Indigenous perspective on the collection of traditional Bongainville culture and art; past, present and future

In this paper issues of ownership and protection of intellectual property of traditional art and culture are scrutinised. In particular, it addresses issues surrounding the historical lifting and acquisition of huge volumes of traditional art and treasures within the last 200 years by various collectors, including traders, colonial officials, missionaries and private collectors. Access to traditional art and artifacts now preserved in western museums is of critical concern to indigenous peoples. Today, many cultures that are threatened in their survival are unaware where significant collections are kept and how to access them. Westernisation has both eroded indigenous culture and stored its material evidence in inaccessible places. Indigenous peoples around the world are wondering what has happened to collections, which are often not on display. Our attempt with the Yumi Yet exhibition to examine today's Bougainville culture in the light of the never before exhibited Bougainville art from the Australian Museum raises a discussion between past and present. We wish to open up a meaningful dialogue between institutions and various cultural bodies and peoples to facilitate the future return of significant art to their rightful owners. Bodies such as UMAC and ICOM and the curators of university and public collections could become vital facilitators in the establishment of such dialogues and negotiations. Under what safeguards and conditions should these collections be managed and returned? From an indigenous perspective, arguments within countries as to who are the rightful owners and custodians for the return of such treasures emerge. Is it for the state or cultural bodies within the indigenous culture to take on the responsibility for the preservation, acculturation and future of the collections, or will the works be claimed by clans and tribes or individuals? Whilst traditional societies are rich in art and culture, knowledge of preservation and curatorial skills lag behind western institutions. For the preservation and development of art and culture now and in the future, how can knowledge transfer from more advanced countries be made accessible to indigenous peoples such as Bougainville?Este artigo discute diversos assuntos relacionados com a posse e a protecçâo da propriedade intelectual de obras de arte e cultura tradicionais. Em particular, a aquisiçâo e saque histórico de grandes quantidades de tesouros e de obras de arte tradicional levados a cabo nos ûltimos duzentos anos por coleccionadores privados, comerciantes, entidades coloniais e missionaries. O actual acesso a estas obras, na sua maioria preservadas nos museus ocidentais constitui um factor de grande preocupaçâo para os povos indigenas. Muitas culturas hoje ameaçadas de extinçâo ignoram os locais onde as colecçôes se encontram e comò Ihes aceder. Com efeito, o processo de 'ocidentalizaçâo' nâo se limitou apenas a desgastar as culturas indigenas, tendo igualmente armazenado em locais inacessiveis (nem sempre em exposiçâo) os seus vestigios materiais. A exposiçâo Yumi Yet [apresentada na Galeria de Arte da Universidade de Macquarie, Nova Gales do Sul, Australia] baseou-se em objectas da arte e cultura tradicionais da ilha de Bougainville para construir um discurso expositivo que estabelecesse o dialogo entre o passado e o presente. As peças pertenciam ao Museu Australiano (Sydney) e nunca tinham sido expostas anteriormente. Esperamos ter suscitado um dialogo frutuoso entre diversas instituiçôes, entidades culturais e povos, por forma a facilitar a futura restituiçâo de muitas peças aos seus legitimos proprietaries. Neste tipo de negociaçôes complexas, as associaçôes profissionais corno o ICOM e o UMAC, beni corno os conservadores das colecçôes universitârias e de outras colecçôes pûblicas, têm um papel muito relevante. Do ponto de vista das comunidades indigenas, a questâo dos legitimos proprietârios é problematica. Sob que condiçôes deverà o processo de restituiçâo ser gerido? A quem deverâo as peças ser devolvidas? Deverâo ser os estados e as instituiçôes culturais a assumir a responsabilidade ou, pelo contrario, poderâo estas ser reclamadas por clâs, tribos ou inclusivamente a titulo individuai? Apesar das sociedades tradicionais serein prospéras do ponto de vista artistico e cultural, é igualmente verdade que as suas instituiçôes culturais fìcam frequentemente atrâs das suas congénères ocidentais no que diz respeito a conhecimentos e padrôes de preservaçâo e conservaçâo dos objectas. De que forma se poderâ materializar uma transferêneia de know how que possibilité a preservaçâo e o desenvolvimento das artes e das culturas dos povos indigenas, comò por exemplo o de Bougainville

Promising Indigenous Fish Species and Bioremediation for Barramundi Aquaculture in Northern Australia

This project was a continuation of the ACIAR-funded scoping study Development of capacity for aquaculture of indigenous fish species in Papua New Guinea. The project aim was to assist inland aquaculture development in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia in an environmentally and cultural sensitive manner. Aquaculture has been identified for its potential to provide dietary protein for PNG people. The PNG National Fisheries Authority (NFA) in conjunction with the PNG project partners, Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) and the Western Province government, identified the potential of native fish species for aquaculture. Developing farming systems built on herbivorous fish to negate the need for expensive feeds, and avoiding exotic species that may cause deleterious ecosystem impacts, were the aims of this research. Native fish species are a favoured food of inland people in the Western Province / Ok Tedi region because of their cultural significance (Smith 2000). As there are 35 species of freshwater fish common to northern Queensland and the PNG Western Province, the knowledge and experience in the biology and culture of these species among staff of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F)¹ could be transferred to PNG.\ud \ud Water availability and quality of the discharge water required to meet environmental standards are limiting factors to aquaculture development. Recycling of water through aquatic plants back to fish ponds can reduce the volume of water required to operate, and remove the nutrients prior to discharge to natural waterways. Water re-use will allow legislative compliance and can lead to greater profitability. Although barramundi were used as the culture species in the trials, the culture systems used would allow other species to be cultured. The aquatic plants used are common to PNG and Australia, allowing the technology to be transferred to other culture species in both countries

