I read “the Grand Valley Dani” in college.
Were you with those folks?
I was working at a mining site that is on the mountain ridge that runs along the south side of the Baliem valley. Looking at some of the photos on the internet - I think I worked with some of those guys!
I have a photo of one of our local helpers playing a game on a computer - pretty striking. Some other guy in his tribe slept with his wife. They went to the tribal court. The other guy had to take my helper’s wife as is own. Had to give my helper two pigs, and my helper was allowed to put up 50 posters around the area describing what a cheat that the other guy and his wife were!
At the north end of the mine site (Baliem Valley to the north) was a pile of clothing, rubber work boots, hard hats, etc. I asked one of the guys what that was about.
He said when the workers leave to go home for a visit, or just quit, they leave all that stuff at the edge of the mine site. Seems they can’t stand to wear boots or clothing. I asked the one helper about that. He took off his boots and started running around in circles on the sharp rocks and brush and laughing.
It snowed three times when we were there (working at elevations from 12,000 to 15,000 feet). Rained every day for four months except for 6 days. We would be surveying, and a few times times families would come walking by on a nearby trail going over the pass. Barefoot, practically naked in the snow or rain, with the adults carrying a small net bag with some belongings.
RUGGED terrain. I have no idea how far it was to the nearest village to the north.
Near the mine, the mine built a new village for the people with proper homes, a school, etc. Many of the families lived there. Many of the older men moved to a side valley a short distance away and built another village of straw and mud huts. All they wore were the “penis gourds” - the size of the gourd indicated their rank in the tribe.
A bunch of the kids from the new village gave us a tour that included the old guy’s village. “Don’t stare, don’t talk, no pictures...we are just walking through.”