Micronesians: Difference between revisions

The Micronesian peoples can be divided into two cultural groups, the [[High island|high-islanders]] and the [[Low island|low-islanders]]. The Palauans, Chamorros, Yapese, Chuukese, Pohnpeians, Kosraeans and Nauruans belong to the high-islander group. The inhabitants of the low islands ([[atolls]]) are the Marshallese and the Kiribati, whose culture is distinct from the high-islanders.<ref>{{cite web |title=High-island and low-island cultures |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Micronesia-cultural-region-Pacific-Ocean/Contemporary-Micronesia |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> Low-islanders had better navigation and canoe technology, as a means of survival. High-islanders had access to reliable and abundant resources and did not need to travel much outside of their islands. High islands also possessed larger populations.<ref name=Alkire/>

 

[[File:Kiribati(116).JPG|thumb]]

Raobeia Ken Sigrah claims that Banabans, native to [[Banaba]], are ethnically distinct from other I-Kiribati.<ref name=Sigrah>{{cite book|last=Sigrah|first=Raobeia Ken, and Stacey M. King|title=''Te rii ni Banaba.''|year=2001|publisher=Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji|isbn=982-02-0322-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CKIr1eg77IwC}}</ref> The Banabans were assimilated through [[forced migration]]s and the heavy impact of the discovery of [[Phosphate mining in Banaba and Nauru|phosphate in 1900]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/banaba/11163312|title=Banaba: The island Australia ate|date=30 May 2019|website=Radio National|language=en-AU|access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref> After 1945, the British authorities relocated most of the population to [[Rabi Island]], [[Fiji]], with subsequent waves of emigration in 1977, and from 1981 to 1983. Some Banabans subsequently returned, following the end of mining in 1979; approximately 300 were living on the island in 2001. The population of Banaba in the 2010 census was 295.<ref name="B2012">{{cite web| work= Office of Te Beretitenti – Republic of Kiribati Island Report Series|title= 19. Banaba|year = 2012 |url= http://www.climate.gov.ki/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/19_BANABA-revised-2012.pdf| access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> There is an estimated 6,000 people of Banaban descent in Fiji and other countries.<ref name="Teaiwa1">{{cite book |last= Teaiwa |first= Katerina Martina|author-link= |date= 2014 |title= Consuming Ocean Island: Stories of People and Phosphate from Banaba|url= |location= Bloomington|publisher= Indiana University Press |pages= |isbn= 9780253014528}}</ref><ref name="Teaiwa2">{{cite web| last =Prestt | first =Kate |title= Australia's shameful chapter|publisher= 49(1) ANUReporter |page=|year = 2017|url= https://reporter.anu.edu.au/australia%E2%80%99s-shameful-chapter| accessdate=19 September 2021}}</ref>

The Banabans spoke the [[Banaban language]], which has gone extinct due to a shift to the Gilbertese language, introduced by Christian missionaries that translated the Bible into Gilbertese and encouraged the Banabans to read it. Today, only a few words remain of the original Banaban language.<ref name=Sigrah/> Today, the Banabans speak the Banaban dialect of Gilbertese, which includes words from the old Banaban language.<ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=gil Kiribati]</ref>

 

[[File:Carolinian people in 1915.jpg|thumb|Carolinian people in 1915]]

It is thought that ancestors of the [[Carolinian people]] may have originally immigrated from the Asian mainland and [[Indonesia]] to Micronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language is [[Carolinian language|Carolinian]], called ''Refaluwasch'' by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. The Carolinians have a [[matriarchy|matriarchal]] society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward the [[matriarch]]s. Most Carolinians are of the [[Roman Catholic]] faith.

