John Barker

About the Author

John Barker is a distinguished anthropologist and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia, where he has dedicated his career to the study of indigenous cultures in the Pacific region. With a focus on ethnography and environmental anthropology, Barker's research explores the intricate relationships between traditional societies and their ecosystems, particularly in the face of modern challenges like deforestation and globalization. His seminal work, Ancestral Lines: The Maisin of Papua New Guinea and the Fate of the Rainforest, Second Edition (Teaching Culture: UTP Ethnographies for the Classroom), vividly documents the Maisin people's resilient cultural practices and their ongoing struggle to preserve their rainforest homeland. Through meticulous fieldwork and engaging narratives, Barker bridges academic scholarship with accessible storytelling, inspiring readers to appreciate the diversity of human experience and the urgency of cultural preservation.