Inventory of Cultural and Historical Sites and Oral History in the Interior of Airai State Volume II: Collection of Oral History

Besebes, Meked; Kloulubak, Sylvia; Tellames, Lynda

Preface: "The ethnographic survey of Airai was first conducted in 1997. The purpose of the survey was to provide oral history pertaining to both previously identified and newly identified archaeological sites which were being documented by the survey section. The research was conducted in the area that encompasses the traditional sociopolitical divisions of Airai. In 1997 interviews were mostly conducted in groups. While there was an advantage to group meetings, with most elders gathered in one place, it soon became clear that it may not have been the most effective setting for this type of research project. First, as many elders (who held prominent clans titles) were present, no one agreed to be interviewed if there was someone else whom they felt was more 'appropriate' or held more authority to give such information. By 'appropriate' they ideally meant the highest-ranking person from the highest clan within the village if s/he was present. This 'appropriate' individual may or may not have been as familiar with the stories associated with his/her village, but common courtesy required that s/he be the informant. This is addressing the issue of hierarchy and confidentially which causes the informant to be more reluctant to talk, either about certain topics, or in some cases about anything at all. The second ethnographic survey of Airai took place in June to September 2015. It carried the similar purpose as the 1997 survey however but focusing on new sites that the archaeology survey section was going to survey. Due to other reasons the survey section did not conduct the second phase of archaeology field work which was to focus on the unsurveyed interior areas of Airai. The ethnography section staff were not able to work closely with the survey team nor have a firsthand inspection of the sites. Therefore, the ethnography section took as its main focus the collection of legends, myths, and stories about surveyed sites as well as important landmarks in Airai state. A significant source is Augustin Krämer's five volume ethnography about Palau, which was recently translated in 2014. His ethnography provides a rich view of Palau's past beginning in early 1900s. Significant descriptions about each village district can be found in Krämer Vol. II, while legends can be found in Vol. IV. Krämer Vol. III captures major divisions of Palau material culture and has a detailed description of pottery making in Airai. Lastly, Vol. V includes illustrations of bai (chief's meeting house) and imuul (beams) images of legends from Airai. Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Palau Historic Preservation Office, Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation, Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, administered by the Pacific West Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P15AF00022).

Inventory of Cultural and Historical Sites and Oral History in the Interior of Airai State Volume II: Collection of Oral History

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