rich rich rich without money is that possible yes just wait and see these are
possible yes just wait and see these are
possible yes just wait and see these are photos that I’ve taken in the last
photos that I’ve taken in the last
photos that I’ve taken in the last 30-some years in the small traditional
30-some years in the small traditional
30-some years in the small traditional area in the middle of the island of
area in the middle of the island of
area in the middle of the island of Tanna which is in the country of Vanuatu
Tanna which is in the country of Vanuatu
Tanna which is in the country of Vanuatu in Melanesia in the South Pacific
in Melanesia in the South Pacific
in Melanesia in the South Pacific and what you’re gonna see tonight is
and what you’re gonna see tonight is
and what you’re gonna see tonight is pictures of traditional life but the
pictures of traditional life but the
pictures of traditional life but the subject is not traditional life the
subject is not traditional life the
subject is not traditional life the subject is our own lives reflected in
subject is our own lives reflected in
subject is our own lives reflected in the mirror of how these people live
the mirror of how these people live
the mirror of how these people live almost 40 years ago I left Panama on a
almost 40 years ago I left Panama on a
almost 40 years ago I left Panama on a sailboat
sailboat
sailboat as captain and later as the owner and it
as captain and later as the owner and it
as captain and later as the owner and it brought me to places that very few
brought me to places that very few
brought me to places that very few people had ever seen and what I saw and
people had ever seen and what I saw and
people had ever seen and what I saw and the things I experienced there changed
the things I experienced there changed
the things I experienced there changed the way I live and the way I see Life
the way I live and the way I see Life
the way I live and the way I see Life Melanesia is an area to the east of
Melanesia is an area to the east of
Melanesia is an area to the east of Australia and it consists of Vanuatu the
Australia and it consists of Vanuatu the
Australia and it consists of Vanuatu the Solomon Islands Papa New Guinea New
Solomon Islands Papa New Guinea New
Solomon Islands Papa New Guinea New Caledonia and Fiji I visited all of
Caledonia and Fiji I visited all of
Caledonia and Fiji I visited all of these countries but the one that’s most
these countries but the one that’s most
these countries but the one that’s most important to me is Vanuatu because it’s
important to me is Vanuatu because it’s
important to me is Vanuatu because it’s there on the island of Tanna that I
there on the island of Tanna that I
there on the island of Tanna that I first experienced people really living
first experienced people really living
first experienced people really living traditional life not only I was
traditional life not only I was
traditional life not only I was surprised to see people still living
surprised to see people still living
surprised to see people still living traditionally but what surprised me even
traditionally but what surprised me even
traditionally but what surprised me even more was to find out that they’re rich
more was to find out that they’re rich
more was to find out that they’re rich rich without money how could that be
rich without money how could that be
rich without money how could that be well it’s because they already have
well it’s because they already have
well it’s because they already have everything they need in the gardens or
everything they need in the gardens or
everything they need in the gardens or in the forests around them it’s an
in the forests around them it’s an
in the forests around them it’s an interesting place and people live a
interesting place and people live a
interesting place and people live a relaxed
relaxed
relaxed rich life full of humanity and of course
rich life full of humanity and of course
rich life full of humanity and of course their problems but they have developed
their problems but they have developed
their problems but they have developed over the years ways of dealing with
over the years ways of dealing with
over the years ways of dealing with problems and challenges of all sorts but
problems and challenges of all sorts but
problems and challenges of all sorts but it’s a wonderful place and it’s the
it’s a wonderful place and it’s the
it’s a wonderful place and it’s the place in the world where I feel most at
place in the world where I feel most at
place in the world where I feel most at home and it’s there that I met my friend
home and it’s there that I met my friend
home and it’s there that I met my friend bosun bosun lives in one of the villages
bosun bosun lives in one of the villages
bosun bosun lives in one of the villages in this traditional area and it was the
in this traditional area and it was the
in this traditional area and it was the Vanuatu cultural center that sent me
Vanuatu cultural center that sent me
Vanuatu cultural center that sent me there for the first time to take
there for the first time to take
there for the first time to take pictures of the way he lived and since
pictures of the way he lived and since
pictures of the way he lived and since then about 30 years now I go back every
then about 30 years now I go back every
then about 30 years now I go back every year and spend time with him after a few
year and spend time with him after a few
year and spend time with him after a few visits I began to teach him photography
