Figure 3. Four or more ties between villages. If we only show those connections which include four or more ties, as in figure 3 above, patterns
begin to emerge. The communities of each language are very interconnected, which is to be expected. Both Marangis communities consider themselves to be very connected with Kayan, though this was not
reported by the Kayan. Marangis village and Nemnem both indicated they are connected with a large number of villages. Potentially, they could be influential communities in the area.
4.2 Expressed willingness
Each of the target groups expressed willingness to work together and with the Mbore. There seems to be a shared identity between the groups. They recognize that their vernaculars are related. They explained
this by citing their history where they share a common ancestor. The Awar and Bosmun report that they are descended from two brothers, one who liked the ocean while the other liked the river.
In Watam one man said that they call all five Lower Ramu languages Kam Kame an Mbore phrase meaning “one language.” Though no one else I talked to recognized the phrase he used they all
understood his intent. Many people agreed saying, “Yes we are all one language but there are little changes.”
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Only three communities reported current disputes with other Lower Ramu communities. Goingbang 2 said they are having issues with the Mbore and Dogan over land. The people of Dogan
confirmed this. Nemnem also reported a dispute with Goingbang 2 over the river, probably fishing ground. It is important to remember that most likely there are more disputes than are reported. Many
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“Yes mipela olgeta wanpela tok ples tasol liklik senis i stap.”
times people are reluctant to share this kind of information with an outsider. That being said, most of the ongoing disputes are between the Bosmun communities. It will be important to watch this going
forward.
4.3 Past disputes
Most communities indicated that they have never had a dispute with other Lower Ramu communities. They listed other surrounding groups from Bogia to the Sepik. Marangis even reported that they fought
with the islanders and then up the Ramu, but only on the other side of Bosmun. The exceptions to this are Wamtac, Daiden, Nemnem, Goingbang 2, and Kayan. Wamtac, Daiden,
and Nemnem reported that they would fight with anyone on the Ramu, from the mouth to the mountains. Goingbang 2 reported that they have never had a past dispute. Finally, the people of Kayan
chose not to answer the question. In responses to the lack of reports of past disputes between the Lower Ramu groups, Thomas Dukun,
an Mbore man said, “the groups know we are all brothers but forget that the fights between brothers are usually the worst. They choose now to remember only the relationship.”
David Parrish PBT lived with the Mbore for a time. He reports that the five Lower Ramu groups used to work together to raid villages further up the Ramu River. They would canoe together up the
river at night and attack a village at dawn. After destroying the village and taking anything of value, including children to be used as slaves, they returned home using the current to outdistance any reprisal.
The Bosmun would then protect the area from the river, the Awar from the ocean, and Marangis and Kayan the mouth of the river.
Other sources indicate that though there were past disputes between the Lower Ramu groups, their shared identity made them allies more often von Poser A. T. 2008 and von Poser A. 2013.
4.4 Conclusions
