Abstract:

Ci is the Asmat word for dugout canoe. The ci is an integral part of the everyday life of the Asmat – an ethnic group residing in eastern Indonesia in Papua province (formerly Irian Jaya) – who live in the middle of a huge tidal swampy area. Owning a ci is part of the Asmat’s habitus because ci is a guarantee for mobility, both individually and collectively. The ci is essential for the everyday lives of the Asmat. However, the existence of these dugout canoes is now critical as they tend to be replaced by machinery boats.

This book uses a very simple piece of material culture, the ci, to introduce readers to the Asmat people and inform them how the Asmat people live. The ci becomes the focal point to understand gender power relations among the Asmat, particularly through social, economic, and spiritual dimensions. This volume is based on an anthropological fieldwork among the Asmat people for many years, and investigates the cultural significances of Asmat’s ci by using ‘symbolic and interpretive anthropology’ as theoretical framework.

Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgments
Table of contents
List of illustrations
List of acronyms
Introduction

I. Asmat: an exotic and nostalgic world
1.1 The ci: an Asmat’s habitus
1.2 Back to Asmat with new eyes
1.3 Learning to know, learning to preserve
1.4 Story from the field
1.5 Scope and limitations
1.6 Analytical framework used

II. The ci: a significant key to understand Asmat
2.1 Select literature on the Asmat
2.2 The ci: the Asmat canoe
2.3 Gender power relations

III. The Asmat: a never ending surprise
3.1 Asmat: a pregnant swamp of natural resources
3.2 Asmat in Papua province of Indonesia
3.3 Asmat: a region that contains no stone
3.4 Asmat art: an anamnesis
3.5 Defining the Asmat people
3.6 Asmat: people of the tree
3.7 Warfare and headhunting practices
3.8 Some impressions about kinship
3.9 Mission “touch”

IV. Physical dimension of the ci
4.1 The ci material
4.2 Understanding the ci through its sections
4.3 Types of ci
4.3.1 Pakanam ci
4.3.2 Jicap ci or pakman ci
4.4 Interpretations of the carvings of the ci
4.5 Bottomless ci
4.6 Po: the Asmat oar

V. Social dimension of the ci
5.1 The sociality of the ci
5.2 Cisi-ipits – ci maker
5.3 The ci owned by the family
5.4 The ci triggers conflicts among the Asmat
5.5 The dynamics of ci cimen and ci ep
5.6 Rowing the ci
5.7 Social dimension of the jicap ci
5.8 Social dimension of wuramon
5.9 Ci as an expression of art
5.10 The ci: symbol of masculinity
5.11 The ci: a dominant symbol of gender identity

VI. Spiritual dimension of the ci
6.1 Naming the ci
6.2 A distinct ci: wuramon
VII. Economic dimension of the ci
7.1 Ci opak, jis opak – no ci, no firewood
7.2 Ci for men, jouse for women
7.3 Power over dusun
7.4 Do not call him bitni
7.5 One family in one ci
7.6 The ci: a key for Asmat economy and festive activity

VIII. Continuity and discontinuity in Asmat society
8.1 Social change
8.2 Water transportation is still needed
8.3 Pes (ironwood) and ci nak (ci tree) are in danger
8.4 The changed meaning and function of ritual
8.5 Carving: not because of inspiration, but because of order
8.6 Money-oriented mentality
8.7 Asmat nak – the real people
8.8 New style of hunting and gathering
8.9 The changed concept of gender
8.10 Urbanization: dusun and village unmaintained
8.11 Marginalization of the Asmat in many aspects

IX. Reflection and conclusion
9.1 Reflections as a priest and as researcher in the field
9.2 Advantages
9.3 Disadvantages
9.4 Conclusion
9.5 For future research

Bibliography
Glossary of terms