visits I began to teach him photography
visits I began to teach him photography so he could continue our work of
so he could continue our work of
so he could continue our work of documenting traditional life even when I
documenting traditional life even when I
documenting traditional life even when I wasn’t there now this is a photo that I
wasn’t there now this is a photo that I
wasn’t there now this is a photo that I took of him on my first visit there’s a
took of him on my first visit there’s a
took of him on my first visit there’s a funny story about this one what do you
funny story about this one what do you
funny story about this one what do you don’t you can’t see that it’s funny when
don’t you can’t see that it’s funny when
don’t you can’t see that it’s funny when you look at it and I didn’t know it was
you look at it and I didn’t know it was
you look at it and I didn’t know it was funny when I took the picture either but
funny when I took the picture either but
funny when I took the picture either but when I came back a year later I found
when I came back a year later I found
when I came back a year later I found out that this was not his wife it was
out that this was not his wife it was
out that this was not his wife it was his sister because his wife was so upset
his sister because his wife was so upset
his sister because his wife was so upset to see a white man at their house that
to see a white man at their house that
to see a white man at their house that she ran away and hid for the whole time
she ran away and hid for the whole time
she ran away and hid for the whole time I was there well now we’re friends and
I was there well now we’re friends and
I was there well now we’re friends and it’s okay on the left you see chief
it’s okay on the left you see chief
it’s okay on the left you see chief Cahuilla after a number of years
Cahuilla after a number of years
Cahuilla after a number of years visiting he gave me this stone ax head
visiting he gave me this stone ax head
visiting he gave me this stone ax head that had been in his family for nine
that had been in his family for nine
that had been in his family for nine generations it was a way of telling me
generations it was a way of telling me
generations it was a way of telling me that now I too belong to his family the
that now I too belong to his family the
that now I too belong to his family the stone axe head is in the Verna wattle
stone axe head is in the Verna wattle
stone axe head is in the Verna wattle cultural center along with its genealogy
cultural center along with its genealogy
cultural center along with its genealogy and on the right you see a picture of me
and on the right you see a picture of me
and on the right you see a picture of me planting my own Kaaba in one of the
planting my own Kaaba in one of the
planting my own Kaaba in one of the villages gardens that I share in the
villages gardens that I share in the
villages gardens that I share in the year 2001 I did an exhibition of my
year 2001 I did an exhibition of my
year 2001 I did an exhibition of my Vanuatu photographs at the major
Vanuatu photographs at the major
Vanuatu photographs at the major American Museum the Academy of Sciences
American Museum the Academy of Sciences
American Museum the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco they invited bosun to
in San Francisco they invited bosun to
in San Francisco they invited bosun to come and to give the opening speech and
come and to give the opening speech and
come and to give the opening speech and I translated it into English well here’s
I translated it into English well here’s
I translated it into English well here’s how we took his passport photo
his chief had heard about the outside
his chief had heard about the outside world from missionaries and other people
world from missionaries and other people
world from missionaries and other people that came through but he didn’t really
that came through but he didn’t really
that came through but he didn’t really trust what he’d been told so when he
trust what he’d been told so when he
trust what he’d been told so when he found out that bosun was going to San
found out that bosun was going to San
found out that bosun was going to San Francisco he asked him to study how
Francisco he asked him to study how
Francisco he asked him to study how white man really lived and report back
white man really lived and report back
white man really lived and report back to him bosun took hundreds of
to him bosun took hundreds of
to him bosun took hundreds of photographs did five hours of sound
photographs did five hours of sound
photographs did five hours of sound recording and when he came back to Tana
recording and when he came back to Tana
recording and when he came back to Tana not only did he tell that chief all the
not only did he tell that chief all the
not only did he tell that chief all the things that he’s seen but he did a
things that he’s seen but he did a
things that he’s seen but he did a series of small exhibitions around the
series of small exhibitions around the
series of small exhibitions around the island it was maybe what we could call
island it was maybe what we could call
island it was maybe what we could call reverse anthropology this is the case in
reverse anthropology this is the case in
reverse anthropology this is the case in which an indigenous man living a
which an indigenous man living a
which an indigenous man living a traditional life went to America to
traditional life went to America to
