 The Pulangiyen conduct a ritual to appease the water spirit and ask permission to construct a water distribution system in the headwaters of the stream |
- Detail in the feature drawn is a function of how important the resource is to the person or community drawing it.
- But detail can also be a response by the person drawing the symbol to the perceived the interest of those visiting an area.
- Equally empty spaces and features not drawn can be important to local people but perceived inappropriate to show to outsiders. For example Communities rarely record rotational fallow, because either they feel officials will only take action against them or it is viewed as not of interest to those seeking greater development for the area. Yet such areas are critical to sustaining communities through difficult months when their basic food source may generally run out.
- Similarly Women rarely identify the plants that assist them in childbirth or those they use to limit the size of their families. If this type of knowledge, although important, is shown it may bring adverse judgement or its future use may be subject to control by others if they are made aware of its existence.
- Ritual areas may not be drawn because they do not directly link to products or resources. Communities may also be ashamed of old practices and will not want to admit to them in public. However, rituals are often related to the gathering of resources in the immediate area. Often the acceptability of setting out on different resource related activities depends on a ritual being performed.