Alice Wedega
Encyclopedia
Dame Alice Wedega, DBE was a Papuan politician, educator, peacemaker and conscientious objector
.
Alice Wedega was raised in Kwato, Milne Bay
in a traditional culture of violence, including "witchcraft" and headhunting. Through Alice Wedega's work in educating her people and encouraging them to listen to the "good spirit", she helped foster peace by "making enemies into friends".
Alice Wedega was herself taught these same principles by Charles Abel, a missionary
who established a school on Kwato island. These teachings have had far-reaching effects on Papua New Guinea
. Wedega was knighted in 1982 as DBE. She once traveled to Northern Ireland
to help resolve conflict (see quote below).
She became the first woman member of what is now known as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea
in 1961.
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
.
Alice Wedega was raised in Kwato, Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
in a traditional culture of violence, including "witchcraft" and headhunting. Through Alice Wedega's work in educating her people and encouraging them to listen to the "good spirit", she helped foster peace by "making enemies into friends".
Alice Wedega was herself taught these same principles by Charles Abel, a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
who established a school on Kwato island. These teachings have had far-reaching effects on Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. Wedega was knighted in 1982 as DBE. She once traveled to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
to help resolve conflict (see quote below).
She became the first woman member of what is now known as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea
House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea
The House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea was the legislature of the territory of Papua and New Guinea from 1964 to 1972. Before 1964, the Legislative Council of Papua and New Guinea sat from 1951 to 1964 under the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949...
in 1961.
Quote
- "... [o]ur people used to kill and eat men. They would practice payback. That is, if one of your side killed one of mine, my side would kill one of yours. But the missionaries came from Europe to stop us doing all that. And now I have been back to Northern Ireland to help the Europeans there stop doing it." (A. Wedega)