An analysis of the aquaculture sector in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Freshwater fish farming is rapidly growing in Papua New Guinea (PNG), particularly in rural inland areas. It is widely promoted as a food security and income-generating tool to address pervasive malnutrition and support rural development. A number of government, non-government and donor stakeholders are involved in various aspects of the activity. A lack of understanding of the characteristics and current status of the sector has limited the development of strategic directions by the lead government agency responsible, the National Fisheries Authority (NFA). The last sectoral analysis was undertaken in 2003; however, developments since then have changed fish farming and very little is know about the interventions required to sustainably manage it. This study presents a mixed-method approach to characterise the sector and establish a basis for further strategic planning using the Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) as a case study. This study first established factors outside of the aquaculture sector that influenced its development by conducting a Political, Economic, Environmental, Social and Technical (PEEST) analysis. This involved an extensive review of published papers as well as other sources (government reports) due to very little publications on PNG. The next step was a Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. A representative sample of farmers was interviewed throughout the province to gather basic farming data as well as ascertain views on the SWOT factors. A stakeholder focus group workshop was then convened to elicit the views of government, non-government and donor partners involved in aquaculture within EHP. Finally key NFA staff members were interviewed to determine high-level views on the SWOT factors. Descriptive analysis of farming data was undertaken and cross-tabulation of SWOT responses conducted to describe the current status of the sector. The PEEST and SWOT outcomes were then synthesised to characterise aquaculture in EHP, and determine the issues and required interventions. The PEEST analysis showed that politically, aquaculture was captured in major government legislation and key development plans. NFA was identified as the key lead agency in the development of this sector. Widespread policy support fostered the involvement and development stakeholders. PNG’s recent economic growth has influenced the evolution of a subset of semi-commercial operators in the province. The availability of government credit and grants has also influenced interest in fish farming. The natural environment has been conducive to the establishment of aquaculture; however, increased competition for resources, climate change and eventual intensification are threats. Socially, the ability of fish farming to complement rural lifestyle has enhanced its uptake. Its contribution to improving dietary protein levels, and rural development, has further strengthened its role. Increasing population and law and order issues are threats that need to be managed. The introduction of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) and the development of local fish feed are important technical interventions that have changed aquaculture. However, the majority of farmers still lack critical skills, and the lack of technical capacity limits extension services by government. The study presented an analysis of farming data that reflected findings of the PEEST work. The farming data also highlighted the changes in the sector since the last major survey in 2003. This investigation revealed validated SWOT factors that characterised the sector. There were eight significant strengths: the availability of fingerlings; the local production of fish feed; the availability of local expertise; the recognition by government of aquaculture as a tool for rural development; the creation of provincial farmers cooperative; NFAs role as lead government organisation widely recognised; location of HAQDEC in the province; and farmers training courses are established and have been widely utilised. There were also eight weaknesses identified: firstly, farmers lack essential production and management skills; high fish feed cost and inconsistent supply; lack of organised market and associated infrastructure; lack of updated, relevant extension and awareness material along with standardisation of training; the lack of an updated strategic development plan was the most significant weakness; the widespread abuse and lack of monitoring and evaluation of NFA’s PDF grant; the lack of trained personnel to service increasing farmer levels; and finally, the lack of a local aquaculture equipment supplier. Five key opportunities were identified: farmers are receptive to interventions; farmers are willing to work with stakeholders and participate in rural development planning; the natural environment is conducive and predicted increased temperatures will improve fish growth; there is increased demand for aquaculture technology and products; and finally, there is increasing demand for fish feed. Seven significant threats to fish farming in EHP included: weak and deteriorating transport infrastructure and increased cost of living; increasing social (law and order) issues; administrative decisions, slow government process and political decisions negatively affecting programs; cross-border invasive species and farmers lack of awareness on environmental/disease risks; limited range of locally available feed ingredients; climate change and increased natural disasters; and the issue of land tenure which is of particular concern for commercial ventures. Finally, a synthesis of the PEEST and SWOT factors revealed the current status of the fish farming sector in EHP. Aquaculture was widely recognised and supported with the potential to be a major rural development tool. NFA leadership was critical to direct provincial development partners in key areas of extension and research. Findings from this work will enable decision makers in EHP to develop realistic development plans for the sector. This study will also assist NFA management to understand changes in the industry and presents a method that can be used in future sectoral analysis or planning processes. Recommendations presented will aid in the prioritisation of interventions from farmers through to provincial development stakeholders and NFA management levels