Abstract
Tok stori, a Melanesian pidgin term meaning "conversate or share stories", has emerged over the last decade as a Melanesian research methodology in the fields of education, pedagogy and leadership. This paper contributes to this scholarship by exploring the value of its application to the conceptualisation and practice of archaeological research in Solomon Islands. From our perspectives as Solomon Islander archaeologists, we reflect on our experiences engaging in tok stori with two communities from Santa Isabel and Lauru (Choiseul) while undertaking field work. We use these examples to demonstrate the highly dynamic nature of tok stori in research, serving as a mechanism to build trust and reciprocal relationships centred upon shared social values, but also to facilitate more transactional partnerships fixated on negotiating financial "benefits". Drawing from our experiences, we also discuss key challenges facing archaeological practice in Solomon Islands. These are a lack of awareness of the purpose and values of archaeological research, and a legacy of monetary enticement we refer to as a "handout mentality" generated by extractive industries. Tok stori, we contend, can aid in navigating these challenges and serves as a valuable research tool for archaeologists due to its adaptability and the cultural bearing it holds for Melanesian peoples.
Tok stori, terme pidgin m & eacute;lan & eacute;sien signifiant "converser ou partager des histoires", est apparu au cours de la derni & egrave;re d & eacute;cennie comme m & eacute;thodologie de recherche m & eacute;lan & eacute;sienne dans les domaines de l'& eacute;ducation, de la p & eacute;dagogie et de la dirigeance. Notre article contribue & agrave; cette recherche en explorant la valeur de son application & agrave; la conceptualisation et & agrave; la pratique de la recherche arch & eacute;ologique aux & Icirc;les Salomon. De notre point de vue d'arch & eacute;ologues des & icirc;les Salomon, nous r & eacute;fl & eacute;chissons & agrave; nos exp & eacute;riences de tok stori avec deux communaut & eacute;s de Santa Isabel et Lauru (Choiseul), tout en entreprenant un travail de terrain. Nous utilisons ces exemples pour d & eacute;montrer la nature tr & egrave;s dynamique du tok stori pour la recherche, en servant de m & eacute;canisme pour & eacute;tablir la confiance et des relations r & eacute;ciproques centr & eacute;es sur des valeurs sociales partag & eacute;es, mais aussi pour faciliter des partenariats plus transactionnels ax & eacute;s sur la n & eacute;gociation de << b & eacute;n & eacute;fices >> financiers. En nous appuyant sur nos exp & eacute;riences, nous discutons & eacute;galement des principaux d & eacute;fis auxquels est confront & eacute;e la pratique arch & eacute;ologique aux & Icirc;les Salomon. Il s'agit d'un manque de conscience des objectifs et des valeurs de la recherche arch & eacute;ologique, et d'un h & eacute;ritage de l'attrait mon & eacute;taire que nous appelons une << mentalit & eacute; de don >> g & eacute;n & eacute;r & eacute;e par les industries extractives. Nous affirmons que Tok stori peut aider & agrave; relever ces d & eacute;fis et constitue un outil de recherche pr & eacute;cieux pour les arch & eacute;ologues, en raison de son adaptabilit & eacute; et de la port & eacute;e culturelle qu'il rev & ecirc;t pour les peuples m & eacute;lan & eacute;siens.
Long las ten iia, samfala Melanesian risecha wea waka long ediukesen iusim 'tok stori' fo mekem wanfala niu tok stori risech fremwak. Long disfala stadi, mifala bae iusim datfala sem tok stori fremwak fo storim waka blong mifala long archaeology long hom blo mifala long Solomon Aelan. Mifala bae serem tufala tok stori blong mifala witim Sisiga vilij long Isabel an Nuatambu vilij long Lauru taem mi fala duim archaeology filwak. Mifala bae iusim tufala eksampol ia fo som hao iumi save iusim tok stori long staka diferen wei long risech an hao hem barava gud tul fo iumi ius long risech. Mifala bae som hao tok stori gud fo bildim strong relesensip witim komuniti wea garem intres long archaeology, an fo stretem waka witim komuniti wea no intres tumas long archaeology bat garem intres nomoa fo tekem benefit fo pipol blong olketa. Long disfala stadi, mifala bae storim tu samfala chalenj wea save spoelem waka blong mifala long archaeology. Wanfala chalenj ia long saed long awenes, wea staka long Solomon no save wat na archaeology an wat na benefit blo hem. Nara chalenj hem histori blong korapsen long saed long loging wea lanona save askem selen olobaot an stopem risech. Mifala mekem impoten agiumen long disfala stadi dat tok stori fremwak na bes wei fo fesim olketa kaen chalenj bikos staka pipol long Solomon an staka wantok blo iumi long Melanesia luksave long tok stori an olketa save dat hem barava impoten samting long kastom.