How long have Focus Group and Neighbour Group people been in contact overall?

Two centuries, since Kwoma migrated into the Washkuk Hills from further to the north in the first half of the 19th century and the Manambu migrated during the same period migrated from further down river from an area occupied today by Iatmul-speaking people.

What is the overall time frame when the largest number of people had the most opportunities for interaction?

Since the 1920s, when a government patrol post was established at Ambunti, midway between the two language groups, and warfare between the two groups came to an end. This gave Kwoma for the first time in their history the ability safely to visit Manambu communities, and vice versa.

How long have Focus Group and Neighbour Group people practised exchange for?

Two centuries up to the present but only in the context of trade and ritual matters, never in the form of intermarriage.

What is the time frame when the largest number of people had the most opportunities for interaction in exchange?

During the last one hundred years following the establishment in the 1920s of a government patrol post at Ambunti, located midway between these two language groups, and the suppression of open warfare between them, which made travel between these two language groups safer and more common. See the answers to questionnaire 1. [DTR]

How long have Focus Group people and Neighbour Group people worked together for?

Two centuries

What is the time frame when the largest number of people had the most opportunities for interaction in the labour domain?

Around 1820 to 1950, when intertribal warfare in this region came to an end

How long have Focus Group and Neighbour Group people been in contact in the local community?

Two centuries

Contact has been in three phases: 1) from roughly 1820 to 1860, when it was sporadic; 2) from 1860 to 1950, when it became more common due to the elimination by Kwoma, with Manambu help, of an intervening group (the Ngala) hostile to both Kwoma and Manambu; 3) following 1950 when the Australian colonial government brought intertribal warfare in this region to an end. This made unrestricted travel between the two language groups safe for the first time in Kwoma and Manambu history.

What is the time frame when the largest number of people had the most opportunities for interaction in the local community?

Since the 1950s when the suppression by the national government of intertribal warfare made contact safe.

The Kwoma people (occupants of the Washkuk Hiils) moved into these hills in the 1820s but did not have regular contact until the 1860s when an intervening common enemy (the Ngala) was eliminated through warfare. Contact has gradually increased in intensity since then, and especially since the 1950s.

How long have Focus Group and Neighbour Group people traded for?

Two centuries

What is the time frame when the largest number of people had the most opportunities for interaction in trade?

The last seventy years, from 1950, when intertribal warfare was brought to an end by the national administration and interaction between the two peoples became much safer than previously.