| MARSHALL
ISLANDS
Population: 50,840 (1999 Census)
Capital city: Majuro
Institutions
• Collection & research •
Preservation • Custodians
• Artists • Tools
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The main institution responsible for the development
and implementation of the cultural policy at Government level is
the Historic Preservation Office within the MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
AND SOCIAL WELFARE. It has been mandated the responsibility for
development and implementation of cultural policy.
 Legislation concerning cultural heritage
The purpose of the Historic Preservation Act (1991) is to promote
the preservation of the historic and cultural heritage of the Republic
of the Marshall Islands.
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| Agencies responsible for surveying, collecting
and interpreting the cultural heritage
Under the Ministry of Interior and Social Welfare, responsibilities
are shared between the following Divisions:
The Division of Lands Management & Survey
The Historic Preservation Office
P.O. Box 1138, Majuro MH 96960
tel.: +692 5441–3351
fax: +692 93902–93995
The Alele Museum
P.O.Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3372–3550
fax : +692 625 3326
Other Agency
The Council of Chiefs (under the parliament)
Marshall Islands Parliament
Majuro, MH 96960
Other institutions participating in research on Marshall Islands’
cultural heritage
College of the Marshall Islands
Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253394
fax: +692 6257203
Institution providing training for cultural sector professionals
College of the Marshall Islands: Library studies (see address above).
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| Archives Department
The Archives Division under the Alele Museum
P.O.Box 629, Majuro MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3372 –3550
fax: +692 626 3226
The Public Law 1989–47 provides for the establishment of
an office of National Archives, to make provision for the custody
and preservation of public records, and for matters connected therewith.
The administration of this Act is vested in the Alele Museum Corporation
with mutual agreement between the National Government and the Corporation.
Collections include: printed documents or manuscripts, maps and
plans, a picture library of over one thousand black-and-white and
colour prints, over 2000 microfilms and 800 books.
Recordings of oral traditions are also kept in the Archives. 400
video cassettes record traditional legends; 350 video cassettes
record singing, dancing, cultural ceremonies, events; 350 video
cassettes record traditional knowledge and skills; 180 audio recordings
are of singing.
Files are also available. The filing system is manual and the classification
is done by author, subject or title.
Traditional tools can also be found at the Archives Department.
The general public have access to most collections. Certain collections
however are privately owned and permission must be sought from the
owners prior to the Museum’s ability to release these documents
to any private individual and the public. This is the case for the
Brum’s Glass-Plates Negatives Collection held by the Museum
as a repository.
It is not possible to borrow documents from the Archives department
but the public can consult files and microfilms.
Opening days and times: Monday to Friday, 8am to 12 noon; 1 to
5 pm
Closure days are Saturdays and Sundays, plus the annual national
public holidays.
Museum
Alele Museum
P.O.Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3372–3550
fax: +692 625 3326
The Alele Museum is the national museum exhibiting collections
which depict the history of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
It is not a maritime museum. Its main purpose is to collect and
preserve Marshallese culture, heritage, customs and events which
are historically significant for the development of the Marshall
Islands and its people for the future and for perpetuating education
in Marshallese history and culture.
The collections include archaeological materials that are remnants
of the 2nd World War scattered over several islands in the Marshall
Islands. In fact, some of them have been restored and brought back
to the museum for storage and display from the outlying atolls or
islands as archaeological artefacts. This applies to anthropological
materials as well. Some have been dug up and dated back to the early
settlers from Europe. Contemporary works by local artists using
different media in recreate the early life of the Marshallese people.
These are also exhibited together with some natural history items.
A picture library (prints, slides, negatives including over 2000
glass-plate negatives), and over 1000 recorded video cassettes (see
Alele Public Library below) are also available to the public.
Books, maps, posters, artworks, t-shirts, handicrafts and first
day-covers can be purchased from the book shop.
Guided tours for school children are organised by the museum upon
request by the schools.
Staff from the Museum sometimes participate along with other Historic
Preservation Office staff with their archaeological and anthropological
surveys. The Ministry of Education including the College of Marshall
Islands is also sometimes involved.
At the request of other cultural agencies, individual persons or
organisations, the museum has agreed to loan objects or documents.
