The United States of Yap

If the United States is going to continue spending vast amounts of money to stimulate and support the econonomy in Yap, we might as well make it a part of the states…but not really. As we have learned in the readings, being that Yap relies solely on the funding and aid of outside sources (mainly the US), it is imperative that the coutry find a way to stimulate its economy on its own.

Without aid coming from the United States and other countries, Yap would cease to exist. Although the land may be there, there would be no form of monitary resource and it would not be hospitable live. If the Yapese can find a way to generate their own income to support their economy they will have the opportunity to grow as a country, as well as improve their current living conditions. While the small island may not have the capability to grow into a great nation such as the United States, it does however have opportunity to grow as a small country and increase its power and wealth. Relying too much on outside funding and resources, the country is limiting its ability to grow and individualize. If it continues to allow other countries to manage their economy and governemnt, the country will see a loss of culture as well as a complete change in its history. In order to remain the unique island that it has always been, Yap must begin to generate their own economy and find ways to support it as well. Although expanding buisness internationally is typically a good thing for growing countries, it may be benficial for Yap to keep their resources to themselves and thrive off of their own land and capabilties.

Helpful Uncle Sam?

Throughout the semester we have heard a lot about the different interactions between the Yapese and “outsiders.” To me though, I feel like the relationship between the United States and Yap is one that is of the most importance. They way I see it, the United States is going to be a major turning point for the history of Yap and I believe the overall outcome of United States involvement will be seen within my lifetime. I think that based on how Yap’s economy reacts to the withdrawal of United States Aid over the next ten years will ultimately decide  the entire future of Yap and it’s very existence.

The economy of Yap is very unique and almost a polar opposite to the United States Economy. For starters, Yap is entirely reliant on outside funding through the Compact of Free Association between the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States. This reliance on United States funding is due to the complete lack of private industry on Yap. While there is some, it is extremely minimal and not strong enough to support the Yapese Economy. Over the next ten years, Yap must build some type of private sector or risk going bankrupt.

There are many options for the island nation of FSM to choose from to build a private sector such as fishing, minor agriculture, and definitely tourism. The only concern with tourism is that it then puts a strain on the island culture as a whole as more and more foreigners venture onto the small island and spread their culture. Yap has proven to be resilient to that in the past as they have had to endure centuries of occupation from other countries, including Spain, Germany, Japan, and lastly the United States. It has come under a closer light recently as China has been in negotiations with Yap to build a mega-resort on the small island to vamp up the tourism industry. Many citizens worry that pressure to find a solution to the growing economical problem will cause Yapese officials to accept the agreement without fully understanding the consequences.

So, the question remains: Is the United States actually helping the Federated States of Micronesia or more importantly to us, are they helping Yap?

My Girl Marg

I know what you’re thinking…we just learned about her, I know he’s not writing about her.  False, I am.  I can’t help it; I am captivated with Margie Falanruw.  I think one of the things that really sold me the most on Margie was when Dr. Perkins told the story about how on one of the last few trips, the roughly sixty year old Margie took off her sandals and scaled a tree (to get a coconut or banana or some other hanging fruit/object). Not only is that impressive for a spider monkey, but is even more so for an elderly woman who would have seemingly been perceived as being a little past her prime.

Anyhow, outside of my unusual fascination with Margie Falanruw, she also happens to be a tremendous part of and quite an important player within Yap’s history, and thus is my justification for writing about her this week. Between the work she has done with the Yap Institute of Natural Science, her humanitarian efforts across the island, along with the far-reaching environmental contributions of her many books and studies which range from her “Study Plan: Ecology and Ethnobiology of the Fruitbats of Yap” to “The Ethnoichthyology of Yap,” Margie Falanruw has really been a cornerstone figure in Yap’s late development into its modern day state. One of the most impressive things from this list of Margie’s successes in my opinion is the Yap Institute of Natural Science. She basically build it from the ground up and even started it in an old bus. In Kenneth Brower’s “A Song for Satawal,” he quotes Margie Falanruw in describing the Yap Institute of Natural Science as she says it is “A small local nonprofit organization dedicated to the idea of maintaining indigenous integrity through wise sustainable use of local resources, and the search for a valid ethno-ecological lifestyle in the Yap Islands ecosystem.” It’s hard for me to envision a more well-intentioned organization or one that could do as much to help influence Yap’s lifestyle toward the environment.

In conclusion, I do not think there would be any dispute to the statement that Margie Falanruw has not only been a notable benefactor through her role more or less as an activist for the environment in Yap, but also just in as much as she has contributed on a personal level (i.e. even including things like the help she has offered to past JBIP groups from Queens). It’s safe to say that I am more than looking forward to working with her upon our arrival to the FSM!

