Celebrating the indigenous Min people of PNG

August 9 is observed as International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations.

One indigenous clan is a remote cultural group in the West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) known as the Min peoples. 70 years ago, these tribes had no access to the outside world and based their lives on animistic rituals and sacred knowledge. But recently there was cause for celebration as some of the early missionaries returned for the final time.

Now in their eighties, Lindsay and Meryl Smith returned to Telefomin with MAF to mark this special anniversary – a moment of joy and gratitude for everyone who has been involved in the transformation of life for the indigenous Min people. This was the first time the couple had set foot in the remote highland region for over 40 years.

Mr and Mrs Smith lived among the Min between 1964 and 1979, devoting themselves to constructing new airstrips and teaching people basic skills such as hygiene, craftmanship, peace and reconciliation. They were delighted to have the strength and means to return to the place they described as the 'best 15 years of our life'. The celebrations, which spanned two days, saw locals welcome mission and NGO staff to share memories and celebrate together. MAF's cargo included 100 copies of Lindsay's book 'Every Step of the Way', which was published in March and has been translated into the local Tok Pisin language. The book describes the couple's devotion to the Min people and dependence on MAF to receive basic supplies, building materials and educational resources.

MAF's Communications Officer Mandy Glass reports: "Encounters with pioneering missionaries like the Smiths are so valuable, very special and impactful. They encourage and spur us on to faithfully continue our mission and practically help isolated people to pursue a better life." This event is one of many which will take place this August to remember the vulnerable indigenous people who remain isolated across the world. To raise awareness of these forgotten people, 9 August commemorates the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples – a cause which is at the core of Mission Aviation Fellowship's (MAF) work. Hundreds of remote people are now receiving the basics they need to survive, accessing education, technology and external markets to break longstanding cycles of poverty. An estimated 370 million indigenous people live across 90 countries on our planet. This makes up only five per-cent of the world's population, but they represent some of the poorest and most vulnerable. Now flying in 27 developing countries, MAF is among the world's largest humanitarian airline and has opened up some of the world's most isolated communities.