Kosraen Culture |
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KOSRAEN CULTURE Micronesian societies are made up of clan groupings, with descent traced through the mother (except on Yap, where descent is patrilineal). The head clan on each island can trace its lineage back to the island's original settlers. Clan groupings extend across islands, and Micronesians usually pop in to visit other clan members when they're in the neighbourhood. Extended families are the norm, and most households include grandparents, cousins, children and adopted hangers-on. If one member of the household gets a good job, there's a fair chance the family will extend even further. Traditional dancing is important throughout Micronesia but is especially highly valued on Yap, the island most reluctant to adopt Western ways. The shuffling and the shaking is done in groups, with men and women dancing separately, and is often accompanied by unison chanting. Although most dancing takes place at private village events on Pohnpei, there are occasional performances for tourists. Western architecture has made substantial inroads, but you can still see a few examples of local building in Micronesia. Traditional community structures were constructed from planks of native mahogany with roofs of thatched nipa palm. Micronesia also has a strong tradition of canoe building. Some of the world's greatest early navigators came from the islands, using canoes much like the ones made today. The canoes have a single outrigger, and are generally made from a hollowed breadfruit tree. Larger ocean-going vessels are made of planks bound together with coconut husk fibres - some of these canoes are 100ft (30m) long. Before the arrival of the almighty greenback, most Micronesians did their trading with beads, shells and clams. The burly people of Yap, however, preferred to lug their loose change around in the form of rai , carved pieces of stone up to 12ft (4m) in diameter and weighing as much as 5 tons (4535kg). The stones were carved into round discs with a hole through the centre. Although they're not 'minted' anymore, you can still see money 'banks' - village paths lined with rai - around Yap. Breadfruit and seafood are staples on all the islands, though most restaurants offer a combination of American and Japanese fare. Pohnpeians are particularly big on yams, and serve dog at traditional feasts. The use of sakau , a narcotic drink made from the roots of pepper shrubs, is huge on Pohnpei, where sakau bars outnumber other bars two-to-one. Oppot is a traditional Chuukese specialty, made by filling a pit with alternating layers of ripe breadfruit and banana leaves, covering it with rocks and then pungently leaving it for months, or even years, before eating. Everyone in Yap chews buw (betel nut), sometimes adding tobacco or tobacco soaked in vodka to the red menace. Warm, friendly people Kosrae was originally populated by people sailing the ocean on canoes from other parts of the Pacific. They were well known for the quality of the fabric they wove from banana fiber. The many excellent weavers carry on this tradition, weaving hats, mats, bags, baskets, and wall hanging from pandanus, coconut, hibiscus and other fibers. New traditions evolved over time. New England missionaries arrived on Kosrae (via Hawaii) in 1852 and over a period of years, successfully converted the majority of Kosraens to Christianity. Now, Kosrae is famous for the choral singing, which developed as an offshoot of the Christian conversion. These devout and peaceful people continue their daily lives in much the same manner as their ancestors. Many of them continue to prepare food, build houses, farm, fish and carve canoes and other tools as they have for hundreds of years. Language Kosraen is the local language but most people also speak English. Commonly Used Phrases
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