Alexander de Antoni: “Call Us Kau, Not Citak.” Constitutive Factors for the Ethnic Consciousness of an Asmat Subgroup

Abstract. − The names commonly applied to the ethnic group of the Kau until now have been determined by non-emic denotations. Besides this fact, concepts constitutive for the ethnic consciousness of the Kau will be dealt with. They take a significant position in the development of strategies for coping with the social environment in which the group is embedded. These concepts are transmitted through principles analogically coded into mythical motifs. In mythical presentations these ideas are passed on and conserved in a society. This process will be exemplified by means of Kau myths. [Papua, Asmat, Citak, Kau, mythology, social structure, ethnicity]