| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 450,000[citation needed] | |
| Languages | |
| Micronesian languages,Yapese,Chamorro,Palauan,English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (93.1%)[1] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Polynesians,Melanesians,Euronesians,Austronesian peoples |
TheMicronesians orMicronesian peoples are various closely relatedethnic groupsnative toMicronesia, a region ofOceania in thePacific Ocean. They are a part of theAustronesian ethnolinguistic group, which has anUrheimat inTaiwan.[2]
Ethno-linguistic groups classified as Micronesian include theCarolinians (Northern Mariana Islands),Chamorros (Guam &Northern Mariana Islands),Chuukese,Mortlockese,Namonuito,Paafang,Puluwat andPollapese (Chuuk),I-Kiribati (Kiribati),Kosraeans (Kosrae),Marshallese (Marshall Islands),Nauruans (Nauru),Palauan,Sonsorolese, andHatohobei (Palau),Pohnpeians,Pingelapese,Ngatikese,Mwokilese (Pohnpei), andYapese,Ulithian,Woleian,Satawalese (Yap).[3][4]
Based on the current scientific consensus, the Micronesians are considered, by linguistic, archaeological, and human genetic evidence, to be a subset of the sea-migratingAustronesian people, who include thePolynesians and theMelanesians. Austronesians were the first people to invent oceangoing sailing technologies (notablydouble-hulled sailing canoes,outrigger boats,lashed-lugboat building, and thecrab claw sail), which enabled their rapid dispersal into the islands of theIndo-Pacific.[2][6][7] From 2000 BCE the Austronesians assimilated (or were assimilated by) the earlier populations on the islands in their migration pathway.[8][9][10][11][12] This intermingling occurred in the northern coast of New Guinea and adjacent islands, which was the location where the Oceanic language family developed around four thousand years or so ago, after the Austronesian languages of this area grew distinct and became a separate branch of the Austronesian family.[13]
Migrants entered Micronesia from the east and the west. Migrants from the west came from thePhilippines andIndonesia, and settledthe Marianas around 3500 years ago, after whichPalau was settled around 3000 years ago.[13] Migrants from the east came from easternMelanesia and settled theGilbert Islands,Marshall Islands, eastern and centralCaroline Islands,Sonsorol,Pulo Anna,Merir andTobi.[14][13] The migrants from the east belonged to theLapita culture and settled eastern Micronesia over the course of several hundreds of years from perhaps theSanta Cruz Islands, around 500-100 BC. In the following centuries, the Oceanic language variant brought by the Lapita migrants diverged and became theMicronesian branch of the Oceanic languages.[13]John Lynch tentatively proposes a relationship between the Micronesian languages and theLoyalty Islands languages of Melanesia, but with the caveat "that this is something that could well be further investigated, even if only to confirm that Micronesian languages didnot originate in the Loyalties."[15] Yap was settled separately approximately 2000 years ago, as its language was brought by an Oceanic-speaking source in Melanesia,[16] perhaps theAdmiralty Islands.[13]
A 2022 genetic study has shown that the various peoples inhabiting Micronesia have diverse genetic origins and originate from distinct streams of migration. Micronesia was settled by three separate streams of First Remote Oceanian lineage, which corresponds to East Asian ancestry and clusters closely to modern day peoples of the Philippines such as theKankanaey and theAmis andAtayal ofTaiwan.[17] The first wave of First Remote Oceanian lineage settled the Mariana Islands around 2800 BCE. A second separate wave settled Palau around 2400 BCE. A third separate wave settled Central Micronesia around 2100 BCE. The peoples of Central Micronesia and Palau have a degree of Papuan ancestry, but this is absent from the peoples of the Mariana Islands. The study also supports the Admiralty Islands as the source of the Central Micronesian peoples and languages.[17]
The Micronesian peoples can be divided into two cultural groups, thehigh-islanders and thelow-islanders. The Palauans, Chamorros, Yapese, Chuukese, Pohnpeians, Kosraeans, Nauruans and Banabans 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.[18] 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.[14]
Archeological evidence has revealed that some of theBonin Islands were prehistorically inhabited by members of an unknown Micronesian ethnicity.[19]
Raobeia Ken Sigrah claims that Banabans, native toBanaba, are ethnically distinct from other I-Kiribati.[20] The Banabans were assimilated throughforced migrations and the heavy impact of the discovery ofphosphate in 1900.[21] After 1945, the British authorities relocated most of the population toRabi 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.[22] There is an estimated 6,000 people of Banaban descent in Fiji and other countries.[23][24] The Banabans spoke theBanaban 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.[20] Today, the Banabans speak the Banaban dialect of Gilbertese, whichincludes words from the old Banaban language.[25]
The Refaluwasch people are aMicronesian ethnic group who originated in Oceania, in theCaroline Islands, with a total population of over 8,500 people innorthern Mariana. They are also known asRemathau in the Yap's outer islands. TheCarolinian word means "People of the Deep Sea." It is thought that their ancestors may have originally immigrated fromAsia,Indonesia,Melanesia and toMicronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language isCarolinian, calledRefaluwasch by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. TheRefaluwasch have amatriarchal society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward thematriarchs. MostRefaluwasch are of theRoman Catholic faith.
