| Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 700[1] 350[2] |
|||
| Regions with significant populations | |||
|
|||
| Languages | |||
| Religion | |||
| Related ethnic groups | |||
The Urapmin people are an ethnic group in the Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea.
Contents |
The Urapmin see themselves as players in a ritual system encompassing all of the Min peoples.[4] The Telefol were acknowledged by the Min as being at the highest level of sacred knowledge, and groups such as the Baktaman were at the lowest level. In this ranking the Urapmin were either at the top or at least very close to the Telefolmin.[5] They divided up peoples encountered into traditional allies (dup) and enemies (wasi), along with foreigners (ananang).[6]
The Urapmin believe motobil (nature spirits) own various animals, landscape features, and have designated certain areas as awem (taboo). Disrespectful conduct on the ground whose use the motobil permit is thought to bring illness.[7] motobil contrast with sakbal, the spirits of dead humans. The former are thought to have never been human.[8]
Bush animals which appear in the village are feared, believed to be shape-shifting sorcerers.[9]
It is thought that all beings which existed in the world before the creation of humans were spirits. Humans were created in a multiple birth of the cultural heroine Afek, emerging immediately after the first dog. Afek gave the bush to the spirits right before birthing humans so that they would clear out the villages for the humans to dwell in.[10]
Since as such dogs are spirits (and the "older brother" of man), Urapmin do not kill or eat them (unlike some neighboring tribes), nor do they let dogs breathe on their food. (This contrasts with humans -- the Urapmin previously had no cannibalism taboo, but they can share food with them.) In fact, the taboo on eating dogs is one of the few still widely observed.[11]
nuk wanang are the female guardians of marsupials which are hunted and eaten. They sometimes have sex with and marry frequent hunters, causing them to dream of the location of game and become successful. However, they become jealous of the hunter's wife and eventually cause the hunter to die in an accident.[12]
In the 1950s some Urapmin men went to study at neighboring Telefol Baptist schools, and in the mid-1970s the village had a small church. In 1977 Penacostal Christianity became popular in the area, and the entire community became Christian. Many Urapmin believe that the coming of Jesus will cause them to become white people. They believe in group Spirit Diskos, group possessions by the Holy Spirit.[13]
The Urapmin often say that "everything|in the world|has an owner".[14]
Their villages are kept free of plant matter, as the neighboring Teleform do.[15]
People devoted to possession are looked down upon.[16] One image in Urapmin culture is the person who eats alone (feg inin), who does not use property for more than personal enjoyment.[17]