The recently opened Marshallese Cultural Centre on Kwajalein Atoll
requested some of these collections from Alele for a period of 3-6
months.
Signs are in English and in Marshallese.
Opening days and times: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 12 noon; 1 to
5 pm
Closing dates are Saturdays, Sundays and annual public holidays.
Library
Alele Public Library
P.O.Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3372 - 3550
fax: +692 625 3326
The Alele Library is accessible to the public and holds the following
collections: fiction and non-fiction books, periodicals, maps, plans,
archival materials, photos, newsletters, children’s reading
materials, books of national statistic publications and abstracts,
and other publications made by the various agencies and organisations
of the government. A room is devoted to the Pacific collection with
all kinds of documents focusing on the Pacific Islands nations (952
documents). With these collections, people do use the Alele Library
as a research library, but it also serves the public at large.
All documents are in English.
The public have access to a manual catalogue. The classification
is by author, subject and title. The Dewey system is used for cataloguing
the documents.
Students, researchers and the general public may borrow documents.
The library organises reading workshops and language classes.
Opening days and times: Monday to Friday, 8 to 12 noon; and 1 to
5 pm..
Other institution
Youth to Youth in Health
P.O. Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253098
fax: +692 6255449
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| Arts
and Crafts
Weaving
The people of the Marshalls are known for their weavings of baskets,
wall hangings, purses, mats, hats, flowers and fans, among other
items. Many of these popular handicrafts are bordered with cowrie
shells (libukke) and are made of dried pandanus leaves (maan in
bob) and sun-bleached and beaten coconut fronds (kimedj).
Woven items are found on most atolls, though particular atolls
are known for their expertise in making certain items. Bikinians
are known for the kili bags, square white kimej purses popularised
by Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s. Likiep and Jaluit are known
for their colourful kimej fans. The people of Arno produce a circular
covered basket of pandanus.
There have been no institutions of artists or crafts persons to
teach and pass on weaving skills until recently. Youth to Youth
in Health and JTPA (an organisation founded by the Job Training
Placement Act) have jointly sponsored handicraft training as an
economic and cultural activity for young Marshallese people. Generally,
weaving skills are passed from mother to daughter and granddaughter.
Woven items are transported to the capital, Majuro, for sale by
handicraft cooperatives.
The following centres and informal institutions may act as liaisons
to weavers:
Handicraft Co-operative (Mrs Mary Lanwi)
P.O. Box 44, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3566
Busy Hands Club (Catholic Schools)
c/o Jane Ritok, P.O. Box 8, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 7440
Youth to Youth In Health
c/o Marita Edwin,
P.O. Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 30 98
Neipajid Club (Cradel Alfred)
P.O. Box 84, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 6880
Lucky Star Club
c/o Veronica Lang
P.O. Box 1485, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 528 2828
Robert Reimers Enterprises
P.O. Box 1, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3250
Carvings
Various types of wood are carved for three purposes: as model canoes,
decorative items and utility items. Model canoes (tipnol) are carved
from breadfruit trees in three sizes, approximately 5,10 and 18
inches in length. The sails of the tipnol are made from woven pandanus,
the lines are made from coconut sennit and the boat is decorated
with chicken or bird feathers at the tip of the mast and stern end
of the boom.
Decorative items include picture frames (decorated with shells),
hair combs, and jewellery boxes carved from breadfruit-tree wood.
Also items are formed from coconut husks and shells. These include
replicas of small animals such as turtles and birds. Cups made from
coconut shells are sometimes found on other islands. Likiep and
Ailuk atolls are known for the construction of the model canoes
sold on Majuro, though other islands also make canoes. Carving skills
are passed down within families by older men. No institutions exist
to share these skills but cooperatives on Majuro that purchase these
items may act as liaisons. Youth to Youth in Health and JPTA (see
above) have recently begun training in model canoe building for
Marshallese youths. Generally today, most model canoes are made
by men 40 years and older.
Contacts: same as for the weaving (see above).
Shells
Cowry shells border many baskets and wall hangings in the Marshalls.
They are also used to represent atolls on traditional stick navigation
charts. Shell jewellery (bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pins, hair
barrettes) are common. They are made with either coconut fronds
or pandanus leaves.
