Huli Heritage
An Anthropological Exploration of Papua New Guinea's Highland People
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The Huli People
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Over 250,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Southern Highlands districts of Tari, Koroba, Margaraima and Komo, Papua New Guinea. | |
| Languages | |
| Huli language, Tok Pisin, English | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional beliefs, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indigenous Papuan peoples of West Papua and Papua New Guinea, other |
An Indigenous Melanesian Group
The Huli are an indigenous Melanesian ethnic group who reside in Hela Province of Papua New Guinea. They speak primarily Huli and Tok Pisin; many also converse in surrounding languages, and some possess proficiency in English. As one of Papua New Guinea's most significant cultural demographics, their population exceeds 250,000 individuals, based on the 2011 national census data for Hela Province.[1]
Lifestyle and Environment
Highland Dwellings
The Huli people inhabit the Tagari River basin and the slopes of the adjacent mountain ranges, typically at altitudes around 1,600 meters above sea level. Their environment is characterized by a tropical climate with frequent rainfall, experiencing temperatures that fluctuate between approximately 27ยฐC (80ยฐF) during the day and 7ยฐC (45ยฐF) at night. Occasional frosts can occur, sometimes impacting their meticulously maintained mounded gardens.
Landscape Features
The Huli landscape is a mosaic of primary forests, expansive reed-covered marshes, rolling kunai grasslands, and scrub brush. This terrain is intricately traversed by rivers, small streams, and a network of man-made ditches. These canals serve multiple purposes, functioning as drainage systems, boundary markers, pathways for movement, and even defensive fortifications.
Historical Context
Rich Oral Traditions
The Huli possess a profound awareness of their history and folklore, evident in their detailed knowledge of family genealogies and ancestral traditions. Notably, unlike many other Highland groups, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience in preserving their cultural expressions against the influence of colonizers and external settlers who began arriving in 1951.
Ancient Roots and First Contact
Evidence suggests the Huli have inhabited their region for millennia, recounting extensive oral histories that chronicle individuals and clan lineages. They were historically active travelers, primarily engaging in trade across the highlands and lowlands surrounding their homeland, particularly to the south. European contact was limited until November 1934, when at least fifty Huli individuals were reportedly killed during an unsuccessful gold-seeking expedition by the Fox brothers, who had recently separated from the more renowned explorers Mick and Dan Leahy.[2]
Notable Figures
Individuals of Note
The Huli community includes individuals who have achieved prominence in various fields:
References
Source Material
The following sources were consulted in the creation of this document:
- a b Papua New Guinea National Statistical Office (2014). "Papua New Guinea National Population and Housing Census 2011: Final figures". Port Moresby PNG.
- ^ Ballard, Chris (2003). "La Fabrique de l'histoire". In Isabelle Merle and Michel Naepels (Eds.), Les Rivages du temps: Histoire et anthropologie du Pacifique (pp. 111-34). L'Harmattan.
- ^ Cazaudehore, Sรฉbastien (2021). La tourmente du Serpent. Editions Vega. ISBN 978-2381350097.
Additional sources referenced in the original text include:
- Allen, M.R. (1967) Male Cults and Secret Initiations in Melanesia. Cambridge University Press, New York.
- Frankel, S. (1980) "I am a Dying Man: Pathology of Pollution," Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 4, pp. 95โ117.
- Glasse, R. (1974) "Masks of Venery: Symbols of Sex Antagonism in the Papua New Guinea Highlands," Homme 14:2, pp. 79โ86; 1968; The Huli of Papua, Mouton and Company, Paris.
- Hage, P. and F. Harary. (1981) "Pollution Beliefs in Highland New Guinea," Man 16, pp. 367โ375.
- Lomas, G.C.J. (1998). "The Huli People of Papua New Guinea: A study in sociolinguistic change". Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
- Meshanko, R. (1985) The Gospel Amongst the Huli, Master's Dissertation, Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC.
- Teske, G. (1978) "Christianizing the Sangai," Point 2, pp. 71โ102.
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References
References
- "Papua New Guinea National Population and Housing Census 2011: Final figures", Port Moresby PNG National Statistical Office 2014
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