Singeo Hawii 0085A 10817.Pdf

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Singeo Hawii 0085A 10817.Pdf (RE) ENGAGING INDIGENEITY IN PLANNING: EPISTEMOLOGICAL CONFLICTS AND WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS IN PALAU A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING AUGUST 2020 By Klouldil Ulang Singeo Dissertation Committee: Karen Umemoto, Chairperson Dolores Foley David Hanlon Luciano Minerbi Terence Wesley-Smith, University Representative Keywords: indigenous epistemology, indigenous planning, culture, feminist theory Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the many individuals who have contributed a great deal of support and assistance towards the completion of this dissertation. First, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my committee chair, Dr. Karen Umemoto, whose mentorship and guidance have been crucial in my academic journey. I am thankful for all the support and encouragement she gave me during the longs years spent undertaking field research and writing in Palau. Without her guidance and feedback this PhD would not have been achievable. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to my dissertation committee members for their endless patience throughout the dissertation writing process. Each member provided insightful advice and created a supportive environment, making the process enjoyable. Completing this dissertation would not have been possible without the contributions of many passionate individuals in Palau who generously gave of their knowledge. I would like especially to acknowledge Bilung Gloria Salii and the Mechesil Belau for sharing their knowledge and insights crucial to this dissertation, and for allowing me to enter their space – to listen and observe and to learn from them. I would also like to thank Faustina Rehuher-Marugg, Ann Kloulechad-Singeo, Ann Hillman Kitalong, J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Noah Idechong, Dr. Victor Yano, Dr. Stevenson Kuartei, and Melson Miko for your generosity and patience as I asked anything and everything to do with the topic of CEDAW in Palau. I would also like to acknowledge the late Kathy Kesolei for sharing her wisdom not just on this topic, in other areas related to Palauan cultural knowledge. I would like to thank my family, friends ma rebebil rengak ra Ngermid for their support throughout this process. I would like to thank my Mom for understanding the level of commitment needed for this work and for protecting the space needed for me to finish this ii dissertation. My gratitude extends to the supportive environment from Bitalchang folks, to Dana Singer for her kindness, and to my cousin Tutii Joe Chilton for helping me to stay the course. Finally, this dissertation is dedicated to delak er Ongerool Yalap ma rengelekek ra Yedekong ma Ngelmau – beduk ra dmolech – who keep me grounded and passionate in the work that I do. iii Urresel Orachel: Rock paintings of Orachel, possibly depicting the traditional political structure of Palau with the btangch or seat of a title holder at the bottom and a male and a female figure on either side of the canoe suggesting gender balance in the political structure (McKnight 1964). Palauan history attributes Orachel’s contribution to the creation of the Palauan political structure. Palaeoenvironmental work suggests human arrival in Western Micronesia may have occurred around 4500 BC (Clark 2004). Source: Kloulechad-Singeo, A. (2010). Cultural Mapping: Republic of Palau. Secretariat of the Pacific Community Publishing. iv Abstract Indigenous planning is an ongoing project bringing the complex and at times disparate experiences of the global indigeneity into focus. This particular study takes the women’s human rights movement as a topic of interest and specifically looks at the CEDAW ratification process in Palau. The research seeks to understand Palau’s opposition to the ratification of the CEDAW and specifically looks at the epistemological concepts driving this resistance. The study therefore seeks to understand the applicability of international human rights in indigenous settings and particularly to provisions of women’s empowered status in Palau’s matrilineal society. I have approached this study from an ethnographic research standpoint and with a critical focus that engages an advocacy perspective. Designed as a qualitative study, this research sought stories from Palauan knowledge holders and asks: “How do local cultural values and practices affect the adoption of international treaties promoting equality and human rights?” “What does this case imply about the imposition of Western epistemologies on indigenous societies?” Cultural values and practices and its positive provisions for indigenous communities has not been addressed fully in international development planning and theory. Consequently, the related work of international human rights instruments has not considered alternative worldviews and ways of doing emerging from indigenous communities. This study seeks to contribute to the wider theoretical and academic debate on the universality of international instruments and their relevance to Indigenous communities and argues for a decentering of these homogenous ideals that have negative implications for indigenous societies. v Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ ii Abstract ................................................................................................................................. v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ xi List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS AND PALAU’S MATRILINEALITY ............... 1 1.1 Research Questions: Cultural Specificities and Notions of Human Rights...............................3 1.2 Methodological Approach .......................................................................................................6 1.3 Purpose Statement and Significance of the Study ....................................................................7 1.4 Sociopolitical and Historical Context ......................................................................................9 1.4.1 Uchelel Belau: The Origin Myth of Palau and Matrilineality ..................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Palau’s Matriarchal, Matrilineal Society and the Position of Women ...................................................... 