Walk Into the Birthplace Of Meekamui-Pictures

From my home valley, Tumpusiong it takes 4 hours to reach the Pangka-Irang cluster of villages in the hinterland of the western central regions of Bougainville.

Tumpusiong

Journey starts from Jaba, a shopping station of Tumpusiong

From here, one as to climb the Moi'siring Nave into Sikoreva and take the Sikoreva-Kovi'aakung road pass the old Kau'avee cow farm near Narinai Primary School.

In the remains of pre-crisis successful cow farm

This farm actually survive the crisis but its output to the community was so reduced. Then the dead of the owner meant that the whole venture as now reached standstill.

Kovia'kung, now the main official residence of the Ioro 1 COE

Kovia'kung today seemimgly with the establishment of the COE office there is fast transforming. Businesses are blooming with the 2011 rehabilitation of the Sikoreva-Kovia'kung feeder road.

Cocoa fermentary in Kovia'kung

Biampa (Jaba river) at Kovia'kung

Next to Pangka

In the back is the Tai'rengku long boulder. It borders the Toi'onarii valley off from Pangka. At the foot of this rock wall is the Korii village.

My guides entering Pangka-Irang

Philip Nesii, the secretary of Meekamui in the 1960s and take cares of the birthplace

Late Damien Dameng who created Meekamui in 1960s

Before I leave for Tumpusiong, Nesii showed me around

I decided to take up this journey in January 2012. All I wanted was to see for myself the things of historical significance to my island, Bougainville and its people.