The immigration ofRefaluwasch toSaipan began in the early 19th century, after theSpanish reduced the local population ofChamorro natives to just 3,700. They began toimmigrate mostly sailing from smallcanoes from other islands, which atyphoon previously devastated. TheRefaluwasch have a much darker complexion than the nativeChamorros.
TheChamorro people are theindigenous peoples of theMariana Islands, which are politically divided between theUnited States territory ofGuam and the United StatesCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. The Chamorro are commonly believed to have come fromSoutheast Asia at around 2000BC. They are most closely related to otherAustronesian natives to the west in thePhilippines andTaiwan, as well as theCarolines to the south.
TheChamorro language is included in theMalayo-Polynesian subgroup of theAustronesian family. Because Guam was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, many words derive from theSpanish language. The traditional Chamorro number system was replaced by Spanish numbers.[26]
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TheChuukese people are anethnic group ofChuuk State. They constitute 48% of the population of theFederated States of Micronesia. Their language isChuukese. The home atoll ofChuuk 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.[27]
The Kiribati people, also known asI-Kiribati,Tungaru, orGilbertese, are the indigenous people ofKiribati. They speak theGilbertese language. They numbered 103,000 as of 2008.[citation needed]
The Kosraeans or Kusaieans are the indigenous people ofKosrae. They speak theKosraean language. They number around 8,400 as of 2013.[citation needed]
The Marshallese people (Marshallese:kajoor ri-Ṃajeḷ,laḷ ri-Ṃajeḷ) are the indigenous inhabitants of theMarshall Islands. They numbered 70,000 as of 2013.[citation needed] Marshallese society was organized into three social classes; theiroji was the chief or landowner that headed several clans, thealap managed the clan and therijerbal (worker) were commoners that worked the land. The three social classes treated each other well and with mutual respect.[27][need quotation to verify]
TheNauruans are anethnicity inhabiting thePacificisland ofNauru. They are most likely a blend ofother Pacific peoples.[29]
The origin of the Nauruan people has not yet been finally determined. It can possibly be explained by the last Malayo-Pacifichuman migration (c. 1200). It was probably seafaring or shipwreckedPolynesians orMelanesians that established themselves in Nauru because there was not already anindigenous people present, whereas the Micronesians were already crossed with the Melanesians in this area.
The Palauans or Belauans (Palauan:Belau,ngukokl a Belau) — are the indigenous people ofPalau. They numbered around 26,600 as of 2013.[citation needed] 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.[13]
The Pohnpeians or Ponapeans are the indigenous people ofPohnpei. They number around 28,000. They speak thePohnpeian language.
Pohnpeian historic society was highly structured into five tribes, various clans and sub-clans; each tribe headed by two principal chiefs. The tribes were organized on a feudal basis. In theory, "all land belonged to the chiefs, who received regular tribute and whose rule was absolute." Punishments administered by chiefs included death and banishment. Tribal wars included looting, destruction of houses and canoes and killing of prisoners.[30]
The Sonsorolese are Micronesian people, that inhabit the islands ofPulo Anna,Merir andSonsorol in the island nation ofPalau. A small proportion live in both theNorthern Mariana Islands and theFederated States of Micronesia. The Sonsorolese are linguistically related to the Tobians. Most Sonsorolese live in the village ofEchang nearKoror, where they moved for economic reasons.[31]
The Sonsorolese are both linguistically and culturally most closely related to Carolinians. Ethnographic information about them was left byJose Somera, a member of theDon Francisco Padilla expedition who discovered the islands in 1710. According to him, their clothing consisted of an apron, cloak and conical hat, and was similar to that described by Paul Klein in 1696 among the Carolinians.[32]
The Tobians share a cultural heritage that shows close ties with peoples of the centralCaroline Islands, more than 1000 km to the northeast and on the other side of Palau.[33]
Tobian is aMicronesian language spoken in theHatohobei (Tobi) andKoror states inPalau by about 150 people. In particular it is spoken on the island of Tobi (Torovei) in Hatohobei State, and also on Koro Island in Koror State. Tobian is also known asHatohobei or Tobi. It is closely related toSonsorolese.
