Page 352 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

comes from the social kinship with strong traditional bonds. In every tribe there is a similar
principle of life, a prospective way of thinking about the future, respected rules on the
system and marriage pattern, and living together that is more prospective. The pattern
of social life is respected in the tribe which is led by the chief of the tribe. Anything with
traditional patterns are always challenged by the presence of foreign elements from the
west with their complete institutions which confuse people in remote areas (Godelier, 1993).
People’s life is always filled with various kinds of social rituals to reveal their relation
with nature, ancestors, and God. Belief in God’s power dominates people’s everyday
life. Local people’s life, although always looking simple, has its own political power by
depending on the authority of a very strong local life. There is a division of roles between
women and men in their life that is controlled by traditional laws. There is the term ‘big
men’ that can be differentiated from common normal people. The role played by the
‘big men,’ besides in wedding matters, is to lead rituals and other kinds of activities in
society. There is an interesting story about the sky and the earth, which is not only united
by the understanding of humans and animals, but is also based on life in relation to nature
with humans at the top. There is a close relationship between the sky and earth, which
metaphorically is connected to the relation between men and women in connection with
procreation (Godelier, 1993).

Looking at a Different Dimension in Life
Howard (1993) presents a historical discourse in the frame of an anthropological review
about Polynesia, where it can be connected with the Melanesian domain in general. The
anthropological history of people in that area is described as in line with the journey of the
ethnic groups on the Polynesian island. To be more certain about historical truth, we can
check artifacts and tradition in the ordinary people’s surroundings.
History knows the fishing patterns from one island to another so we can escape paying
attention to the people in trying to identify the area. But looking at heritage in terms of
materials, culture, language, and tradition, the anthropological history about that area
must not be wrong. The actual theory in the reflection ‘evolutionism,’ can mean that
humans can escape attention and only changes and physical development become the
main thing being reviewed. In the context of Polynesia, the researchers’ main attention
initially only lays on the west with the approach strategies of politics and economy grafting
the changes and development into Polynesian society (Howard, 1993).

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