“The vibrant community gatherings that surrounded a special ceremony such as a bride price always included a pig kill.”
A Mumu, or ground oven, is a traditional way of cooking in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Several shallow pits are dug in the ground and surrounded by leaves from a banana tree. Rocks are heated with fire for several hours, while the food is prepared. The food usually consists of sweet potatoes, bananas, taro, and, of course, pork. The pigs had been gutted, cleaned and cut in half, each half laid on banana leaves and displayed to show off their fat. These ingredients are placed inside freshly cut banana leaves, wrapped so tightly no air can escape. Cooking takes several hours, and, counting preparation and eating, it is an all-all day event, and requires everyone’s participation, young and old.
To this American citizen I am ashamed at the looting of West Papua by Freeport Mine now based in the State of Arizona and in bed with Rio Tinto
whose shares I believe Freeport McMoran purchased! There is case in presently before the U.S. Supreme Court of I believe Shell Oil which will be a landmark case affecting corporations responsibilites in indigenous countries!
Let’s hope the Shell case sets the right precedent!