“I mostly feel sadness and anger at this story. Who is keeping these people in the 1920’s?”
They are. In the mid ‘60s, many were still head hunters killing each other with crude bows and arrows. Some today are not too far advanced beyond that. Give them awhile, soon they’ll be as decadent as us.
I used to know a guy who was a missionary in PNG. He was the second white man anyone in the tribe had ever seen. This was in the late 1970’s. As I recall PNG is extremely tribal with over 700 languages. He was there for five years before he could even begin to evangelize them cause he had to learn their very complex culture.
This story alone is evidence of how their cultures are changing. Twonty years ago, the girl would have been allowed to die. Now, superhuman efforts are undertaken to prevent death. The importance of life has come to the forefront.
And yes, he is a hero.