12 1.4.3 Colonial Legacy and the Absence of Women ............................................................................................ 13 1.5 Organization of the Dissertation ............................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................. 25 2.1 Colonization and Cultural Hegemony ................................................................................... 26 2.2 Postcolonial Critiques and Indigenous Epistemology ............................................................ 30 2.3 Postcolonial Critiques and Feminist Thought ........................................................................ 34 2.4 Development Discourse and Indigenous Rights ..................................................................... 37 2.5 Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 41 vi CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY......................................................................................... 42 3.1 Theoretical Framing and Research Approach ....................................................................... 42 3.2 Challenges of an Indigenous Researcher ............................................................................... 47 3.3 Data Collection: Relational Worldview and Storytelling ....................................................... 49 3.4 Navigating Cultural Protocols and Relationships .................................................................. 52 3.5 Knowledge as Privilege .......................................................................................................... 56 3.6 Seeking Knowledge ............................................................................................................... 58 3.6.1 Interviews .................................................................................................................................................. 60 3.6.2 Document Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 62 3.7 Data Analysis and Interpretations ......................................................................................... 64 3.8 Research Challenges and Limitations .................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 4: WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE EMERGENCE OF CEDAW ........ 70 4.1 CEDAW: Summary of the Technical Contents ..................................................................... 72 4.1.1 Reservations .............................................................................................................................................. 75 4.2 Human Rights of Women and the UN Context .....................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments Republic of Palau
    Stocktake of the Gender Sustainable Pacific development through science, Mainstreaming Capacity of knowledge and innovation Pacific Island Governments Republic of Palau Pacific Community | [email protected] | www.spc.int Headquarters: Noumea, New Caledonia Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments Republic of Palau Produced by The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, Government of the Republic of Palau and Ann Hillmann Kitalong, The Environment Inc. Noumea, New Caledonia, 2016 © Pacific Community (SPC) 2016 All rights for commercial/for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. SPC authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that SPC and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and/or translate in whole, in any form, whether for commercial/for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission. Original text: English Pacific Community Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Stocktake of the Gender Mainstreaming Capacity of Pacific Island Governments: Republic of Palau / produced by The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, Government of the Republic of Palau, and Ann Hillmann Kitalong, The Environment Inc. 1. Gender — Oceania. 2. Gender mainstreaming — Oceania. 3. Gender Identity — Oceania — Statistics. 4. Oceania — Sex differences — Statistics. 5. Women — Oceania — Statistics. 6. Men — Oceania — Statistics. I. Palau. Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs II. Hillmann Kitalong, Ann III. Title IV. Pacific Community 305. 30995 AACR2 ISBN: 978-982-00-0991-2 Prepared for publication at SPC’s Noumea Headquarters BP D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia, 2016 www.spc.int Acknowledgments Many people contributed to the oversight, research, information and writing of this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Palau Along a Path of Sustainability, While Also Ensuring That No One Is Left Behind
    0 FOREWORD I am pleased to present our first Voluntary National Review on the SDGs. This Review is yet another important benchmark in our ongoing commitment to transform Palau along a path of sustainability, while also ensuring that no one is left behind. This journey towards a sustainable future is not one for gov- ernment alone, nor a single nation, but for us all. Given the SDG’s inherent inter-linkages, we acknowledge that our challenges are also interrelated, and thus so too must be our solutions. The accelerated pace of global change we see today makes it particularly diffi- cult for small island nations, like Palau, to keep up, let alone achieve sustaina- ble development. Despite this challenge, we firmly believe that we can achieve a sustainable future for Palau. Our conviction stems from our certainty that we can confront our challenges by combining our lessons from the past with new information and modern technology and use them to guide us to stay the right course along our path to the future. Just as important, we are also confi- dent in this endeavor because we can also find solutions amongst each other. Over the past three years, Palau has systematically pursued a rigorous process of assessing our Pathways to 2030. Eight inter-sector working groups, led by government ministries, but including representatives from civil society, and semi-private organizations, have prepared this initial Voluntary National Review. The groups have selected an initial set of 95 SDG global targets and associated indicators that collectively constitute our initial National SDG Framework.
