Grand Valley Dani: Peaceful Warriors

by Karl G. Heider

This case study examines an isolated tribe in Indonesia, West New Guinea, when tribe members were still using stone axes, bows, arrows and spears, up to more present times spanning 34 years (1961-1995). The author's long engagement with the Dani results in a wide range of engaging topics as well as coverage of the ethical dilemma he faced as an anthropologist. One immediately acquires a sense of the limitations and strengths of the anthropologist's role in the field. Heider's 1995 visit to the Dugnm Dani left him less optimistic about the future of the Dani than his 1988 visit. Indonesian Independence Day was celebrated during Heider's stay. The Dani presence was barely acknowledged, while the Indonesian presence was colorfully represented. The past mistakes of foreign occupation of indigenous territory, committed mostly by Western powers, now seem repeated by the Indonesian authorities.

Genres: Anthropology, Ethnography

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1990

About the author

Karl Heider is an American visual anthropologist.

Reviews

[John Wiswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read Heider's original work on the Dani tribe, but this book gives a very good sense of how things changed in their culture. It creates some interesting pictures of their tribal society, particularly in the mindful way their camps are set up, how they farm, their spiritual culture (particularly in their vision of what the dead do in the afterlife), and the horrible revenge-killing process of their culture that puts them in constant conflict with opposing tribes. It's not the smoothest writing, and sometimes gets sticky or too technical, but most of it is sufficiently self-contained and interesting.

[Luke Zinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good ethnography to read for layman. Karl Heider writes about the Grand Valley Dani during several different fieldwork experiences over 35 years and presents the Dani’s culture in a dynamic holistic perspective. He covers various cultural trails such as ritual and secular warfare, 5 year abstinence after childbirth, finger mutilation and the pig feast. Probably the most interesting part is when he writes about there low intensity psyche and how there views are very relaxed and malleable to cross cultural influences.

[Lyndzi28 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting anthropological study and case notes about the Dani tribe in Papua New guinea. I enjoyed this read, as the culture itself is very interesting and somewhat primitive.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to read the 3rd edition to see Heider's analysis of a people in transition.

[Brian Bloom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting from an anthropological standpoint but this kind of stuff just doesn't do it for me