For years many anthropologists have been searching for the rare and elusive ethnographic present. This has been task that many have tried to complete but have not succeeded due to the fact of the many uninfluenced societies. Today, many civilizations have been introduced to the western ways of life, and have changed due to the influence of the new cultures. Most have even adopted some aspects of western culture as part of their own. This influence is due to the growing needs for material possessions such as gaining wealth and land for one’s own country. This globalization that has occurred has many nations becoming dependent upon what the other nations provide for them. First Contact is some original footage of an intact and unaffected civilization encountering the white man for the very first time. It gives us a first-hand prospective of how much a civilization can be changed just by the introduction of a dissimilar individual.

In 1926 there was the discovery of gold along the coast of New Guinea. Many prospectors gathered on this newfound frontier in hopes of great wealth. While many men prospered, a group of brothers did not fai

Still unsuccessful in their search for gold, they began to focus more and more on their original plans. So after traveling for days on end, they came upon one of the largest valleys of New Guinea, and not only did they find gold there but also a quarter of a million friendly people that were willing to work for shells. These people were also willing to trade with these white men. These people also had an incredible work ethic, and believed that everything the white man had was valuable to their success. When the plane came, it brought many new things from the western world that intrigued the native peoples. They thought that the plane itself was a big bird. This “big bird” brought a phonograph which the natives believed to be a box of the dead. They danced along to the music that was playing, believing that they were dancing with their ancestors. They also found interest in other things that the white man brought to them.

When the brothers and their crew finally did reach the top of the mountains, not only did they find fetal land, but they also found a thriving community in the valley below. However, the brothers weren’t the only ones astounded by this discovery. The tribes that they encountered were also amazed by this encounter with the white man. This was the first time that they had ever came in contact with them, and a chain of warning yells echoed throughout the mountains upon their arrival. The native peoples watched them approach, as they knew that this was no enemy. They believed them to be spirits because they had never seen anything like them. They didn’t know of the outside world or even the fact that humans

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Guinea Due, Search Ethnographic, native peoples, friendly people, natives believed, lived white, people willing, set journey, believed white, powerful weapons,