    [Show full text]
  • Download (441Kb)
    Joint Annual Report 2003 European Commission/ Republic of PALAU I --- . 1.. Executive Sununary . Article 5, Annex IV of the Coton~u Agreeml"ll"lt requires that the National Authorising Officer and Head of Delegation shall annually undertake an op~ational re;vi.ew of the indicatiw programme and, within 30 days of completion of t<:lview, draw up and submit a report to the Development Finance Committee. This joint annual report for 2003 fulfils this reporting Nquir\llllent. The Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Progr:mJine (NlP) for the Republic of Palau were signed in Koror on 6'" September 2003. · Th" NIP provides for an indicative financial allocation of € 2m for the "A" Envelope, and € 0.6 rn for the "B" envelope. The focal area of EC-Palail cooperation is the energy sector, to which 85% of the A envelope (€ 1.7m) is to be allocated ; a further prog,.-an:uue (€ 0.3m), also in the field of renewable energy, is to be implemented by Non-State actors. The preparation of project prO})os:Us to be fina.ncea under the Cotonou Agreement began :iri 2003 a.tld the status of proposals in the focal and non-focal sectors by end 2003 was as follows : · In the latter half of 2003, a draft Financing Proposal of the proposed focal sector programme on Energy (covering 5 of the new l.' AcP colllltries; including Palau) was developed, in concert with beneficiary cO\liltri!:'S and with the Forum Secretariat (which is to manage the project). The Financing Proposal was !lXpected tO be reviewed by the EDF Comiilittee in the second half of 2004, and impleroentation expected to begin in early 2005.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Statistics: the Pacific and Timor-Leste
    Gender Statistics The Pacific and Timor-Leste The Pacific region has made good progress in conducting population and housing censuses and other national surveys, as well as in collecting administrative records by government agencies. By using key gender statistics available, the booklet provides a snapshot of major gender issues in the Pacific region and Timor-Leste. The key gender indicators illustrated here should encourage the countries to continue their investment in data collection and in strengthening technical capacity for analysis. The booklet is intended to promote the use of gender statistics for evidence-based policy making and rigorous monitoring of progress in gender equality issues. About the Asian Development Bank ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to the majority of the world’s poor. ADB is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Based in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance. About the Pacific Community (formerly Secretariat of the Pacific Community) The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organization in the Pacific region, proudly supporting development since 1947. It is an international development organization owned and governed by its 26 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development for the benefit of Pacific people, SPC focuses on cross-cutting issues, such as climate change, disaster risk management, GENDER STATISTICS food security, gender equality, noncommunicable diseases, and youth employment.
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016
    Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration Trend Assessment Report 2012-2016 Prepared by August 2016 2 PACIFIC LEADERS GENDER EQUALITY DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) would like to thank Forum Member countries for contributing to and working closely with the Secretariat in preparing this Report. Special thanks to the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women for providing feedback on progress, and the external peer review team comprising the DFAT Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development programmme the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, UNFPA, and UNESCAP, UNDP. © Copyright Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 2016 All rights for commercial /profit reproduction, in any form, are reserved. PIFS authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that PIFS and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document in any form, whether for commercial /profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original text: English PIFS Cataloguing-in-Publication Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration : trend assessment report 2012-2016 / prepared by Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Suva, Fiji : Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, 2016. 74 p.: col. ill. ; 30 cm. ISBN 978-982-202-047-2 1. Women – Government policy - Oceania 2. Women – Oceania – Economic conditions 3. Women – Oceania – Social conditions 4. Women – Violence against – Oceania – Prevention 5. Sex discrimination
    [Show full text]
  • 1 FINAL REPORT a Review on Gender Mainstreaming and Action
    FINAL REPORT A Review on Gender Mainstreaming and Action Plans of the SIDS IUCN ORO Energy Projects ‐ Managing the Ecosystems and Livelihood Implications of Energy Policies in the Pacific Island States ‐ Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu Report prepared for the Pacific Energy and Gender Network (PEG) hosted at the Economic Development Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community December 2010 1 Acknowledgments Pacific Energy Gender Network (PEG) kindly acknowledges the financial support of both the International Union on Conservation of Nature Oceanic Regional Office (IUCN ORO) and ENERGIA International towards the implementation of this project but more so the guidance on the process of gender mainstreaming in the energy projects. The time and support is also acknowledged for the following people; Ms Ana Laqeretabua – Gender Consultant Ms Clarinda Ziegler, Commercial Loan Officer/Program Manager of the Palau Home Loan energy efficiency programme implemented by the National Development Bank of Palau Ioane Solailai, Assistance CEO – Renewable Energy Division and Program Manager of the of the Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Energy Efficiency in the Land Transport & Electricity Sectors, Managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Ofa Sefana, from Tonga, Mango and Mo’unga’one Photovoltaic Rehabilitation Project, managed by Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment Mafalu Lotolua, General Manager of Tuvalu Electricity Corporation and Program Manager of the Tuvalu Photovoltaic Electricity
