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The Papuan-speaking Siwai reside in South Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Siwais have long been horticulturalists, subsisting largely on taro (sweet potatoes after World War II), supplemented with a variety of other vegetables, pigs (particularly important in ceremonies), fishing, and tree crops. Cocoa was introduced in the late 1950s and has become a major cash crop. Most adult men have since been employed as plantation laborers or as copper miners in other parts of the island. Households are comprised of nuclear families. Many Siwais go on to secondary and tertiary education, and some participate in the local, regional and national democratic government. Prior to the establishment of wage labor and a cash economy, women held some sway through matrilineage control of agricultural and hunting lands, and enterprising men amassed prestige and power through organizing multi-village feasts.

Culture Summary

Temporary townsfolk?

Hunting and gathering

Taim bilong mani

A Solomon Island society

Human relations and language in a Papuan-speaking tribe of southern Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Economic and social uses of domestic pigs in Siuai, southern Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Author	Title	Publication Date
Connell, John	Culture Summary	2016
Connell, John	Temporary townsfolk?	1988
Connell, John	Hunting and gathering	1977
Connell, John	Taim bilong mani	1978
Oliver, Douglas L.	A Solomon Island society	1955
Oliver, Douglas L.	Human relations and language in a Papuan-speaking tribe of southern Bougainville, Solomon Islands	1949
Oliver, Douglas L.	Economic and social uses of domestic pigs in Siuai, southern Bougainville, Solomon Islands	1949
Oliver, Douglas L.	Land tenure in northeast Siuai, southern Bougainville, Solomon Islands	1949

Siwai

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