A Traumatic History of Contact
For thousands of years, bitter experiences have been part of life for the Wana tribe, and one of the reasons why these people prefer to live deep in the Morowali forest of Central Sulawesi. Under the rule of the Banggai Kingdom they were forced to pay obligatory tributes and during the Dutch colonial era they paid exorbitant taxes. It should therefore come as no surprise that they prefer to avoid contact with the outside world.
August 12, 2003
JIMA'S face grew red with rage, and he clenched his teeth. Pulling out his short machete, the 62-year-old walked toward a house, accompanied by some men who also carried various weapons. As the men approached the house, the homeowner and his family broke into tears and loud sobbing. Despite their pleas Jima and his men went ahead with their plan. Within minutes, they had flattened the house.
When the destruction was over, Jima, a short, st
...