The Trobriand Islanders

The Trobriand Islanders is a group of horticulturist from islands off the Eastern coast of New Guinea whose chief crop is yams. The Trobriand Islanders have a complex culture that has endured for centuries. Although some core beliefs and traditions have been altered over time, there are many traditions, and beliefs that have endured. Two key areas of Trobriand culture I will discuss are the importance of yams, and death rituals. Trobriand Islander society is a hierarchical chiefdom with a chief. The society is also matrilineal, with the children becoming part of their mother’s clan at birth (Warriors of the Sea 2014). Magic is a vital part of the Trobriand Islander culture. Magic is used to bless yams that have been gathered, ward off spirits
The first garden has yams that are used for food, while the second is for exchange for needed and wanted items. Woman and men can grow yams for food, but only men can grow yams for exchange proposes (Peters-Goldmen 2009: 245). Annette Winer stated, “If a man has yams, he can find anything else he needs (Peters-Goldmen 2009: 245). One example of how yams are used as a monetary exchange is for taxes. The chief “charges” taxes in the form of yams, which are received at his yam house. Yams are paid yearly, and are adjusted in accordance with how well the season may have gone that year. While the yams are being given to the chief a witch doctor chants in order to protect the yams from spoiling (Warrior by the Sea 2014). Trobriand Islander men display their yam in their garden first in the field and then they are moved to yam houses; this is to protect the yams that have been harvested from moisture and spoilage. A man many have several wives and he must build one yam house per wife. These yam houses are built in a central location in the center of the
Since the Trobrian Islanders believe in witch doctors, and the belief that “…nothing happens by chance” (Warriors of the Sea 2014). Trobrian Islanders believe that if someone becomes ill that there is a cure or maleficent spirit at work. A profound statement is made in Peters- Goldman about death is, “Death is never met with equanimity”(Peter-Goldman 2009: 244). Death is not dealt with in a quiet reserved way because of the concept that someone became ill through a direct action from someone else. Therefore, if an ill person dies, there is a plethora of ceremony and ritual attached. These rituals are to act as a potential source that will weed out the guilty party, the one that cause the curse or