The Marshall Islands Campus recently organised Manit (culture) Week celebrations to commemorate the occasion. Events organised by the student association included a bwebwenato* – or panel discussion – centred on integrating culture into modern life, as well as performances and a cookery demonstration.
The panel discussion featured High Court Associate Justice Witten T Philippo, journalist Giff Johnson and academic Mylast Bilimon. Students challenged the panel to ‘spill the ni’ (tea) on what culture is and how they navigate integrating tradition and culture into modern life.
Student Teurikan Horwood led the panel discussion. Teurikan is of Kiribati, Tuvaluan, Scottish descent, but grew up in Hong Kong and Fiji. Like MC Miracle Lang, Teurikan’s recent move to the North Pacific has supported her desire to connect with her cultural heritage.
High Court Associate Justice Witten T Philippo spoke to students about the constitution and how the country was founded on the understanding that traditional rights, culture and custom should be integrated into the legal system.
He highlighted that Article 10 of the Constitution established that Traditional Rights should be upheld, but that the Nitijela (Marshallese parliament) has the power to make laws that alter customs when it is in the interest of national development. He used the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act as an example of a law that changed a practice that was part of the culture.
He added that since the law was enacted, domestic violence has become more frowned upon in the community. Witten highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration to help uncover what is right for the Marshallese legal system in terms of navigating the demands of staying true to culture while supporting national development.
Giff Johnson is an American journalist, long-time resident of the Marshall Islands and editor of the Marshall Islands Journal. He shared his experiences of integrating into Marshallese culture thanks to his Marshallese wives. He highlighted his first wife, Darlene Keju’s, passion for making traditional culture cool as a way to empower Marshallese youth. Giff also drew on the various stories he has edited about the Marshallese community over the decades to show that Marshallese people get through problems as a community.
Academic Mylast Bilimon specialises in researching Marshallese traditional knowledge, and is a teacher at the College of the Marshall Islands. She spoke about the challenges of navigating the demands of modern life (like attending school) and respecting parents’ cultural expectations (like their assumption students will do housework even if it encroaches on their schoolwork).
She highlighted that knowing what is right is not easy, as different generations have different expectations, but that talking over these issues with the families in question and the community is how they find solutions.
The event emphasised the importance of conversations and teamwork to collectively understand the best way to stay true to cultural values while embracing modern technology.
The main event of Manit Week was the Thursday event that began with displays and tastings. Students shared their cultures by sharing food from Tuvalu, like falifu futi and falifu me, food from Kiribati like rice bobo and bero juice, and Marshallese food like binana Kaalal, jakemai and lukwor.
Performances included dances from Fiji, Tuvalu and Kiribati, as well as the Marshall Islands.
After the event, teachers and students wound down with a weaving class.
The week highlighted the myriad of different cultures represented at the USP Republic of Marshall Islands campus.
Students and staff were given the opportunity to taste the spectacular food and view various cultural performances, as well as consider how they can continue to honour their connection to culture while embracing modern life.
*Bwebwenato is a Marshallese oral tradition which is comparable to talanoa in Fiji and Tonga, and tok stori in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
**’Ni’ is Marshallese for coconut. ‘Spill the ni’ is a play on the English expression ‘spill the tea’. ‘Spill the tea’ means to share juicy information.
