Faith and Feathers: How Seventh-Day Adventism Shapes Traditional Knowledge of the Vanate (Raggiana Bird of Paradise) along the Kokoda Track

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and cultural spiritual associations, including religions, have recently gained acceptance as making important contributions to conservation practice, decision-making and science. The decline of TEK in the Pacific and Papua New Guinea (PNG) has highlighted the need to examine how modern faiths, like Christianity, which is the most prevalent in the Pacific, might aid or impact conservation that was previously guided by TEK. Along the Kokoda Track in Central Province, PNG, we assessed the impact of the Seventh-day Adventist church on the Indigenous Koiari People and their knowledge of the endemic Vanate (Raggiana Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea raggiana), which is PNG's national emblem. Two focus group discussions (four and five respondents respectively) and 39 in-depth interviews were conducted with Indigenous Koiari People. We collected information regarding the impact of Adventism on TEK, Vanate conservation and the environment in general. We assessed six adult age cohorts across four villages (including representatives of 17 Tribes/clans) of men and women along the Kokoda Track. Most respondents, especially men, claimed that Adventism had caused a decline in TEK and values and altered conservation practices and diet. We found that Adventist faith encouraged the Indigenous Koiari People to protect the Vanate and its environment by not eating it; however, this was at the expense of TEK, traditional conservation practices and language. However, Koiari People were found to still hunt the Vanate, largely to generate income from their feathers, which were still used in cultural dancing and important for tourism. This research is useful for conservation decision-making and practice as it highlighted the changing motivations underlying conservation, gendered responses and identifies ways for scientists and policymakers to collaborate, accept and incorporate Indigenous People, their religious beliefs and practices for conservation of birds like the Vanate.