Alice Wedega

Alice Wedega

Dame Alice Wedega, DBE (20 August 1905 in Ahioma, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea – 3 December 1987) was a Papuan politician, educator, peacemaker and conscientious objector.

Alice Wedega was raised in Kwato, Milne Bay in a traditional culture of violence, including "witchcraft" and headhunting. Through Alice Wedega's work in educating her people and encouraging them to listen to the "good spirit", she helped foster peace by "making enemies into friends". Alice Wedega was herself taught these same principles by Charles Abel, a missionary who established a school on the island of Kwato. Wedega was knighted in 1982 as DBE. She once traveled to Northern Ireland to help resolve conflict (see quote below). She became the first woman member of what is now known as the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea in 1961.