The [[Chamorro language]] is included in the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian subgroup]] of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] family. Because Guam was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, many words derive from the [[Spanish language]]. The traditional Chamorro number system was replaced by Spanish numbers.<ref>{{cite book | first = Rafael | last = Rodríguez-Ponga Salamanca | title = Del español al chamorro: Lenguas en contacto en el Pacífico | language = es | trans-title = From Spanish to Chamorro: languages in contact in the Pacific| location = Madrid | year = 2009 | publisher = Ediciones Gondo | isbn = 978-84-933774-4-1 | oclc = 436267171}}</ref>

 

[[File:Scenes from every land, second series; a collection of 250 illustrations picturing the people, natural phenomena, and animal life in all parts of the world. With one map and a bibliography of (14580547887).jpg|thumb]]

The [[Chuukese people]] are an [[ethnic group]] of [[Chuuk State]]. They constitute 48% of the population of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]]. Their language is [[Chuukese language|Chuukese]]. The home atoll of [[Chuuk Lagoon|Chuuk]] is also known by the former name "Truk".

In Chuukese culture, the men were expected to defend and protect their family. They were very protective of their clan, lineage identity and property. Backing down from a fight is not seen as manly.<ref name="TheMicronesians"/>

 

{{redirect|Kiribati people|information on the population of Kiribati|Demographics of Kiribati}}

[[File:I-Kiribati dancer.jpg|thumb|Te Buki Dance]]

The Kiribati people, also known as I-Kiribati, Tungaru or Gilbertese, are the indigenous people of [[Kiribati]]. They speak the [[Gilbertese language]]. They number 103,000 as of 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12713|title=Kiribertese &#124; Joshua Project|website=www.joshuaproject.net}}</ref>

 

[[File:Founding day 2005 Federated States of Micronesia 04.jpg|thumb]]

The Kosraeans or Kusaieans are the indigenous people of [[Kosrae]]. They speak the [[Kosraean language]]. They number around 8400 as of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12811|title=Kosraen &#124; Joshua Project|website=www.joshuaproject.net}}</ref>

The Marshallese people ([[Marshallese language|Marshallese]]: ''kajoor ri-Ṃajeḷ '', ''laḷ ri-Ṃajeḷ'') are the indigenous inhabitants of the [[Marshall Islands]]. They numbered 70,000 as of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?peo3=13554|title=Marshallese &#124; Joshua Project}}</ref> Marshallese society was organized into three social classes, the ''iroji'' was the chief or landowner that headed several clans, the ''alap'' managed the clan and the ''rijerbal'' (worker) were commoners that worked the land. The three social classes treated each other well and with mutual respect.<ref name="TheMicronesians"/>

 

The [[Nauruans]] are an [[ethnicity]] inhabiting the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] [[island]] of [[Nauru]]. They are most likely a blend of [[Indigenous peoples of Oceania|other Pacific peoples]].<ref>{{cite book|title=FutureFish 2001: FutureFish in Century 21: The North Pacific Fisheries Tackle Asian Markets, the Can-Am Salmon Treaty, and Micronesian Seas|first=C.D. | last = Bay-Hansen|year=2006|publisher=[[Trafford Publishing]]|isbn=1-55369-293-4|page=277}}</ref>

 

The origin of the Nauruan people has not yet been finally determined. It can possibly be explained by the last Malayo-Pacific [[human migration]] (c. 1200). It was probably seafaring or shipwrecked [[Polynesians]] or [[Melanesians]] that established themselves in Nauru because there was not already an [[indigenous people]] present, whereas the Micronesians were already crossed with the Melanesians in this area.

 

[[File:Palauan mother 1st baby ceremony.jpg|thumb|Palauan mother 1st baby ceremony ]]

{{redirect|Palauans|information on the population of Palau|Demographics of Palau}}

The Palauans or Belauans ([[Palauan language|Palauan]]: ''Belau'', ''ngukokl a Belau'') — are the indigenous people of [[Palau]]. They numbered around 26,600 as of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14271|title=Palauan &#124; Joshua Project|website=www.joshuaproject.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/14272/PS|title=Palauan, English-speaking in Palau|first=Joshua|last=Project|website=joshuaproject.net}}</ref> Palauans are not noted for being great long-distance voyagers and navigators when compared to other Micronesian peoples. The taro is the center of their farming practices, although breadfruit has a symbolic importance.<ref name=Petersen/>

 

[[File:Pacific Partnership 2011 in Pohnpei DVIDS427660.jpg|thumb]]

The Pohnpeians or Ponapeans are the indigenous people of [[Pohnpei]]. They number around 28,000. They speak the [[Pohnpeian language]].