NE Leite -·SSRI -Teade) Porteus 720- (X7836) Vol
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NE LEiTE -·SSRI -teADE) Porteus 720- (x7836) Vol. X:l4 November 16, 1978 . /"' ) f :, PIP: OCCASIONAL SEMINAR Or. ROBERT E. JOHANNES (Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Coconut Island, Kaneohe) will give a presentation "Application of Traditional Knowledge and Practices of Pacific Islanders for Marine Resource Management. 11 Dr. Johannes' research indicates that island fishermen possess a large reservoir of practical; verifiable knowledge of their marine environment and its fauna that is largely unknown to Western scientists. In addition, and centuries ago, islanders were using almost all the marine fisheries conservation measures that Westerners claim to have developed in this century. Dr. Johannes will give examples of the knowledge and practices embodied in traditional island cultures and discuss their relevance with regard to: (1) their potential application for resource management, and (2) opportunitie! for revitalizing traditional conservation_practices. Dr. Johannes' work clearly suggests that the accuracy of environmental impact studies of such projects as road, causeway, and airstrip construction can be enhanced by the input of traditional knowledge. It appears that Or. Johanne~' research combines the approaches of both marine biology and ethnology. (Is there 11 such a creature as an "ethno-marine-biologist? ) Time and Place: Noon to 1:30 p.m., Wednesdar, November 29, Porteus Hall, Room ?04F. ' 4 CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR FREE PACIFIC HELD IN MICRONESIA A two-week conference focusing on the themes of a nuclear free Pacific and independence for Pacific territories was held during the last two weeks of October on Ponape. Representatives from thirty-one Pacific states, including Japan, India and Hawaii, attended. The first week of the conference concentrated on the subject of continued nuclear presence in various forms in the Pacific region. Discussions during the second week related to independence movements in the Pacific territories that are still under foreign rule. Also during the seconc week, the group moved to form a new organization, the Pacific People's Action Front. One of the conferees, Mr. Yann Celene Uregei, head of the Multiracial Party of New Caledonia, and leader of the independence coalition, visited Hawaii en route to New York where he will be presenting the New Caledonian situation before various UN Delegates. On his return to New Caledonia, Mr. Uregei plans to stop over in Honolulu to meet with members of the Ohana. If his time permits, he will be available to meet with the Pacific Islands Interest Group. A special notice will be issued giving time and place. · COOK ISLANDS PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY The Cook Island Dancers that were so highly visible around town during September and October are now touring the mainland. ,. l l -2- our readers might be interested in knowing more about the company, particularly if you had the opportunity to see them perform. The purpose of the trip to the States is to gain support from private and public sectors for the building of The Cook Islands Arts Theatre, thus giving The Cook Island Performing Arts Company a facility as a school of learning as well as for rehearsals and performances. The make-up of the dance group is varied. Included are professional entertainers as well as farmers, government employees, a student and a boxer. ' The Intra-Polynesian Exchange involving The Cook Islands Performing Arts was sponsored in Hawaii by the Kamehameha Schools and Alu Like. The Director, Turepu Turepu, since his early teacher training days in New Zealand has always :>een involved in the teaching of Polynesian art and dance forms~ As a teacher of indigenous jance in the Rarotonga school system, Turepu found that the authorities were not overly interested in his desire to sponsor cultural activities and after a few years resigned to become , full-time organizer of Cook Island dance teams. 1.· lhe major goal of the Company is to achieve creative dance drama that reflects the life style ; )f the Cook islanders. Attention is also given to incorporating legends, dance forms, the r rusic of the Cooks and improvised drama. 