This is a collection of online resources focused on Papua Niugini (Papua New Guinea), considered a Melanesian country within Pasifika. People barely know of, acknowledge, or respect Melanesia and our people—so this page has been made for those with a thirst for knowledge.
Thank you for your curiosity, and may this lead you to other sources.
FREE WEST PAPUA
“Its incredibly bittersweet for us displaced West Papuans seeing our PNG wantoks enjoy the freedom from colonial rule that we so deeply desire. And yet we still happily perform our West Papuan dance at your Independence Day gatherings. We’ve learnt to speak Tok Pisin to communicate with you. We’ve learnt and memorised every single PNG classic so we can sing together. We do all this because we realise that no man-made border will ever divide us. All we ask is that you join us in liberating our New Guinea island. Wave the West Papuan morning star flag at every given opportunity. Invite us round for tokstori. Learn our songs and dances. Pull up to our rallies. We are family. We share one motherland.”
— Excerpt from this post by Koteka Wenda (Instagram)
VIDEOS
“In 2018 the Solomon Islands, in the South Pacific, hosted the Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival, celebrating the country’s 40th anniversary of independence.
On neighboring island states, the struggle for freedom continues, as West Papua resists Indonesian occupation and the residents of New Caledonia still live under French rule. In all Melanesian countries, residents face the common challenge of climate change, as rising sea levels threaten to swallow both land and tradition.”
Forgotten Bird of Paradise
“Full version of the multi-award winning undercover documentary, ‘Forgotten Bird of Paradise’, on West Papua’s independence struggle.”
Canvas of Oceans
“Canvas of Oceans explores the world’s largest celebration of Pacific culture. From the team behind The Pacific, Alice Lolohea and Johnson Raela are in Hawai’i for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC).
From musical and dance performances to traditional and contemporary arts interspersed with moving conversations, Canvas of Oceans captures the essence of FestPAC. This film tells a story of celebration, preservation and the challenges faced by many Pacific communities grappling with the after-effects colonisation as they strive to protect their cultural identity.”
The Forgotten Pacific
“The Forgotten Pacific travels to five Pacific islands to discover how communities are weaving indigenous knowledge into the modern-day fight to adapt, rebuild and save their islands from climate change.
Guided by the wisdom and passion of Pacific climate leader Suluafi Brianna Fruean the documentary spans across the waters of Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Samoa. The Forgotten Pacific captures the vibrant yet challenging lives of these islands. Each island speaks to us with its own story of struggle and resilience, yet all are united by an unwavering spirit of hope and survival.”
MYTHS AND MAIDENS
“‘MYTHS AND MAIDENS’ is a rich tapestry of stories from women in Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Aotearoa. A Coconet TV original, the hour-long documentary delves into the sticky issues of colourism, fatphobia, and how our societies have been taught to view women of colour across the ages.
In this love letter to Moana women, we look at the collective trauma, challenges and inequities for women across Pasifika - and how in the face of this, the celebration of ourselves is an act of colonial resistance.”
FILMS & DOCO’S (not on YouTube)
Again: Look through FWPC’s films page.
I’m Moshanty - Do You Love Me?
“A musical tribute to the late, legendary South Pacific recording artist and transgender activist Moses Moshanty Tau and the LGBTQI community of Papua New Guinea. With their lives still haunted by colonial-era sodomy laws and deadly religious bigotry, Moshanty stands as a beacon of hope for the transgender and LGBTQI community of the entire South Pacific.”
Vai
“The story of one woman’s journey of empowerment through culture plays out across several Pacific nations and various incarnations.”
Tep Tok Documentaries
“The Tep Tok documentaries began in 2012 with four women of Papua New Guinea and Australian descent bringing awareness to the dying art of skin marking in Central Province, Papua New Guinea. These three documentaries follow the journey of Melanesian ‘Tattoo’ Revival.”
READINGS
Again: Look through FWPC’s books page.
