ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the gendered distinction between the church and other social institutions such as the graded society and organizations from more recent history such as the politico-religious movement NaGriamel' and the Local Council. An understanding of the political development on the island after Independence, such as the development of the chief role, the operations of the Local Council and later the Development Council, is also premised on the tension between gendered aspects of relationships. In the early 1970s, the British District Agent (BDA) initiated the organization of a Local Council on Ambrym. This was part of a policy from the Condominium government to prevent recruitment to the NaGriamel movement. Harrison has discussed how the male hierarchical cult among the Avatip on the East Sepik of New Guinea, operated on a different cultural logic than the secular society.