traditional life went to America to study how white people really lived this
study how white people really lived this
study how white people really lived this is one of the villages near bosun lives
is one of the villages near bosun lives
is one of the villages near bosun lives as you can see it’s a wonderful natural
as you can see it’s a wonderful natural
as you can see it’s a wonderful natural environment and of course people who
environment and of course people who
environment and of course people who live here in this village understand
live here in this village understand
live here in this village understand that they’re part of nature and that’s
that they’re part of nature and that’s
that they’re part of nature and that’s part of the way they live of course most
part of the way they live of course most
part of the way they live of course most of us don’t have the means to live in
of us don’t have the means to live in
of us don’t have the means to live in such a beautiful place but is there way
such a beautiful place but is there way
such a beautiful place but is there way in which we could bring a little bit
in which we could bring a little bit
in which we could bring a little bit more nature back into our own lives now
more nature back into our own lives now
more nature back into our own lives now I call this photo first contact
I call this photo first contact
I call this photo first contact bosun took this picture on our approach
bosun took this picture on our approach
bosun took this picture on our approach to the Los Angeles Airport he’d never
to the Los Angeles Airport he’d never
to the Los Angeles Airport he’d never been out of Vanuatu and his first view
been out of Vanuatu and his first view
been out of Vanuatu and his first view of America was a shock he said are those
of America was a shock he said are those
of America was a shock he said are those houses I said yeah he said are the
houses I said yeah he said are the
houses I said yeah he said are the people living there yeah but how can
people living there yeah but how can
people living there yeah but how can they live so many people in one village
they live so many people in one village
they live so many people in one village and and where are their gardens I
and and where are their gardens I
and and where are their gardens I couldn’t answer those questions and when
couldn’t answer those questions and when
couldn’t answer those questions and when we got out of the airplane he had
we got out of the airplane he had
we got out of the airplane he had another first experience air pollution
another first experience air pollution
another first experience air pollution now here’s here there’s no air pollution
now here’s here there’s no air pollution
now here’s here there’s no air pollution this is a nolo a village not far from
this is a nolo a village not far from
this is a nolo a village not far from not far from where bolson lives in
not far from where bolson lives in
not far from where bolson lives in traditional Vanuatu peace and respect
traditional Vanuatu peace and respect
traditional Vanuatu peace and respect are the major values and everything is
are the major values and everything is
are the major values and everything is organized about around these no one goes
organized about around these no one goes
organized about around these no one goes hungry there are no poor people
hungry there are no poor people
hungry there are no poor people everybody how it has a house and a
everybody how it has a house and a
everybody how it has a house and a family and there are no rich people
family and there are no rich people
family and there are no rich people either because of their sharing it’s
either because of their sharing it’s
either because of their sharing it’s done there well it’s quite different
done there well it’s quite different
done there well it’s quite different than the way live we live in a different
than the way live we live in a different
than the way live we live in a different situation and sometimes when I go to
situation and sometimes when I go to
situation and sometimes when I go to Vanuatu I wonder is there any way that
Vanuatu I wonder is there any way that
Vanuatu I wonder is there any way that we can bring a little bit more humanity
we can bring a little bit more humanity
we can bring a little bit more humanity into our own lives and we’re so busy
into our own lives and we’re so busy
into our own lives and we’re so busy chasing after money and amassing
chasing after money and amassing
chasing after money and amassing pregnant personal possessions what if
pregnant personal possessions what if
pregnant personal possessions what if that wasn’t so important to us on the
that wasn’t so important to us on the
that wasn’t so important to us on the left here is a photo that bosun took in
left here is a photo that bosun took in
left here is a photo that bosun took in San Francisco of a couple very tall
San Francisco of a couple very tall
San Francisco of a couple very tall buildings he said boy those are so high
buildings he said boy those are so high
buildings he said boy those are so high my eyes are too short to see the top
that’s an example of our technology our
that’s an example of our technology our very rapidly evolving technology on the
very rapidly evolving technology on the
very rapidly evolving technology on the right is another equally impressive
right is another equally impressive
right is another equally impressive technology but one that’s invisible to
technology but one that’s invisible to
technology but one that’s invisible to us this man’s house in bosun’s village
