seniors who were alive when their society first had contact with the
outside world – in the 1930s and 1940s. Thus they have seen
extraordinary changes in their lives. Some of these changes have
resulted in tribal history, attitudes, and cultural practices becoming
little-known or lost forever.
Oral history is a method
of preserving such knowledge for posterity. In 1994, with funding from
the Myer Foundation, we conducted the first part of a program to record
the oral history of the remote Gumine District. The community response
was enthusiastic, and interviews were recorded with around 30 seniors.
These have now been translated and stored in a database.
Further funding is needed
to complete this program – please contact Graham_Ogle@hopeww.org if you
may be able to help.