Some islands are known for having an abundance of a particular
type of shell and the islanders produce unique and popular jewellery.
For example, Ebon is known for strawberry cowry shells and the necklaces
and bracelets are very popular.
Other decorative items made with shells include vases, purses and
picture frames.
These skills are passed only from grandmother or mother to daughter
except where Youth to Youth in Health and JPTA have established
workshops to train young people.
Contacts: same as for weaving and carving (see above).
Traditional fishing gear
Fish traps called u are made of ironwood sticks, covered with coconut
sennit. They are of many shapes; an hourglass shape is favoured.
Traditional nets and hooks have largely been replaced by western
items.
Contact:
Bernice Joash, Executive Director
Alele Museum,
P.O. Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 625 3372–3550
fax: +692 625 3226
Traditional boats
Traditional canoes are of three main types: the tipnol, walap and
korkor. All three are constructed from breadfruit or lo trees. Their
sails are made from woven pandanus leaves. The walap, the largest
of the three types, was used in the past for open ocean sailing.
The korkor, a small canoe built for an individual was used for lagoon
fishing. The tipnol is a medium-sized canoe designed to carry some
cargo and a few passengers between or within atolls. Knowledge of
the construction of these canoes was revived recently under Alele’s
direction of the Waan Aelon Kein Project. This was a nine-phase
project that documented traditional methods and also produced canoes
combining modern and traditional means.
Canoes have largely been replaced by outboard-motor boats, though
canoes may still be found in some outer atolls. The atolls which
produced canoes under this project are: Ujae, Enewetak, Namdrik,
Jaluit, Likiep and Ailuk.
Contact:
Allison Kelen, Director Waan Aelon Kein
P.O.Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253098
fax: +692 6255449
Traditional tools and implements
The most common tool is the ranks, a coconut-meat grater. Traditionally
made of wood and the edge of a giant clam (added) it is now usually
made of wood with a purchased iron edge. A weikan or beka is a tool
used to extract the juice of the pandanus fruit. It may be found
in outer islands today. Ajukkwe is used to peel breadfruit. It is
made from a large cowrie shell. A doon is used to husk a coconut.
It is made from the wood of the iron tree. A dreka in nin is used
to pound pandanus. These are essential items for Marshallese women
and they are passed down from generation to generation. They are
made from giant clam shells and shaped into an oblong object with
a narrower handle end. Another item that is made today for tourists
but is no longer used, is the traditional Marshallese stick chart.
It was used in the past to teach young sailors about wave patterns,
and the location of the various atolls. The most common types were
the wapepe (made by people of Namdrik, Namu, Lae, the Kabinmeto
islands) and two types of rebbelip.
Contact:
Alele Museum,
P.O. Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253372–3550
fax: +692 6253226
Traditional music and songs
Probably the only known traditional music in the Marshall Islands
is the roro or chant. The Marshallese roro is usually used for guidance
and strength during navigation. Chants are usually sung about old
Marshallese legends and stories. The roro is also meant to give
strength to the pregnant mother while in labour. Although each island
has its own songs, today the local bands have combined them to blend
with modern music. The roro chants are taught by parents and grandparents
and through storytelling.
Contact:
Alele Museum (see above)
Youth to Youth In Health
c/o Marita Edwin,
P.O. Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253098
Traditional dance
There are three types of traditional dances: the jobwa stick dance,
the namdrik jurbak and the jebta. The jobwa dance is the oldest
and is known as the ‘war dance’. It portrays traditional
war tactics used by chiefs to win victory over other island chiefs.
The jobwa is only allowed to be performed when permission is granted
by a chief. The jobwa originates from Ujae and Lae.
The jurbak is a common dance in the Marshall Islands and is performed
during Christmas jebtas. The jurbak is a step dance almost similar
to tap dancing. It originates from Namdrik, Wotje and Mejit. Now
popularity has spread it to almost all of Marshalls. The third dance
is the jebta. The jebta dance is performed only at Christmas time.
It consists of different kinds of jurbak combined into one long
dance and can last over an hour. One jebta is performed by up to
40–50 dancers. There is no training institution for local
dances.