ARCHIVE PLES Magazine, Issue Namba 1
Gender on the Edge: Transgender, Gay, and Other Pacific Islanders by Various Authors
A free-to-read essay on LGBT+ identity and Pacific Islanders.
The Myths of Kokoda by New Matilda
A free-to-read article confronting The Kokoda Track’s history with WWII.
We Are the Ocean: Selected Works by Epeli Hau’ofa
“We Are the Ocean is a collection of essays, fiction, and poetry by Epeli Hau'ofa, whose writing over the past three decades has consistently challenged prevailing notions about Oceania and prescriptions for its development. He highlights major problems confronted by the region and suggests alternative perspectives and ways in which its people might reorganize to relate effectively to the changing world.”
Tales of the Tikongs by Epeli Hau’ofa
“In this lively satire of contemporary South Pacific life, we meet a familiar cast of characters: multinational experts, religious fanatics, con men, simple villagers, corrupt politicians. In writing about this tiny world of flawed personalities, Hau'ofa displays his wit and range of comic resource, amply exercising what one reviewer called his ‘gift of seeing absurdity clearly.’”
My Walk to Equality: Essays, Stories and Poetry by Papua New Guinean Women by Rashmii Amoah Bell
“The anthology celebrates the contribution of women to Papua New Guinean society. It also sets out some of the problems and issues confronting those women in their daily lives. These issues are set out in an eclectic mix of poetry, essays and short stories.”
A Thousand Coloured Dreams by Josephine Abaijah
“A love story set against a background of political intrigue in a decaying colonial regime, and the impending spread of Asia across the Pacific. It is the story of Josephine Abaijah, the first woman elected to the parliament of her country: a tale of courage, love and beauty that endured beyond the limits of reason or the dreams of a simple girl.”
Maiba, a Papuan Novel by Russell Soaba
“The only child of the last chief of Makawana village, Maiba struggles to hold her people together in face of the polarizing forces of convention and modernization. Both protective and painfully aware of the weaknesses of her own community, Maiba acquires the wisdom she needs to face the future.”
The Resonance of My Thoughts by Francis Nii
“Francis Nii, a graduate in economics from the University of Papua New Guinea, is a paraplegic and belongs to Salt Nomane Karimui in the Simbu Province of PNG. Formerly a banker, Francis is a novelist and an award winning essayist. This volume is a collection of some of Francis' essays on social, economic and political issues affecting Papua New Guinea today.”
Black Ice Matter by Gina Cole
“This collection of short stories explores connections between extremes of heat and cold. Sometimes this is spatial or geographical; sometimes it is metaphorical. Sometimes it involves juxtapositions of time; sometimes heat appears where only ice is expected.”
Josefa and the Vu by Tulia Thompson
“When Josefa is met by a giant mysterious warrior claiming to be an ancestral guardian spirit, everything gets chaotic. Meanwhile Jack Bucksworth, the school bully, has stolen his family's sacred tabua and to get it back, Josefa and his friend Ming must embark on a terrifying adventure involving dangerous cliffs, cheeky brothers and eerie laughter.”
Sista, Stanap Strong: A Vanuatu Women's Anthology by Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen, Mikaela Nyman
“An anthology of new writing from Vanuatu by three generations of women—and the first of its kind. With poetry, fiction, essay, memoir, and song, its narrative arc stretches from the days of blackbirding to Independence in 1980 to Vanuatu's coming of age in 2020.”
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS
A30 For West Papua
“#A30WESTPAPUA GLOBALLY coordinated waves of action by the worlds’ youth in support of a #freewestpapua 🖤🌏”
ARCHIVE PLES
“Documenting visual stories of Papua Niugini. Renegotiating visual narratives. By us, for us.”
OUR MELANESIA + Linktree
“Our narrative, our way.”
Pasifika Visuals
“Curatorial of archival and contemporary visuals of Pacific Islands.”
350 Pacific
“We are a network of Pacific youth showing the world that in the face of Climate Change, we are not drowning, we are fighting! #PacificPawa”