us this man’s house in bosun’s village
us this man’s house in bosun’s village was actually grown to that shape it
was actually grown to that shape it
was actually grown to that shape it wasn’t built out of metal or steel it
wasn’t built out of metal or steel it
wasn’t built out of metal or steel it wasn’t cut into the tree
wasn’t cut into the tree
wasn’t cut into the tree his ancestors actually good in the shape
his ancestors actually good in the shape
his ancestors actually good in the shape that they wanted
that they wanted
that they wanted now that’s technology well here’s a the
now that’s technology well here’s a the
now that’s technology well here’s a the two different kinds of approaches to
two different kinds of approaches to
two different kinds of approaches to technology on the island of Tanna there
technology on the island of Tanna there
technology on the island of Tanna there aren’t very many cars
aren’t very many cars
aren’t very many cars so Boston was very impressed in San
so Boston was very impressed in San
so Boston was very impressed in San Francisco to see all those cars and when
Francisco to see all those cars and when
Francisco to see all those cars and when I explained him that this tank truck
I explained him that this tank truck
I explained him that this tank truck brought fuel for the cars he took this
brought fuel for the cars he took this
brought fuel for the cars he took this picture and he said it’s like their
picture and he said it’s like their
picture and he said it’s like their mother it feeds the cars now on top we
mother it feeds the cars now on top we
mother it feeds the cars now on top we see a very different approach to the
see a very different approach to the
see a very different approach to the idea of transportation
idea of transportation
idea of transportation bosun’s horse leaves only biodegrade
bosun’s horse leaves only biodegrade
bosun’s horse leaves only biodegrade biodegradable residue and doesn’t
biodegradable residue and doesn’t
biodegradable residue and doesn’t contribute to global warming now it’s
contribute to global warming now it’s
contribute to global warming now it’s true that most of us can’t use a horse
true that most of us can’t use a horse
true that most of us can’t use a horse for transportation but are the ways that
for transportation but are the ways that
for transportation but are the ways that collectively and individually we might
collectively and individually we might
collectively and individually we might reduce the ecological footprint of our
reduce the ecological footprint of our
reduce the ecological footprint of our transportation well everybody knows
transportation well everybody knows
transportation well everybody knows today telephones and tablets are
today telephones and tablets are
today telephones and tablets are everywhere they’re even starting to
everywhere they’re even starting to
everywhere they’re even starting to arrive on Tanner it’s a great technology
arrive on Tanner it’s a great technology
arrive on Tanner it’s a great technology and it enables us to contact people who
and it enables us to contact people who
and it enables us to contact people who are far away but is it true that
are far away but is it true that
are far away but is it true that sometimes even when we are together it
sometimes even when we are together it
sometimes even when we are together it keeps us apart on Tara parents and their
keeps us apart on Tara parents and their
keeps us apart on Tara parents and their children are very close they spend most
children are very close they spend most
children are very close they spend most of their day together and it means that
of their day together and it means that
of their day together and it means that children are a part of the family and a
children are a part of the family and a
children are a part of the family and a part of the community from a very early
part of the community from a very early
part of the community from a very early age in our world it’s hard to spend a
age in our world it’s hard to spend a
age in our world it’s hard to spend a lot of time with our children because we
lot of time with our children because we
lot of time with our children because we go to work they go to school and when we
go to work they go to school and when we
go to work they go to school and when we come back from work we’re tired and I
come back from work we’re tired and I
come back from work we’re tired and I have to go to bed but our the ways that
have to go to bed but our the ways that
have to go to bed but our the ways that we might be able to spend more time with
we might be able to spend more time with
we might be able to spend more time with our own children aunt Anna the children
our own children aunt Anna the children
our own children aunt Anna the children are everything children into aunt Anna
are everything children into aunt Anna
are everything children into aunt Anna contribute to the family every day in
contribute to the family every day in
contribute to the family every day in every way when they’re very very small
every way when they’re very very small
every way when they’re very very small they go to the garden and they help
they go to the garden and they help
they go to the garden and they help digging the garden and planting they go
digging the garden and planting they go
digging the garden and planting they go with the mother and help cooking they
with the mother and help cooking they
with the mother and help cooking they participate in everything we do they
