IN the Kuk Valley of Western Highlands Province a great find was made 10,000 years ago.

It put Papua New Guinea on the world map.

A sophisticated farming system was developed without outside influence. Men and women without degrees saw a difficult situation and used it to create something that today draws scientists of all fields to learn from.

Organic indigenous knowledge grew and sustained a community of people for many decades. UNESCO has listed it as a world heritage site.

It placed Papua New Guinea as one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

Today science and modern knowledge have helped to put aside traditional knowledge and mastery of creation.

The spade seems to be too heavy today but back then there were no spades but our people were determined. The tree provided the implement they needed and real craftsmanship combining muscle, sweat, stone and time went into making it. It wasn’t about glory but survival. They had the land,the rivers and the forests and from them they drew their knowledge and strengths.

Last week on International Day of World’s Indigenous People indigenous knowledge is once again acknowledged and upheld. Knowledge of how to live sustainably with the environment is here in Papua New Guinea.

Yet for many indigenous communities their existence is threatened. Natural and organic knowledge is sacrificed for a world now built on profits.

Millions of hectares of trees must fall so that the world can spin, yet indigenous communities who dwell among these trees are thrown into years of confusion, uncertainties and their learning processes destroyed.

Indigenous communities understood their relationships with their natural spiritual worlds and in some communities they are still begging to save their trees, rivers and land.

The world is begging for cleaner natural environment. Indigenous people have the answers. If Papua New Guinea’s 80 per cent of the people are rural, then they have the answers.

By Rosa Koian