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Planning for Palau's Protected Areas Network
    May 2007 TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No 1/07 Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network An Ecoregional Assessment Prepared by: David Hinchley, Geoff Lipsett-Moore, Stuart Sheppard, Umiich Sengebau, Eric Verheij and Sean Austin Supported by: Ngatpang State, Sonsorol State and Hatohobei State May 2007 TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No 1/07 Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network An Ecoregional Assessment Prepared by: David Hinchley, Geoff Lipsett-Moore, Stuart Sheppard Umiich Sengebau, Eric Verheij and Sean Austin Published by: The Nature Conservancy, Indo-Pacific Resource Centre Author Contact Details: Geoff Lipsett-Moore: The Nature Conservancy, 51 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia, email: [email protected] Umiich Sengebau: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Sean C. Austin: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Eric Verheij: The Nature Conservancy, Palau Field Office, Salii Building, Malakal, P.O. Box 1738, Koror, PW 96940, Republic of Palau, email: [email protected] Suggested Citation: Hinchley, D., Lipsett-Moore, G., Sheppard, S., Sengebau, F.U., Verheij, E., and Austin S. (2007). Biodiversity Planning for Palau’s Protected Areas Network: An Ecoregional Assessment. TNC Pacific Island Countries Report No. 1/07. Disclaimer: All areas identified in the assessment as important for conservation and management represent a synthesis of the best available scientific information. However, all decisions relating to the conservation and management of these areas is entirely at the discretion of the Palau people and their State and National Governments.
    [Show full text]
  • Glasses & Micronesia3 08
    Glasses for Micronesia June 2008 Sandra and I got back June 2nd from our trip across Micronesia, and many have asked how the trip went, and were we successful in distributing the reading glasses. The short answer is yes, we were very successful and the trip was fantastic. I thought I would pen a short travel log so that people know where we went and a bit about Micronesia, its culture and people, as well as about the distribution of the glasses. The map below shows the Pacific region across which we travelled. Leaving on Monday, May 19th, we flew from Hawaiʻi to Guam, stayed over night, and then flew to Yap the next morning. The flight to Guam is 7.5 hours, and Yap is another hour and a half beyond Guam. Guam is an American Territory. Yap is one of the four Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The others are Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. The FSM states were part of the United Nations Trust Territory administered by the Americans after WWII. Figure 1. Map Showing Distances across the Region (not to scale) We stayed on Yap for two days. While there we gave half the prescription glasses (about 30 pairs) to the local hospital. There are no commercial places on Yap where people can have their eyes tested and glasses made. The doctors at the hospital will match the glasses with patients at the hospital who need them. We also gave the doctors and office staff some of the reading glasses because even the doctors couldn’t get glasses.
    [Show full text]
  • Glimpses Into Pacific Lives: Some Outstanding Women (Revised). INSTITUTION Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, Oreg
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 280 923 UD 025 428 AUTHOR Simon-McWilliams, Ethel, Comp.; Green, Karen Reed, Ed. TITLE Glimpses into Pacific Lives: Some Outstanding Women (Revised). INSTITUTION Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, Oreg. SPONS AGENCY Department of Education, Washington, DC. PUB DATE Feb 87 GRANT 008401776; 008401784 NOTE 175p.; For previous edition, see ED 270 542. PUB TYPE Reports General (140) -- Historical Materials (060) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Achievement; *Community Leaders; Elementary Secondary Education; *Females; Foreign Countries; *Minority Groups; Role Models IDENTIFIERS American Samoa; Federated States of Micronesia; Guam; Hawaii; Marshall Islanth:; Northern Mariana Island5; *Pacific Islands; Palau (Belau) ABSTRACT This booklet provides brief biographies of women who have made outstanding contributions to the social and economic development of these Pacific islands: American Samoa, the Republic of Belau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Marshall islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The 66 women profiled include educators, health care providers, political leaders and government officials, lawyers, scientists, and social workers. (KH) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** GLIMPSES INTO PACIFIC LIVES: SOME OUTSTANDING WOMEN Compiled by Ethel Simon-McWilliams Program Director
    [Show full text]
  • Republic of Palau 2004
    National Integrity Systems Transparency International Country Study Report Republic of Palau 2004 Lead Consultants Peter Larmour and Manuhuia Barcham Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA Transparency International National Integrity Systems 2004 Publication Details Author: Donald R. Shuster, Professor, Micronesian Areas Research Center, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam, 96923. Acknowledgements: The author is especially indebted to the individuals listed at the end of this report who made themselves available for interview and were very generous with their time and trust when discussing good governance, corruption, and anti-corruption measures in the Republic of Palau. Biographic details: Donald Shuster had the good fortune of living and working in the Republic of Palau for ten years. He has published nearly one hundred newspaper, magazine, and academic articles about Palau. In 2002 he completed the first research-based biography about a Micronesian leader, entitled Roman Tmetuchl: a Palauan visionary, and is working on a second book about contemporary politics in Palau. First published 2004 by Transparency International Australia P.O. Box 41 Blackburn South Victoria 3130 Australia http://www.transparency.org.au ISBN 0 9752277 3 4 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission of Transparency International Australia on behalf of the copyright owners. This research was funded by AusAID. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Commonwealth of Australia (Cth), Transparency International Australia (TIA) or Asia Pacific School of Economics and Governance at The Australian National University (APSEG).