participate in everything we do they
participate in everything we do they contribute but in our world
contribute but in our world
contribute but in our world it’s difficult because it’s expensive to
it’s difficult because it’s expensive to
it’s difficult because it’s expensive to raise a family with food clothing latest
raise a family with food clothing latest
raise a family with food clothing latest mode everything all together and then
mode everything all together and then
mode everything all together and then education and of course when they grow
education and of course when they grow
education and of course when they grow up they generally leave the family
up they generally leave the family
up they generally leave the family without contributing very much is there
without contributing very much is there
without contributing very much is there anything we could do to modify this
anything we could do to modify this
anything we could do to modify this situation just a little bit also aunt
situation just a little bit also aunt
situation just a little bit also aunt Anna when people get old they stay in
Anna when people get old they stay in
Anna when people get old they stay in the family and the family takes care of
the family and the family takes care of
the family and the family takes care of them there’s no social security but this
them there’s no social security but this
them there’s no social security but this is a much better situation because
is a much better situation because
is a much better situation because they’re at home with their family loved
they’re at home with their family loved
they’re at home with their family loved and participate in the activities of the
and participate in the activities of the
and participate in the activities of the family now here this little boy Cody is
family now here this little boy Cody is
family now here this little boy Cody is dancing in front of his grandfather you
dancing in front of his grandfather you
dancing in front of his grandfather you can tell he’s having a great time well
can tell he’s having a great time well
can tell he’s having a great time well not only is having a great time but he’s
not only is having a great time but he’s
not only is having a great time but he’s learning he’s learning what he needs to
learning he’s learning what he needs to
learning he’s learning what he needs to know to someday take his grandfather’s
know to someday take his grandfather’s
know to someday take his grandfather’s place what about us how do we guarantee
place what about us how do we guarantee
place what about us how do we guarantee that we can take our place in the world
that we can take our place in the world
that we can take our place in the world later this is nor Sonia’s classroom
later this is nor Sonia’s classroom
later this is nor Sonia’s classroom you think I changed the wrong slide no
you think I changed the wrong slide no
you think I changed the wrong slide no no this is his classroom it’s also his
no this is his classroom it’s also his
no this is his classroom it’s also his garden because aunt Anna we learned by
garden because aunt Anna we learned by
garden because aunt Anna we learned by doing and since he was a very little boy
doing and since he was a very little boy
doing and since he was a very little boy he’s been going with his family to the
he’s been going with his family to the
he’s been going with his family to the garden and helping now his garden
garden and helping now his garden
garden and helping now his garden supplies a good percentage of the food
supplies a good percentage of the food
supplies a good percentage of the food that the yams the taro and other things
that the yams the taro and other things
that the yams the taro and other things that his family needs how can we
that his family needs how can we
that his family needs how can we contribute to our family now this is a
contribute to our family now this is a
contribute to our family now this is a different kind of school ring ring ring
different kind of school ring ring ring
different kind of school ring ring ring we got to hurry up we got to be on time
we got to hurry up we got to be on time
we got to hurry up we got to be on time well we don’t have to be on time because
well we don’t have to be on time because
well we don’t have to be on time because we’re learning to be on time later to
we’re learning to be on time later to
we’re learning to be on time later to our work
our work
our work if we’re late we’re in big trouble also
if we’re late we’re in big trouble also
if we’re late we’re in big trouble also our school is structured rather
our school is structured rather
our school is structured rather impersonal and it’s preparing us for our
impersonal and it’s preparing us for our
impersonal and it’s preparing us for our work in the future – which will probably
work in the future – which will probably
work in the future – which will probably be structured impersonal and rather
be structured impersonal and rather
be structured impersonal and rather intellectual but can we add a little bit
intellectual but can we add a little bit
intellectual but can we add a little bit more humaneness and what about things
more humaneness and what about things
more humaneness and what about things like family values and the way we look
like family values and the way we look
like family values and the way we look at the world does this teach that – no
at the world does this teach that – no
at the world does this teach that – no food
food
food [Music]
[Music]
