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Subject: Dying Rich Engan Culture Author: pongene [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: Sun, Jan 14 2007, 02:12:51pm In reply to: Cool_Guy1 's message, "Sings of a Dying Rich Engan Culture" on Fri, Jan 12 2007, 09:51:02am VERY IMPORTANT topic! Countrymen, I am a mixed blood of Engan and Eastern Highlands origins and I totally agree with your sentiments. (Being a product of different ethnicities within PNG does not mean that we have to neglect our cultures. The onus is on each one of us to learn as much as you can about your cultures). The Engan language is the only language spoken by the biggest population in PNG. In fact our customs, values, and the principles guiding our way of life is as original as those preached by the bible. It is imperative that we uphold and maintain these rich culture so that our future generations do not lose out on them. The task of institutionalising our culture is not herculean as PNGEAN pointed out. It is in fact achievable. All we need to do is mobilse and inform the people of Enga from the top administration post down to the ordinary villagers about this concept. Then leave it to the Provincial Government as the formal authority to spearhead this course. Of course it would take time and money and a whole lot more but the positive is that the percentage of Engans who do not know the language and the Engan way of living is as yet minimal. For instance, the Maori people of New Zealand had almost completely lost their cultures and customs. It was just recently (last 20 years or so) that their government started institutionalising their cultures and today there is a gradual increase in the Maoris being well versed in their cultures. Even then, they have lost several languages already. Hence the current Maori Lingo is a combination of the other lost Maori languages. In Enga we do not want to lose our only language and culture that way. It is important that our provincial government, especially the new one taking office after 07 elections, take a serious look at this topic. pongene! [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> Subject: Re: Signs of a Dying Rich Culture Author: east to west [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: Sun, May 13 2007, 04:32:13pm This is a great dicussion. I truely believe in the values of the old ways, they came about to bring some order to society and they acknowledged every social issue that existed in a society. Societies with no values/ traditions/ culture brings about diorder and encourages people to have no self worth or feel they dont belong to a community/a family and dont realise that there lives are more then there own. It is a beautiful thing to be of many culture and know who you are and where you have come from. To know you have a family of hundreds and not of 10s can be inspirational and comforting. I am in the unfortunate position that I dont know my language nor the european langauge of my adopted family and really have no cutural identity besides that which was around me where I grew up in PNG (POM). Even when I was back in png I learnt many things about my own culture that I never got from the mingled cultures of Pom. I learnt the practises of mourning a loved one, of family expectaions and accountability We all should play a part in keeping our own culture alive and for those from more then one ethic group you should at least know one of your culutres in greter detail then the other. knowing culture should be more then knowing language though for some of us (like my self) language would be a good start. With out slf participation in conserving our culture, the country known for more then 800 languages will be know for how fast the langaues and culture disappeared. As for myself I intend to go back to png and learn some culture, what I never learnt growing up as well as making sure my kids, speak the language of there father(if he speaks his language). east to west [ Post a Reply to This Message ]