1.:: )ince commencing their first tour in 1974, the Company has had two successful tours throughout : !orth America as well as Europe and Russia. Turepu's idea for preservation and perpetuation 1f Cook Island dancing and music seems to be taking roots. The chiefs of one of the districts j' ~f Rarotonga loaned him a building which he has converted into a theatre with stage, lights .nd props for rehearsals and performances. This is a good beginning towards keeping the musical/ ultural heritage of the Cook Islands alive and well. f you are interested in obtaining additional information, contract Bob Worthington at Kamehameha chool. PACIFIC STUDIES INSTITUTE he Pacific Studies Institute has recently been incorporated on Guam, and the following news tem has been received from Dr. Samuel T. Price: · ~cific Studies Institute (PSI) is a non-profit, private organization established in the ~rritory of Guam solely for scientific and educational purposes. Its primary objective is > provide a much needed clearinghouse for, and dissemination of, research data relevant > people in the Western Pacific region. 1e Institute endeavors to assist island societies and their members by evaluating and research i lg problems and issues of importance to the people involved. That is, the Institute is spe ifically concerned with offering expertise from the natural and social sciences which is t rected to studies and planning efforts that arise from local needs and which can be of use t the decision making process at the local level. 1e Institute's archaeological.work undertaken to date in the Trust Territory of the Pacific lands (TTPI} has involved both basic reconnaissance surveys of areas destined for capital tI tprovement construction projects and long-term inventories of archaeological remains. The -3- ·Trust Territory's Historic Preservation Program and PSI are working together on an extensive multi-year project in Yap District which calls for a complete inventory of the district's archaeological resources. In addition to these projects, PSI archaeologists have conducted numerous archaeological surveys on Guam (Mariana Islands), Kosrae and Truk {Eastern Caroline Islands), and Yap (Western Caroline Islands). · PSI is also deeply interested in contemporary social problems in the Western Pacific. Recent ly completed socio-cultural research projects include a Juvenile Justice Needs Assessment for the Territorial Crime Commission, Government of Guam. Another youth oriented study is currently underway for the Justice Improvement Commission (TTPI) and involves evaluation of Outward Bound Projects in Palau, Ponape and Truk District. More information about the Institute's activities can be obtainedthrough subscription to the PSI Newsletter. Please contact: Dr. Samuel T. Price Pacific Studies Institute P. 0. Box 20820, G~F Guam, Mariana Islands 96921 (Recent copies of PSI Newsletters are on fire in the Pacific Islands Studies Program office.) PEACESAT PEACE CORPS ROUND TABLE OF THE PACIFIC For the month of September, the Peace Sat telecommunications participants have been discuss ing ways to improve communications between UH PC/FARM project and the Peace Corps staff and volunteers in the Pacific Islands. The island communities included in these discussions were Fiji, Tonga, Saipan and Western Samoa. Peace Corps in Fiji has a rather iflteresting·farming project which involves married couples. Each couple is assigned to a village where an agricultural scheme is already in existence. These agricultural schemes are geared towards a hard cash profit ~ather than the usual sub- . sistence farming found in small village areas. The scheme is endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture but the volunteers are sponsored by the village. Each couple lives in a village performing household and farming duties similar to those of villagers. They raise a vegetable patch which serves as a model for the village. Also one spouse, usually the man, works with the villagers on the agricultural scheme. These schemes can take·the form of raising live stock or growing peanuts and/or cocoa. Hopefully, such schemes will give a cash return when completed. Thus, villagers may eventually realize a cash return from the.ir·physica1 labours. It is projected that once money is available, the volunteer couple will help villagers plan how to·use their income ..lt is hoped that funds will be spent on low-cost housing, health, nutrition and for a variety of other things which may be of interest to the village women. .. r -4- PEACESAT SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER DAY TH1E TOPIC 13 5-6 p.m. Pacific Island Elementary Schools 14 5-7 p.m: Secondary Education in the 1980's--Directions for the Pacific~-a series of seminars for Pacific educators 14 11-12 noon White House Library Conference Planning for US Pacific ~ ibraries 15 4-5:30 p.m. Environmental Policy Planning 15 5-7 p.m. Pacific Island Libraries- Training School librarians 19 4-5 p.m. Communication course follow-up on the World Broadcasting Seminar 20 5-6 p.m. Peace Corps Agriculture 21 5-7 p.m. Secondary Education in 1980 21 11-12 noon Dental Nursing The PEACESAT Communication system will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays. # # # .