[Music] when my son OMA goes to the garden there
when my son OMA goes to the garden there
when my son OMA goes to the garden there is in his garden
is in his garden
is in his garden choosing a can of food but he can’t
choosing a can of food but he can’t
choosing a can of food but he can’t really tell what’s in the can on the
really tell what’s in the can on the
really tell what’s in the can on the other hand wasps y-you knows exactly
other hand wasps y-you knows exactly
other hand wasps y-you knows exactly what he’s eating why because he grew it
what he’s eating why because he grew it
what he’s eating why because he grew it in our world what about our food is it
in our world what about our food is it
in our world what about our food is it simply made to be easy to produce to be
simply made to be easy to produce to be
simply made to be easy to produce to be easy to transport to be easy to sell or
easy to transport to be easy to sell or
easy to transport to be easy to sell or is it really designed to be nourishing
is it really designed to be nourishing
is it really designed to be nourishing to the body and the soul no here we’re
to the body and the soul no here we’re
to the body and the soul no here we’re finishing the woman’s of weaving house
finishing the woman’s of weaving house
finishing the woman’s of weaving house this is a community part project all the
this is a community part project all the
this is a community part project all the material was prepared in advance and in
material was prepared in advance and in
material was prepared in advance and in one single day the roof was finished and
one single day the roof was finished and
one single day the roof was finished and thatched and of course no money was used
thatched and of course no money was used
thatched and of course no money was used for that in our world almost everything
for that in our world almost everything
for that in our world almost everything we do were paid for and we think that
we do were paid for and we think that
we do were paid for and we think that we’re doing it because we’re earning
we’re doing it because we’re earning
we’re doing it because we’re earning money for ourselves and we put it in our
money for ourselves and we put it in our
money for ourselves and we put it in our pocket but when you really think about
pocket but when you really think about
pocket but when you really think about it in addition to earning money for
it in addition to earning money for
it in addition to earning money for ourselves or actually contributing to
ourselves or actually contributing to
ourselves or actually contributing to the good functioning of our society if
the good functioning of our society if
the good functioning of our society if we realize that maybe when we go to work
we realize that maybe when we go to work
we realize that maybe when we go to work we can put a little bit more heart and
we can put a little bit more heart and
we can put a little bit more heart and soul
soul
soul what we do and if we do that maybe we’ll
what we do and if we do that maybe we’ll
what we do and if we do that maybe we’ll be happier in our lives and maybe help
be happier in our lives and maybe help
be happier in our lives and maybe help the society be happier too now we’ve
the society be happier too now we’ve
the society be happier too now we’ve gone to full circle here this is a
gone to full circle here this is a
gone to full circle here this is a picture of me in Alaska by my airplane
picture of me in Alaska by my airplane
picture of me in Alaska by my airplane before I came to Melanesia well as you
before I came to Melanesia well as you
before I came to Melanesia well as you can see Melanesia has very much changed
can see Melanesia has very much changed
can see Melanesia has very much changed me and the way I look at the world and
me and the way I look at the world and
me and the way I look at the world and tonight I’ve shared with you some images
tonight I’ve shared with you some images
tonight I’ve shared with you some images and some ideas I’ve gotten from that
and some ideas I’ve gotten from that
and some ideas I’ve gotten from that from that time this is not an acai until
from that time this is not an acai until
from that time this is not an acai until a and I’m not an anthropologist but I
a and I’m not an anthropologist but I
a and I’m not an anthropologist but I hope that looking a little bit about how
hope that looking a little bit about how
hope that looking a little bit about how people lived on Tanner might help us all
people lived on Tanner might help us all
people lived on Tanner might help us all think a little bit more about our own
think a little bit more about our own
think a little bit more about our own lives thank you very much oh wait I want
lives thank you very much oh wait I want
lives thank you very much oh wait I want to remind you again that this
to remind you again that this
to remind you again that this presentation tonight was not about
presentation tonight was not about
presentation tonight was not about Tanner it was not about traditional life
Tanner it was not about traditional life
Tanner it was not about traditional life it was about our own lives and can we
it was about our own lives and can we
it was about our own lives and can we change the way we live a little bit to
change the way we live a little bit to
change the way we live a little bit to make our lives richer yes we can
make our lives richer yes we can
make our lives richer yes we can [Applause]
”
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