Papua New Guinea (Television Series)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
(Off the Map)
I first travelled to Papua New Guinea in 1994 where I shot this program in the Off the Map television series.

Hope Beverstein explores the traditions and tribal diversity of Papua, New Guinea. Share her journey by dugout canoe on the sacred Karawari River, her discovery of an ancestral skull cave, and her close brush with a Huli clan war.

The original music is not used here due to copyright reasons. Portions of the narration entwined with the original music is also omitted.

Hope meets the keeper of the sacred stones.

On a Sepik River trip, Hope examines the catch of local fishermen.

Hope meetings the locals.

Hope meets a Huli woman named Jessica and helps her with her garden of sweet potatoes.

She meets the Huli people and learns about their culture. On YouTube, search "Huli Doug Spencer".

Hope visits a village where they breed crocodiles.

Hope learns about village drums.

The Vanishing Huli
It is very important for tribes to protect their culture in the present society because they are also one of the parts of social evolution.

The Huli's habitat is increasingly threatened by deforestation and natural gas extraction. Infrastructure development such as roads and processing facilities has had an adverse impact on the rainforests which the Huli people call home.

The Huli people, being mostly illiterate, are easily lured into selling land cheaply to developmental organizations.

Hope visits a cave where sacred skulls are kept representing the power of ancestors.

Hope catches a glimpse of a clan war.

Hope enjoys sketching the locals.

Hope attends a sing sing in northern Papua New Guinea. On YouTube, search "Sing Sing Doug Spencer".

Doug Spencer records Huli songs at Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea, 1994.