Kuru Truths: Obtaining Fore Narratives

Abstract

Frisch (1990) pointed out that the strength of oral memory is its potential to uncover "how people make sense of their past, how they connect individual experience and its social context, how the past becomes part of the present and how people use it to interpret their lives and the world around them" (p. 188). In other words, the telling of stories engages the narrator(s) in a process of reflexive traverse as events are relived, retold, and reinterpreted. Although such stories may offer unique insight(s) into significant past events, they are, nevertheless, typically collected in response to the request of a researcher. Under such circumstances, the recorded narrative is influenced by the context of its collection; that is, by factors such as the fieldwork locality and setting, local politics, the dynamics of the researcher/participant and researcher/ community relationships, the expectations of the parties involved, and the techniques of data recording.In view of the importance of the narrative collection context, it can be argued that the integrity of the resultant data lies with disclosure of methodological challenges faced during their recording. Certainly, this was the case during a recent period of fieldwork, when the stories of a group of predomi-

Frontier Journeys. Fore Experiences on the Kuru Patrols.

“…These complications were compounded by communication and translation difficulties. Unfamiliar with the local languages, my reliance on a skilled and supportive local translator was nevertheless fraught with doubts and misgivings over the inevitable loss of essence associated with the process of translation, and the cultural accuracy of my translated questions and/or probes, and the narrators' responses (Beasley 2006).…”

“…An early narrative by two of this group was particularly forceful and appeared to be a futile attempt to influence the rhetoric of others. Generally such outbursts were tempered, challenged or refuted by those present, resulting in a negotiated version of events (see Beasley 2006). On other occasions the presence of a particular individual appeared to stifle or inhibit recollections producing sketchy, disjointed accounts that proved difficult to draw out and appeared incomplete.…”

“…In effect, a relationship that began as a working partnership grew into one where the scientist was regarded as extended kin. The irony was that the narrators continued to view their relationship with particular scientists with a degree of respect, loyalty and affection that was at odds with their bitterness and resentment generated by a perceived lack of recognition (see Beasley 2006a).…”

Supporting the Investigation ofKuruin New Guinea in the 1960s: The Narratives of Four Wives

“…Aggressive resistance from relatives reluctant to let their loved ones be examined or taken away was noted by many of the kuru assistants interviewed who reported being beaten up when seeking out kuru victims on behalf of the scientists (Beasley 2006a). Similarly, Alpers (2004), Hornabrook (1995) and Mathews (2005) all reported arriving at deserted villages and having to search for known and new kuru patients.…”

“…Andemba's eldest son acted as my field guide, translator and confidant. Andemba was very keen for me to stay at her village and record her story in her own home during the privacy of the evening (Beasley 2006a). The recording session took place as she desired.…”