The Canoe Is the People
Indigenous Navigation in the Pacific
Setting Out
For most important paths to other islands, there is a particular place to leave from. The navigator knows how his island should look as he starts out from this place. He lines up points on his canoe with points on the land, like mountains, rocks, or trees. If he starts out at night, fires are lit on land to guide him. Keeping the points in line sets the vaka on the right course. In English, this practice is called “taking back sightings”. It is especially useful if the stars or sun can’t be seen. If the vaka moves sideways in relation to the points on land, wayfinders know that a current GLOSSARY current - the directional flow of the sea is affecting the vaka’s course and an adjustment must be made.
When launching a vaka, wayfinders perform special rituals GLOSSARY rituals - ceremonies and chants GLOSSARY chants - songs , like the one below from the Tuamotu Islands. These are often about protecting the vaka on the voyage.
Ringiringi te horo o tena vaka!
Ko nei au hiri ka.
Ko tena ko te piu ...
Bursting in spray sped that canoe!
I sat there amazed.
The sea swelled around me ...
From Emory, K. P. (1969).
Satawalese wayfinder Mau Piailug and his crew celebrate before voyaging.
From The Last Wayfinder © INCA 1989. Directed by Andre Singer.
