Final answer:
The Highlanders in Papua New Guinea believed the Leahy brothers were spirits or 'cargo cult' gods in the film 'First Contact'.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the film "First Contact," the Highlanders in Papua New Guinea believed that the Leahy brothers were spirits or 'cargo cult' gods. The Highlanders, having never seen modern technology or white men before, misinterpreted the Leahy brothers and their cargo as supernatural. This event highlights significant cultural misunderstandings that occurred during encounters between indigenous societies and Western explorers in the 20th century.