A Maani: Birds and Nalik Culture
Papua New Guinea is home to remarkable linguistic and biological diversity, with local languages and cultural knowledge closely connected to the natural environment. A Maani: Birds and Nalik Culture explores these connections through birds and their place in Nalik stories, songs, and clan identities in New Ireland Province.
Developed in 2016, the project involved Grade 6 and 7 students at Madina Primary School and adults from Madina and Luapul villages. Together, we recorded oral stories and explored their meanings through practical activities, writing, and drawing. Students learned from elders and clan leaders, turning this knowledge into texts and illustrations that were reviewed with community members.
The book brings these contributions together, showing how birds connect the natural world with Nalik history, social relationships, and everyday life. It gives young people opportunities to learn about their cultural heritage and encounter their own community's knowledge in school materials. Published in 2018 through crowdfunding, A Maani: Birds and Nalik Culture was intended for free distribution to schools in northern New Ireland, supporting learning across generations and sharing Nalik knowledge with readers beyond the community.