Contact:
Alele Museum (see above)
Youth to Youth In Health
c/o Marita Edwin, P.O. Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
Tel.: +692 625 30 98
Traditional medicine
Like other Pacific Islands, local medicine is still practised in
Marshall Islands. Some medicines are used for pregnancy, child birth,
hair growth, broken bones, skin diseases, burns, haemorrhoids, and
many other conditions. Different types of local plants are extracted
to create various medicines. They come in forms such as food, oil
and drinks. Other medicinal skills include massaging to align broken
bones, bathing to clear skin diseases, inhaling the fragrance of
various plants to clear allergies and so forth. Most medicines are
kept secret as they are made according to private family knowledge
and are passed among family members only, although some basic medicines
are commonly known.
Architectural heritage
There are various types of traditional architecture, among the
Marshallese people. The houses are called em aj. One type of
em
aj is called mon tutu (shower hut). Another one is called
mon komat
(cook house). Mon jokwe is the sleeping house. All houses have thatched
roofs and are made from kimej, maan, and trees called lo and
konne.
The mon tutu is a place for bathing and is built to accommodate
pregnant women and newborn babies. The cook house or mon komat is
open roofed with lowered walls just below the roof. The bottom floor
is raised about two feet from the ground. The mon jokwe, sleeping
house, is completely enclosed with windows and doors depending on
how small or large it is.
No schooling institution is available, however young people in
the outer islands usually learn by helping older men and women.
Also the Youth to Youth in Health programme, through the JTPA training
programme, often conducts practical training in the outer islands.
There is no train-the-trainers (sharing of knowledge) programme
and only Youth to Youth in Health members benefit from the training.
For further information contact either Youth to Youth in Health
or the Alele Museum (see in previous section).
Traditional cooking
There are about four types of cooking. One is called um and is
a form of underground cooking. The soil is dug about three to four
feet deep, then coconut shell and rock charcoals are used. Food
such as pig, turtles, etc. are put inside and covered up with thick
sacks and soil to keep the heat. Another type of cooking is called
komat lal (ground grilling). It is open cooking because cooking
is done on an open space in the ground. A hole is dug about one
to one-and-a-half feet deep and is not covered-up with soil as is
the um. Again, rocks and coconut materials are used as charcoal.
The food is then put on the rocks to cook. The third type is the
applied Japanese man-made oven. It was invented in the outer islands
for convenience purposes and for use with electricity. It was meant
for baking traditional foods such as bwiro, beru and others but
now has become popular for modern baked food such as bread, cookies
and cakes.
There is no institution for teaching Marshallese traditional cooking.
Children learn by watching and practising with parents and close
relatives.
Contact:
Mrs Ione Heine-de Brum, Nutritionist
Ministry of Internal Affairs, RMI Government
Tel.: +692 6258240
fax: +692 6255353
Tattooing
Although traditional tattooing is still alive today, new modern
methods are used. The battery-acid method is common and new tattoo
designs are copied from other Pacific Islands. No Marshallese tattooing
organisation is established; however, a few individuals copy traditional
designs from the RMI Tattoo Book. Traditionally, only chiefs (Irooj)
wear tattoos. Today, tattooing is getting popular with commoners.
Contact:
Alele Museum (see above)
Other traditional skills or knowledge
These include:
- fishing methods;
- black magic (family taboo, untouchable and cannot be taught or
told to anybody outside from the family);
- predicting weather patterns: skills for traditional katu or weather
prediction are rare but are performed by a few older men. They are
said to be unique because they can be used to predict serious typhoons,
storms, tidal waves and all kinds of natural disasters.
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| Theatre
The Youth to Youth in Health members have created and performed
cultural plays based on traditional legends and stories. One of
the programme’s goals is to preserve and promote Marshallese
culture. Members consist of young people from different islands
living in Majuro. Through the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA),
the Youth to Youth in Health group is actively involved with island
outreach programme. In addition to promoting health issues, the
training programme through JTPA allows Youth to Youth in Health
members to learn various Marshallese ways of living. Youth to Youth
in Health members are amateur actors and actresses. The understanding
is that all members (more than 30 youths) act on different plays.
