Lucielle Paru

15/09/2026

1914 newspaper caption: 'Chief Eagle Horse, the Indian Baritone singer is introduced to an Aboriginal Queen at La Perouse in 1914.'

The 'Aboriginal Queen' was Emma Timbery the Great Great Grandmother of artist Garry Purchase.

Ms Timbrey was a well known shell worker and some of her work was sent to London for an exhibition. She died around two years after this photo was taken.

Chief Eagle Horse was an Indian Baritone singer who was born in Alaska and was taught English at a Presbyterian Mission School in Sitka, and had his first start in music by joining a band organised at the school.

Taking up music he left Alaska and went to Oregon where he joined an Indian band and nurtured his baritone voice. Shortly afterwards he took up the studying of vocal music at Portland.and travelled in North America in bands and as a solo baritone singer, later in vaudeville and followed the picture shows.

When he was in Australia he was billed to sing at the Crystal Theatre.

We have been told that the other woman in the photo was Missionary worker with her boy.

15/09/2026

Learn YOUR culture, know YOUR history, honor YOUR ancestors, know their story and TELL their stories. Their blood runs through YOURS, if you don’t tell their stories, others will. And if others tell their stories, it will be twisted!

HEDIHOROOOO BOGE BADA!

LAU NA BOERA NATUNA, LAU TUBUGU ESE BOGE BADA EHA HIRI LAIA! LAU TUBUGU ESE LAGATOI EH KARAIA MADI NAMO HELAOREANA!

HEDIHOROOOO EDAI SIABO! HEDIHOROOOO BOERA!

15/09/2026

MEDIA RELEASE: UN Committee AGAIN urges Papua New Guinea to act on unlawful land leases and logging abuses

Monday 14th September 2026

PORT MORESBY: The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued a strongly worded letter urging the Papua New Guinea Government to take urgent action to protect Indigenous land rights and address the continuing impacts of unlawful land leases and controversial logging projects.

In its letter of 25th August 2026, the Committee expresses serious concern over the Government's failure to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs), and the ongoing misuse of Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) logging licences on customary land.

The Committee says PNG has an obligation to recognise and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to own, control, develop and use their communal lands, territories and natural resources. It calls on the Government to ensure that customary landowners are properly informed about proposed land and forestry developments and that leases are granted only with their free, prior and informed consent.

CERD also criticises the prolonged delay and lack of transparency in revoking SABLs, despite the National Executive Council's 2014 decision to cancel leases that a Commission of Inquiry found were largely unlawful due to corruption and mismanagement.

The Committee notes that the Government has still not published a complete list of SABLs, preventing affected customary landowners from accessing justice and seeking remedies for damage to their lands and resources.

It further raises concerns that foreign companies continue to exploit SABLs for logging and large-scale plantation development, resulting in the destruction of traditional livelihoods, environmental degradation and widespread harm to remote rural communities.

On Forest Clearing Authorities, CERD highlights allegations of irregularities in the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority's audit process and warns that FCA licences may be being used to circumvent the requirement for the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous landowners.

The Committee has urged the Government to:

- Transparently implement the SABL Commission of Inquiry recommendations;

- Review laws governing consultation with Indigenous Peoples;
undertake human rights and environmental impact assessments for SABL projects;

- Provide effective remedies and fair compensation for communities whose lands have been occupied or damaged;

- Ensure customary landowners have meaningful access to justice.

Significantly, CERD notes that PNG has not responded to four previous communications sent by the Committee in 2011, 2016, 2018 and January 2026, and has requested that the Government address these issues in its long-overdue report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Copy of the recent UNCERD Letter to the PNG Government can be accessed using this link - https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2FCERD%2FALE%2FPNG%2F11535&Lang=en

For Media Enquires contact:

Eddie Tanago Paine
Campaign Manager, ACT NOW!
Phone: (+675) 7715 9197 / 711 93498
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: www.actnowpng.org | www.ddawatch.org | www.kastomgiraun.org

15/09/2026

07/06/2026

MAILU-1 (PPL 576)
remains in the Exploration and Evaluation stage

The drillship Noble Viking is yet to arrive in Port Moresby and no actual drilling has commenced at the Mailu-1 well location.

Despite the project being in its early stage, some individuals and groups have already raised concerns regarding Resource Management, Landowner Benefits, and potential government agreements should a commercial discovery be made.

These concerns are understandable, as local communities want clarity on how any future development could affect their land, sea resources, livelihoods, and potential economic benefits.
However important matters such as loyalties, benefit-sharing agreements, and project - Specific government commitments would generally only become relevant if exploration confirms a commercially viable oil or gas discovery.

At this stage primary focus remains on exploration activities to determine whether sufficient hydrocarbon exists to support future development