Yap Defys the Norm

Yap is becoming one of my favorite places to learn about because I love how they stand up to countries that try and come in and change them, like Japan and Germany and now China! They don’t take to guns or ‘civilized’ violence and I appreciate that! When the preachers came in, as we read in O’Keefe, and tried to cloth the people, the people laughed him them! I respect that they are naked and chose to be that way and they aren’t hurting anybody! The fact that we had to put them down for it in the first place just goes to show how thick headed and close minded some people are. Yap didn’t take to the Japanese threatening their stone money and worked less than for O’Keefe who treated them fairly. The Yapese understand the way they are viewed by outsiders and they return the gesture. People are rude and they don’t understand the culture but the Yapese do not always return that gesture. They don’t take to the ‘normal’ things like unnecessary violence and they live how they have lived, when in peace. Yap is my favorite.

Relationships with Yap

Historically the Japanese and Yapese have not gotten along very well. When the Japanese came to Yap in the 1940s they came with the attitude that they were far superior and simply could take and do whatever they wanted. Some of the local Yapese said that the Japanese policemen would beat the Yapese without any cause or they would take things from them whenever they wanted. They said they would see a crab run into a sacred statue to hide. Well the Japanese saw no problem tearing down the statue to get the one little crab, no matter how important the statue was for the Yapese. These kinds of actions have not been forgotten and is a big reason why the Yapese are opposed to having outsiders come in and build a mega resort. They are very passionate about tradition and they felt as though outsiders will disrespect their values. I think one of the reasons that Queens has been so successful on our trips to Yap is because we do respect and value the Yapese opinion and beliefs. Like we discussed in class, we ask what needs to be done instead of telling the Yapese what needs to be done. We show a genuine interest in what they want and need which is why we have the relationship we do with them. As long as we continue to show respect for their beliefs and values I believe we will be welcomed back for years to come.  However the same cannot be said for the Japanese and Chinese. Their actions ruined any chance they had for successfully negotiating with the Yap people. 

Earlier in the semester we had to read a book entitled, His Majesty O’Keefe.  His Majesty O’Keefe is a novel about an Irishman named David Dean O’Keefe.  O’Keefe set departed Savannah on the Belvidere; he was the captain of the Belvidere.  After setting sail he became shipwrecked and washed up on the Micronesian Island of Yap.  While he was on Yap he befriended a German man named Alfred Tetens whom had been on Yap trying to get the Yapese motivated in order for the island to join the trade market.  He just could not figure out what the Yapese people wanted; they would not work for money or any other common Western goods.  O’Keefe was the man who finally figured it out.  He discovered that the Yapese cherished the stone that could be found in the mountains of Palau because of the story that came with it about the travelling it took and the difficulty of obtaining the stone.  He laid the grounds for a Copra market on Yap by figuring out what the Yapese people will work for; they harvested Copra for him, and in return he took them on monthly voyages to Palau so they could get their precious stone.  While he was on Yap, O’Keefe opened a small store and bar for local residents called O’Keefe’s Kanteen.  Today there O’Keefe’s Kanteen is still there along with a hotel called O’Keefe’s Waterfront Inn.  The Inn reflects the style and hospitality of O’Keefe and his time on Yap.  Guests can actually purchase a copy of His Majesty O’Keefe at the front desk.

  I found it very interesting to learn that there is a hotel on the island based on a book we spent a good amount of the class reading and discussing.  It would be awesome if we got to see the hotel and store/bar while we are over there.

Going…Going…Gone for $4.5 Million

Ever day dream about what you would do if you won the lottery? Maybe you would buy a huge mansion, a super fast sports car, or use it to get out of debt from attending school. But would you ever think that you could buy an island in the Pacific for the same amount of money people pay for their houses in Myer’s Park? Neither did I, but it happened in 1899. The Spanish sold Yap and the rest of Spanish Micronesia to Germany for 4.5 million dollars!  I wonder how much Yap would go for now-a-days. You could look at Yap as a foster child. Yap was first controlled by Spain, and then they sell it to Germany. Germany has control for a while and then the Japanese come and takes over Yap with the help of Great Britain. Unfortunately, the Japanese could not defeat the United States so they have to surrender in 1945. They go from one “parent” to the next just like a foster child.

I do believe that Yap has some problems with their economy because of all the different countries that have inhabited it. How would you feel if every 15-20 years you were sold off to the highest bidder? I know if I lived in that country, I would not be very happy with all of the different changes. Luckily, the United States is currently trying to help stabilize their economy so that they will be able to become more independent and less reliable on the US. Maybe in 10 years we will see someone super rich buy Yap, just for fun.

