The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Doctoral Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects 2013 The Re-Imagining of Rapa Nui Traditional Healing Arts: Explorations of Narrative Identity, Mimesis, and the Public Sphere James Joves [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/diss Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Joves, James, "The Re-Imagining of Rapa Nui Traditional Healing Arts: Explorations of Narrative Identity, Mimesis, and the Public Sphere" (2013). Doctoral Dissertations. 74. https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/74 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of San Francisco THE RE-IMAGINING OF RAPA NUI TRADITIONAL HEALING ARTS: EXPLORATIONS OF NARRATIVE IDENTITY, MIMESIS, AND THE PUBLIC SPHERE A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education Organization and Leadership Program In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education By James Joves San Francisco May 2013 THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO Dissertation Abstract The Re-Imagining of Rapa Nui Traditional Healing Arts: Explorations of Narrative Identity, Mimesis, and the Public Sphere Research Topic In Rapa Nui is undergoing a cultural development crisis. This transition mixed with the ever-increasing popularity of tourism and global media has raised awareness of identity and culture within the Rapa Nui society. The present inquiry explores one aspect of their societal healing arts that is in the midst of re-exploration and re-imagination: their traditional medicinal practices or hervias tradicionales and the potential for the findings to help shape the lives of the Rapa Nui in their society. Theory and Protocol This research is grounded in critical hermeneutics and follows an interpretive approach to field research and data analysis (Herda 1999). Research Categories Three primary critical hermeneutic concepts drawn from the theoretical works of Paul Ricoeur (mimesis and narrative identity) and Jürgen Habermas (public sphere) provide the research categories for this inquiry. Findings The complexity faced on Rapa Nui is of developmental influences on the culture—Polynesian ways-of-life contrasting with Chilean structure and values. 1. The Arts of Traditional Healing are Becoming Lost Arts. Western medicine is frequently used in conjunction with traditional healing depending on the urgency of the situation. Regardless of use, the healing arts along with their traditional ii songs, dances, and language define the Rapa Nui identity, values, and culture. This is a priority among elders who view the younger generation lacking the drive in “being Rapa Nui.” 2. There is a Lack of Communication between Islanders and Mainland Chileans. This is notable in the issues of land tenure-ship, appropriation of funding and policies, and with the preservation of the arts and culture. The government infrastructure needs to be effective in bridging the cultures through the actions of meaningful conversations that are beneficial to the needs and wants of the community. 3. Islanders and Mainland Chileans Need to Develop Cooperatively a Rapa Nui Education Curriculum that Reflects the History, Politics and Culture. There is need to grow cultural educational programs that can add value in raising awareness and understanding between the developed and developer. This curriculum should be extended towards the migrant and immigrant populations coming to Rapa Nui for employment and their domestic counterparts. iii This dissertation, written under the direction of the candidate’s dissertation committee and approved by the members of the committee, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. The content and research methodologies presented in this work represent the work of the candidate alone. James B. Joves February 27, 2013 Candidate Date Dissertation Committee Dr. Ellen A. Herda February 27, 2013 Chairperson Date Dr. Dan McPherson February 27, 2013 Date Dr. Laleh Shahideh February 27, 2013 Date Dr. Maria Palmo February 27, 2013 Date iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My research was made possible by the people of Rapa Nui, both Chilean and Rapa Nui. Their generosity to allow me to become part of their community at the Center for Better Adults has given me a rare insight into the values and beliefs of their elders— the nuas and koros. Their narrative stories is a testament into “being Rapa Nui.” I enjoyed their stories, songs, foods, and most of all, their caring nature that they exhibited towards me during my research. My regards extends to the Manutomatoma family for my stay and to Mahina Rapa Tuki—a Rapa Nui mentor and expert practitioner of the healing arts. My conversation with former governor, Dr. Sergio Rapu, has given me an appreciation to the Chilean efforts on the island within the historical context of Rapa Nui civil rights and humanity. This research would not have been made possible without the faith, belief, and tireless efforts of my advisor and mentor, Dr. Ellen Herda. Her teachings of critical hermeneutics has allowed me to appropriate new meaning into my understanding of development practices as relating to identity and society. To Dr. Dan McPherson, his input into shaping my dissertation is invaluable. To Dr. Laleh Shahideh, whose book on The Power of Iranian Narratives (2004) gave me insights into conducting the conversation. The pilot study for this research was driven by the incredible energy of Dr. Maria Palmo, whose doctoral research into Uganda arts, allowed me to appropriate new meaning into the traditional healing arts. Lastly, I want to give thanks to my family for their continual and loving support in my never-ending pursuit of learning. v The entire formation of our life-world through the construction of an ethical order, as well as the development of religious and cultural traditions, can be traced back to the ultimate miracle of language. This does not consist in the ability to signal to one another, in order to regulate the behavior of the species, but in the ability to form a particular language community and thereby a common world. What is new is the ability to listen to one another, the capacity to attend to another human being. Herein consists the universal dimension of hermeneutics, a dimension which encompasses and supports all our reason and thought. Hans-Georg Gadamer (1996:166-167) vi CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: RESEARCH ISSUE, BACKGROUND, AND SIGNIFICANCE .. 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Background of Research Issue ........................................................................................ 3 Rapa Nui and the Healing Arts .................................................................................... 4 The Healing Arts Today in Rapa Nui .......................................................................... 5 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................ 6 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER TWO: BACKGROUND OF RAPA NUI ................................................... 8 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 8 Geography ....................................................................................................................... 9 History of Rapa Nui ...................................................................................................... 11 European Discovery and Chilean Annexation........................................................... 13 Cultural Reclamation in the 21st Century ................................................................. 14 Traditional Medicine on Rapa Nui ................................................................................ 15 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER THREE: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................................................... 18 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 18 The Concept of Healing Arts ........................................................................................ 18 Rituals ........................................................................................................................ 19 The Pacific Islands and Healing Arts ............................................................................ 20 Connecting Mind, Body, Soul, and Kaiŋa ................................................................. 22 Healing Arts on Rapa Nui ............................................................................................. 22 Language ..................................................................................................................