My Project

My aim is to travel to Papua New Guinea and document and photograph the Bedamuni tribe for historical archiving. This will include traditional cooking methods, traditional dress, customs, paintings, and tribal artifacts - anything of cultural significance to help them preserve and appreciate their history.

In this remote area of PNG traditions and practice are fast becoming lost due to modern developments. I want to capture this rich culture in the community and encourage the preservation of history and the celebration of traditions for generations to come.

A lot of culturally important and historic artifacts have already been lost or removed from the village by outsiders. By creating this archive I hope to help ensure that no further history is lost or forgotten.

I want to remind people of how significant and rare such places are in our ever-changing world. Potential full scale logging of the area by international logging companies, under an agreement currently in place but being fought on some fronts, also has the potential to erode community lifestyle and history. History & legend for the Bedamuni has always been passed on by word of mouth, but as development takes place there is an urgent need for the culture to be preserved in writing and photographic records.

The Bedamuni tribe live in a remote area in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

Apart from the influence of one missionary couple, the Bedamuni tribe has not had any permanent outside influence. My grandparents first went to work with the people in the late 1960s, after the tribe, feared for their cannibalism, were removed from an 'entry restricted list'. They still regularly live with the Bedamuni tribe and help build and contribute to their community.

There have been a number of small airstrips built, and a hydro power supply that supports a medical clinic. Schooling has been introduced and along with training in health and hygiene practices, the people have been given assistance to remain self-sufficient and to develop their own resources.

Despite being remote there is still the desire to keep up with the rest of the developing world. While being encouraged to continue in their traditions progress has meant that some of these customs have been lost.

I am really excited about this opportunity to make a difference and to help share the Bedamuni peoples story. Through photography I will help shed light on such a fascinating and mostly unknown culture.