    [Show full text]
  • IEE: Palau: Koror-Airai Sanitation Project
    Koror–Airai Sanitation Project (RRP PAL 42439) Initial Environmental Examination Report Project Number: 42439 August 2012 Republic of Palau: Koror–Airai Sanitation Project [City, Country] Prepared for [Executing Agency] [Implementing Agency] ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BOD – Biological oxygen demand BNPL – Basic needs poverty line CA – Conservation area EA – executing agency EA – environmental assessment EIA – environmental impact assessment EIRR – economic internal rate of return ENSO – El Niño Southern Oscillation EIS – Environmental Impact Statement EMC – environmental management consultant EMP – Environmental Management Plan EQPB – Environmental Quality Protection Board GDP – gross domestic product IA – implementing agency IEE – Initial Environmental Examination IEM – independent environmental monitor IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature NBSAP – National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan MFWQ – Marine and Freshwater Quality Regulations MPIIC – Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industry and Commerce PWSC – Palau Water and Sewerage Corporation PALARIS – Palau Automated Land Resource Information System PMO – Project Management Office PPTA – project preparation technical assistance RP – Resettlement Plan ROP – Republic of Palau SBR – Sequencing Batch Reactor SPS – Safeguard Policy Statement SPS – Sewage Pump Station SS – Suspended Solids STP – Sewage treatment plant TDS – total dissolved solids TN – total nitrogen UV – ultraviolet WWTP – wastewater treatment plant WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ha – hectare kg/d – kilogram per day km – kilometer km2 – square kilometer m – meter m2 – square meter m3 – cubic meter m3/d – cubic meters per day m3/s – cubic meters per second mg/m3 – milligrams per cubic meter mm – millimeter NOTE In the report, ―$‖ refers to US dollars. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 I. INTRODUCTION 2 A. Background and Rationale 2 II. POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATION FRAMEWORK 4 A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Whispered Memories of Belau's Bais
    The Whispered Memories of Belau’s Bais A cherechar a lokelii A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN PACIFIC ISLANDS STUDIES DECEMBER 2014 BY: Kora Mechelins Iechad THESIS COMMITTEE: Dr. Alice Te Punga Somerville, Chairperson Dr. Terence Wesley-Smith Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka i © 2014 Kora Mechelins Iechad ii We certify that we have read this thesis and that, in our opinion, it is satisfactory in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies. __________________________________ Dr. Alice Te Punga Somerville Chairperson __________________________________ Dr. Terence Wesley-Smith __________________________________ Dr. Tarcisius Kabutaulaka iii Acknowledgements I want to take this opportunity to give thanks to all the people who help me throughout this phase of my educational journey. Without your words of wisdom and guidance, none of this would be a reality. To my family: you are the reason I have been able to take this journey. Your push and love has continuously motivated to reach for the stars. Grandma Julie and Pappy Reg: thank you for your love, buying my books, filling my icebox and tet every time you visit, and not questioning why I chose to get a Master’s in Pacific Islands Studies. Your belief that I will make the best decisions push me to work harder and be a better person. To my uncle Johnson Iechad: thank you for funding my research and being my biggest advocate. Without our endless talks about ideas for this thesis and words of encouragement I wouldn’t of come this far.
    [Show full text]