TheYapese people are a Micronesian ethnic group that number around 15,000. They are native to the main island ofYap and speak theYapese language.
Fifteen distinct languages are spoken by the Micronesians.[27] The largest group of languages spoken by the Micronesians are theMicronesian languages. They belong to the family ofOceanic languages, part of theAustronesian language group. They descended from theProto-Oceanic language, which in turn descended viaProto-Malayo-Polynesian fromProto-Austronesian. The languages in the Micronesian family areMarshallese,Gilbertese,Kosraean,Nauruan, as well as a large sub-family called theChuukic–Pohnpeic languages containing 11 languages. TheYapese language is a separate branch of the Oceanic languages, outside of the Micronesian branch.[14]
TwoMalayo-Polynesian languages are spoken that do not belong to theOceanic languages:Chamorro in theMariana Islands andPalauan inPalau.[14]
Micronesian navigation techniques are those navigation skills used for thousands of years by the navigators who voyaged between the islands ofMicronesia in theopenPacific Ocean. These voyagers used wayfinding techniques such as the navigation by the stars, and observations of birds, ocean swells, and wind patterns, and relied on a large body of knowledge from oral tradition.[34][35][36]Weriyeng[37] is one of the last two schools of traditionalnavigation found in the centralCaroline Islands in Micronesia, the other beingFanur.[38]
Micronesian culture is very diverse across island atolls[39] and influenced by the surrounding cultures. In the east one finds a morePolynesian culture withsocial classes (nobility, commoners and slaves) and in the west a more Melanesian-Indonesian influenced culture led bytribal chiefs without nobility, withthe Marianas being an exception.[citation needed] Nonetheless, the Micronesians form a cultural region, as they have much more in common with each other in cultural practices and social organization than with other neighboring societies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.[13][specify]
The Micronesian cultures evolved from a common foundation and share a common dominator in the relationship and dependence they have with their ancestral lands. The ancestral land influenced the social organization, family structures, the economy, shared food and common work. The Micronesian family is formed from four equally important components, the household, the nuclear family, the extended family, and a lineage. The family and the community would cooperate with fishing, farming, raising children and passing knowledge to the next generations. Individuals and families would conform their behavior to cooperate with the community.[27]
Authority was based on age, and Micronesians were taught to respect and hold their elders in high regard, which they would express by being silent in the presence of their elders. The elders would mediate and resolve conflicts.[27]
Most Micronesian peoples lacked musical instruments, and thus produced music only by song and chants. Important men would have songs composed about their abilities or deeds, by wives or partners. These songs could live on even after death and give the men a heroic status.[14]
The traditional religions of Micronesia were extremely heterogeneous. However, very little is known about most of them, as the islands were evangelized very early (from the 16th to 18th centuries) so that the indigenous religions could only survive on a few islands. However, some important manifestations of religious practice and thought can be identified for the entire Micronesian cultural space:[40]
The traditional Micronesian religions emphasizedancestor worship and embraced spirits and ghosts. After death, one's spirit would either pass on to an afterworld or stay on the island to either help or harm the living. A natural death would produce a benevolent ghost while an unnatural death would produce a malovent ghost. Other spirits were associated with places, natural objects, special crafts and activities. Various professions would make chants and offerings to their patron spirits, which they believed would control the outcome of their efforts. Micronesians believed that all sickness was caused by spirits. Shamans, mediums, diviners and sorcerers could be consulted to deal with the spirit world. Taboos would often be placed on food and sexual activities before a person would engage in an important pursuit. Violating this taboo would cause a spirit to send sickness or death to the offender or even the entire community.[14]
Micronesian mythology comprises the traditional belief systems of the Micronesians. There is no single belief system in the islands of Micronesia, as each island region has its ownmythological beings.
Traditional beliefs declined and changed with the arrival of Europeans, which occurred increasingly after the 1520s. In addition, the contact with European cultures led to changes in local myths and legends.[citation needed]
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