Breaking the Shell - Voyaging from Nuclear Refugees to People of the Sea in the Marahall Islands
by Genz, Joseph H.
pub. by University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 2018 isbn 978 082 4867911 - LCCN 2017 009433 - - 241 p. -- maps -- photos -- diagrams
Notes p.197 -- Glossary p.215 -- Bibliography p.217 -- Index p 233 -- illustrated
This is more-or-less an extention of Joseph H. Genz disseration for a PhD in anthropology.
Chapters
Introduction - From Nuclear Exodus to Cultural Reawakening
1. Born of the Sea, Coming across the Sea
2. Sailing in the Sunrise and Sunset Islands
Where there is some examination of earlier disussion about local navigation with Portugese and German navigators.
3. Exodus from a Stronghold of Navigation
1870s German trading contact - 1885 German protectorate established when purchased from Spain
1919 after WWI the Marshall Islands became a Japanese Mandate after the German WWI defeat.
Cultural mythical and historical background on how navigation came to the Marshallese
Navy of USA got control of the Marshall Islands during WWII and
in 1947 The Marshall Islands became part of the USA Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The removal of population for the nuclear testing - 1946-1958 - Bikini Atoll -
the immediate and long lasting effects, culturally as well as physically.
4. Navigating the Cultural Revival of Voyaging
Rebuilding the native culture of the Marshall Islands after much of the population had been moved.
This rebuilding began and included traditional canoe building, navigation, weather forcasting and other elements of culture.
5. Maps, Models, and Simulations
Scientific study on how Wave Navigation works.
6. Breaking the Shell
The official demonstration of navigational skill.
7. Rise of the Apprentice
The navigational skill is passed to the next generation.
Epilogue. Return of the Canoe
Notes -
Glossary especially of local language terms
Note - on the title of the book Breaking the Shell
When a traditional navigator passes his test and is declared to officially be a Navigator
he is said to have broken the shell (turtle shell) and has demonstrated his understanding of what is needed to be a navigator.
It is a huge honor only achieved after the better part of a lifetime of study and practical instrucgtion.
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For other information, the Marshall Islands people have created a website
canoesmarshallislands(dot)com
This is a good, read, parts are heavy as the subject matter is heavy, but if you have any interest in the Marshall Islands
and/or traditional sailing and navigation it is a good modern work on the subject.
Also read the works of Thomas Gladwin East is a Big Bird - and especially David Lewis We the Navigators and anything by Ben R. Finney
~ 2024-06-21 ~
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