Roles of Women

Old stories tell of the special role of women in navigation. A Micronesian story tells how the kuling bird (sandpiper) gave the knowledge of navigation to the people of Pulap by teaching the chief’s daughter. A story from the Marshall Islands tells how Liktanur passed on the knowledge of sails to her sons.

From 1920 to 1940, in Outer Reef Islands, there was a woman who was a Captain and a Wayfinder. Her name was Hoakena, she was a cousin of Joslyn Sale, and she owned a Te Puke that she bought from Basil Tevake. She used to transport food and passengers between Santa Cruz Island (Ndeni), Vanikoro, Outer Reefs, and Taumako.

In Satawal, girls used to be trained as wyfinders, but now it is mostly a male activity. However, girls whose fathers are wyfinders still learn many things. This way, they can help to guide a vaka if a navigator becomes confused. It is like a safety net.

Women prepare the food for navigation rituals GLOSSARY rituals - ceremonies and voyages. Another important contribution GLOSSARY contribution - thing that is given is their weaving. In the past, women wove not only pandanus vaka sails but also special tur (valuable weavings). Carolinians carried valuable tur to their relations in Yap on sawei voyages (a traditional ceremonial voyage in Micronesia).

Click here for more information about food preparation.
Click here for more information about sawei voyages.

In Carolinian Pwo (initiation ceremony for wayfinders), hundreds of tur were given to the reb (master wayfinder) who taught young wayfinders. A community that didn’t have a vaka builder could use tur to buy a vaka from another island.

Story of my ancestor, Ukura

Satawalese Lourdes Lepanemai

“Ukura went on a canoe trip with her father, Suk. Coming home from Saipan to Satawal, Suk lost his way. They were drifting until they saw the white-tailed seabird also called Suk.* The crew all wondered where the bird had come from. Ukura called out, “Father, why do you say you don't know where that bird is coming from? You told me that Suk lives north of Fais, under the star of Weno!” So they turned the canoe to where the bird came from and sailed until they saw Fais.”

*Many Carolinians have names that relate to navigation, like in this story.

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