Te Rii ni Banaba: Backbone of Banaba: Backbone of Banaba: backbone of Banaba

by Raobeia Ken Sigrah, Stacey M. King

Overview

Te Rii ni Banaba - backbone of Banaba, is a history of Banaba, situated in the Central Pacific, once known as Ocean Island.  By recording genealogies, myths, legends, customs, culture, magic rituals and the long-kept secrets of the te Aka clan reveals the uniqueness of Banaban identity. The arrival of the I-Matang (Europeans), beachcombers, blackbirders, whalers, missionaries, and the miners in 1900, with the discovery of phosphate (guano) and a heartbreaking trail of loss, exploitation and environmental degradation from mining.  The toll of  World War II atrocities suffered during the Japanese invasion, and the subsequent forced exile of the Banabans from their homeland.  The recorded names of those tragically killed on Banaba during the War and displaced Banaban survivors who were exiled on Rabi, Fiji in 1945.

Te Rii ni Banaba - backbone of Banaba, brings to light new research, including the long-kept secrets of the mysterious te Aka clan, and the successive invasions of Banaba. Then the I-Matang (Europeans) arrived - beachcombers, blackbirders, whalers, missionaries, miners and an occupying Japanese military force during World War II. 1900 was a turning point in this sequence of events with the discovery of phosphate (guano) and a tragic trail of loss and environmental degradation from mining. The Banaban people, who were exiled from their homeland - first during the Pacific War, then to Rabi (Fiji) afterward. The names of all those Banabans tragically killed on Banaba during the War and the names of the displaced Banaban survivors who arrived on Rabi in 1945 are recorded. Although always remote and now decimated by mining, Banaba remains in the hearts of all Banabans. A key narrative in Te Rii Ni Banaba - backbone of Banaba, is the struggle by Banabans to discover their culture and identity, and the authors write, fearful that due to pressure from Fijian, I-Kiribati and western influences, future generations will no longer know or identify as Banaban.

This second edition includes additional photographs, the discovery of the missing link of the Toakira, the search for Teimanaia's skull, identification of the landowners from the first agreements in 1900, and insights into the famous 1975 Banaban Court Case.  It also provides details of villages lost to mining for future generations to trace their genealogies and land rights.  Although remote and now decimated by mining, Banaba remains in the hearts of all Banabans.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780648546207
Publisher:	Anika Pty Ltd
Publication date:	06/19/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	389
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Raobeia Ken Sigrah is an indigenous Banaba clan spokesman and historian. Together they formed a personal and collaborative partnership to seek justice and the rehabilitation of the Banaban homeland. They believe their lives are intertwined, bringing them together to right the wrongs of the past.
Stacey King is an Australian with four generations of her family involved in the mining of Banaba. Together they formed a personal and collaborative partnership to seek justice and the rehabilitation of the Banaban homeland. They believe their lives are intertwined, bringing them together to right the wrongs of the past.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: TE AKA 

1 Indigenous People Of Banaba

2 Totem And Kauti (Magic Ritual)

3 Myths And Legends

4 Genealogy

5 Customs And Culture

6 Sport

7 Music And Dance 

PART TWO: AURIARIA 

8 The First Invasion Of Banaba 

9 Establishment Of Tabwewa District 

10 Interpretation Of Auriaria's History 

11 Myths And Legends 

12 Fishing 

PART 3: NEI ANGINIMAEAO 

13 The Second Arrivals On Banaba

14 Old And New Boundaries 

15 Claiming The Rights 

16 Myths And Legends 

17 Sports 

18 Customs And Culture 

PART FOUR: TE I-MATANG 

19 Early Contact And Misinterpretation 

20 Beachcombers, Blackbirders And Whalers 

21 Drought 

22 The Banaban Exodus And Arrival Of Missionaries 

23 Banaban Language And Its Decline 

24 Banaban Villages And Individual Land Holdings 227

25 Banaban Architecture 

26 Turning Point - World War II

27 Japanese Occupation 

28 Exile From The Homeland

29 Archaeological Investigation: Te Aka Village 1965 

30 The Last Archaeological Dig 1968 

31 Peter Anderson's Legacy

32 A Sad Story 

33 To The Next Generation