Finding Your Way

The Yapese are proud of their navigational skills and preservation of traditional canoes which their ancestors used to first travel to Yap and other islands within Micronesia.  Canoes were used to expand the Yapese empire as well as to facilitate the ideals of reciprocity called “sawei” in these islands.  Today, modern cargo ships and airplanes are two more commonly used modes of transportation for people, goods, and services.  According to the Yap Visitors Bureau, the most common type of canoe is called the Popow.  It is characterized by its two-pronged bow.  The Popow canoes are most often used for transporting people and goods to distant locations such as Palau.

When we read His Majesty O’Keefe  for class some of the different ceremonies were explained.  In His Majesty O’Keefe we read about the magician Fatumak who was consulted about proceeding with actions because the Yapese people have many rituals and beliefs surrounding fate and magic.  These ceremonies used to be much more popular and common before the modern age when not as many people are involved with the traditions.  The same materials which were used historically such as coconuts and breadfruit are still very popular, however.  Breadfruit trees and mahogany trees were used to construct canoes because they grew to such large sizes.  The Pacific Ocean which surrounds Yap is notorious for being rough, so the Yapese people would dig the trees used for building canoes up from the soil rather than cutting them down in a way which many Americans would probably do.  They did this in order to prevent the wood from cracking, thereby enhancing its stability for such long ocean voyages.  Traditionally, women were in charge of weaving pandanus sails for the canoes.

When I read more about canoe construction the importance of the coconut plant was explained in detail.  I feel as if the Yapese people are unbelievably resourceful with how they use the coconut.  Coconut husks and fibers were used in order to make very strong rope.  We actually saw some of it in class one day which was really cool.

Furthermore, the breadfruit tree was used in order to have its sap be used for waterproofing the canoe’s hull.  Finished canoes were decorated with traditional designs and colors and then released into the ocean with grand ceremonies in Yap’s past.  The stars served as the map for the Yapese navigators who did not even have a compass or proper map.  These navigators were also experts at recognizing the changing patterns of tides in the middle of the ocean when they could not even see land!  The Yap Visitors Bureau compared the current efforts of preserving the traditional canoes and navigational skills.  Their website explained that the Outer Islanders actually do a better job of teaching the younger generations about the traditions from the past.  This is probably because the Outer Islanders do not always have the financial resources which are necessary to have the most modern boats for transportation, so they preserve the traditional methods because they are much more practical.

 

Source: Yap’s Visitors Bureau

Zee FSM.

The Compact of Free Association was an agreement between the United States and Micronesia for the US to help Micronesia transition to a self-government and help develop a broad base for economic growth. The Federal States of Micronesia can most accurately be described as an independent country and consists of four states: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap.

The first “Compact of Free Association” between the FSM and the US started in 1986, when the FSM was formed and it started with initial growth, then led to economic stagnation. Some unintended consequences of the economic stand point was the emigration of Micronesians to search for jobs and the push toward individualization. With the dependence on government spending and US making funding cuts, the agreements have led the current economic system in Yap to be unsustainable.

Three development areas were targeted by the FSM to try and improve their economy with in the compact: fishing, tourism, and commercial agriculture. All of which had no drastic increase in helping the economy and government. Fishing revenues were only seen in license fees; tourism still has room for growth but is more of a unrealistic hope; and commercial agriculture has never played a big role in the economy. Micronesians soon found themselves leaving Micronesia to find work from other countries like Guam, Spain, Hawaii, and the US; and the FSM emigration rate increased and population rate decreased. For quite some time now, the FSM has experienced a huge imbalance of trade (where imports outweigh exports), a poorly developed private sector, and a poor environment for investment.

Mau You Doing?

Mau Piailug! Micronesian navigator and canoe extraordinaire! Mau was a native of Micronesia who has became known for his traditional, non-instrumental, navigating methods. He is one of the best there has ever been when it comes to deep-sea voyaging and navigation without the use of instruments. Mau originally began sailing from the Carolinian island of Satawal, but made his way throughout all of the islands of Micronesia. His navigation relied on clues from the sun and stars, winds and clouds, the sea, and birds and fish. Mau was taught this way of navigating from those before him, and the system was passed down through teachings in oral tradition. By the age of 18, Mau was considered a master navigator and sailed the seas better than Blackbeard himself!

As Mau began getting older and Western values began being introduced to the islands, he became worried his navigation methods would lose their place. He then took it upon himself to begin teaching the traditional sailing ways to more generations of his native people. By doing this, and introducing it to the Polynesian Voyaging Society, he was able to preserve part of the culture and keep traditional navigating alive. Mau went on to become the GREATEST NAVIGATOR THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN! (jk…but seriously)