Contact:
Youth To Youth in Health Group
P.O. Box 3149, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253098
Music
There are several established singing groups. Only those in Majuro
Atoll have their own composers. There are also singing groups on
other islands such as on Eneye and Kwajalein Atoll. The following
singing groups are from Majuro only:
Kitwon Lometo (Veronica Momotaro Wase/Robert Wase)
PO Box 32, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253334
M-Polen (Salome Domnick-Andrike)
P.O. Box 153, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253174
Bwil’m Molo Band (Josepha Maddison-Hill
P.O. Box 25, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.. and fax: +692 6253153
Kabool Lal II (Jorelik & Lydia Tibon)
P.O. Box 87, Majuro, MH 96960
Laura Skate Tem La
c/o Robert Enoch
PO Box 257, Majuro, MH 96960
Visual Arts
Painting
Mr Amram Enos, Artist and Painter
c/o Alele Museum
P.O.Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
Maidah Gideon
c/o Airline of the Marshall Islands
P.O. Box 1319, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253732
Photography
Mr Giff Johnson, a photographer for the Marshall Islands
Journal,
a weekly journal of current affairs.
Films
The Alele Museum broadcasts documentary films pertaining to culture,
educational and public-awareness programmes. Many films are based
on the preservation of outer atolls’ archaeological and historical
sites. Most of these projects are and have been funded in collaboration
with the RMI government, the US National Parks Services, and the
US Department of the Interior. The documentation is broadcast on
RMI’s national television station every day and provided in
writing to the Marshall Islands Journal.
Contact:
Alele Museum and Public Library and National Archives (see address
above)
Writing
The College of the Marshall Islands Student Support Services (SSSP)
Newsletter was established in 1993. Its objective is to provide
educational information under the SSSP programmes in the South Pacific.
It is produced on a semester basis (twice a year).
College of the Marshall Islands
P.O. Box 1258, Majuro, MH 96960
tel.: +692 6253394
fax: +692 6257203
Contacts with Marshallese writers:
Mr Carl Heine, RMI Ambassador to China
RMI Embassy, Beijing, China
Mr Tony de Brum
Marshall Islands Parliament
Majuro, MH 96960
Mr Alfred Capelle, President
College of the Marshall Islands (see address above)
Mr Takaji Abo
Planning & Statistics
Majuro, MH 96960
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The press
Marshall Islands Journal
P.O. Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960
The Marshall Islands Journal is a dual-language (Marshallese and
English) weekly publication. This newspaper’s contribution
to local cultural life is a cultural column, information on cultural
events staged in the country, organisation of cultural events, association
as a partner with cultural events and publication of literary texts,
poetry or stories.
Radio
V7AB (Government)
P.O. Box 3250, Majuro, MH 96960.
This is a national programme. The languages used are both Marshallese
(75%) and English (25%).
Almost all cultural activities reported and/or broadcast through
this radio channel go out to the public. At any time during the
night or day, cultural programmes, events, or related cultural ceremonies
are advertised, broadcast and delivered to the outer islands in
the Marshalls through this radio. The government radio broadcasts
are the main form of communication throughout the Marshall Islands.
Television
Marshalls Broadcasting Company
P.O. Box 1, Majuro, MH 96960
This privately owned and operated cable television has 13 channels.
The range is limited to the capital city.
Cultural events involving traditional dances and music are broadcast
and cultural information is often provided.
Performing arts venue
The Cultural Centre hosts large meetings organised by the government,
island groups and private individuals. No stage lighting or sound
equipment is available.
Contact:
Ministry of Education
Majuro MH 96960
Open air venue
This is located under the Alele Museum and the Public Library building.
Cinemas
Three theatres are located at the Majuro Gibson’s Shopping
Centre.
Record companies and studios
Alele Museum Recording studio (music)
P.O. Box 629, Majuro, MH 96960
Kitwon Lometo Recording Studio
c/o Veronice Momotaro - Wase
P.O. Box 32, Majuro, MH 96960
M. Polen Recording Studio
c/o Salome Domniick - Andrike
PO Box 153, Majuro, MH 96960
V7SW Recording Studio
c/o Steve Whitehead
General Delivery
Majuro, MH 96960
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