“Bougainville is experiencing an increase in deforestation and unsustainable practices that lead to loss of bio-cultural diversity and ecosystem services.”
— Kainake Project
Dr. Jeffrey Noro and Junior Novera are the manager and co-founder of the Kainake Project in Bougainville Island, and partners to the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History’s Bougainville Island collection project. In the wake of deforestation, unsustainable practices, and the sea swallowing the land due to climate change, Bougainville Island and its surrounding island neighbors are losing bio-cultural diversity and land. To address these issues, the Kainake Project is dedicated to creating and sharing knowledge to empower people to preserve and develop their natural and cultural inheritance through community solutions. The museum holds some of this natural and cultural inheritance and has shared all information associated with the collection including Bud Johnson's photographs and fieldnotes to engage with the Bougainville community and contribute to the process of returning knowledge.
Below are more photos taken by Conrad 'Bud' Johnson, as well as photos of objects in the CU Museum of Natural History Bougainville Collection.
Crown Prince Range, Bougainville Island (1949)
"Photograph taken toward Mt. Bagana over the Crown Prince Range.”
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (DMNS 2015.12-1)
Tower at Pidia Village, Bougainville Island (1949)
"Tower built by the natives on the reef by Pidia Village. It is used by the natives to spear fish from and is about 25' high.”
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson
From the CU Collection
Lure. Material: Fiber (07382)
Fishing lure made from a cocoon, used for needlefish. The cocoon is stretched out and fastened to one end of the line, with the lure attached to a kite. The kite is towed behind a canoe with the lure trailing on the surface of the water. The needlefish's teeth become entangled in the cocoon, and the fish is hauled in.
Ornament. Materials: Feather, fiber. (07368, 07369)
Lorikeet feather ornament worn by children at sing-sings, composed of red, green, and yellow feathers strung together on a thin brown cord.
Necklace. Materials: Cuscus teeth, glass. (07188)
This Necklace is from Laruma Cillage, Bougainville Island. The teeth on the necklace are from a large opossum-like animal, called cuscus, native to norther Australia and the islands of the Southwest Pacific. Cuscus are now threatened due to deforestation.
Olivella shell bell. Materials: Shell, tooth. (07370.1-3)
These bells were traded to Johnson in Teop, Bougainville Island, 1949. They are made of olivella shells gathered from the surrounding sea and dog teeth.
Nut. Material: Nut (07255.1-2)
These nuts are from a poti tree on Bougainville Island. Poti trees are being cut down by lumber companies in acts of deforestation.
Nut. Material: Nut (07255.1-2)
These nuts are from a poti tree on Bougainville Island. Poti trees are being cut down by lumber companies in acts of deforestation.