The May 8 - May 21, 2017

15
Kaselehlie Press

Pasifika Renaissance Shares over

200 Narrative Videos of Pohnpei
State on YouTube we have now uploaded more than
200 narrative videos on our YouTube
Dr. Takuya Nagaoka (Executive channel (https://goo.gl/U5HrjL). These
Director, NGO Pasifika Renaissance) stories include legends, traditional tales,
historical events, customs, chants and
Pasifika Renaissance was established in songs from Pohnpei (9 videos), Pingelap
September 2014 in Japan as an NGO, (69), Mwoakilloa (11), Sapwuahfik (60),
with a mission to preserve and promote Nukuoro (25), and Kapingamarangi
cultural and historical heritage in the (24), as well as two island groups of
Pacific Islands. We aim to revitalize Chuuk State: the Mortlock Islands (10)
traditional culture and empower local and Namonuito (7). Soon, we hope to
communities. We work in three main add more videos from Pohnpei, where
fields: documenting, researching, and we began our work just this year in
teaching about traditional cultures and collaboration with the Division of
cultural heritage; providing technical Historic Preservation and Cultural
assistance to relevant agencies and Affairs, Pohnpei State Department of
organizations; and promoting tourism. Land.
You can find out more at our Facebook
page (https://www.facebook.com/ Our YouTube channel has attracted over
PasifikaRenaissance/), where we post 150,000 views. Of these views, 78.5%
cultural and historical information such are from United States, where one third
as historical photos and educational of FSM citizens now reside. 12% of our
materials and share updates on our views come from within the FSM. Our
organization’s activities. YouTube channel has now reached 1,250
views per day, which we believe suggests
We are currently engaged in a major a keep interest in these stories.
project to document oral tradition in
Pohnpei State. Many older Micronesians We would like to thank our storytellers,
have fond childhood memories of the above Division, The Care of
listening to stories told by elderly Micronesia Foundation and others
relatives before bed. This practice, who have supported this project, as
however, has been largely lost in well as generous donors such as the
Pohnpei due to the spread of new media KDDI Foundation in Japan. We hope
such as videos and games and the decline by watching these videos, people can
of the younger generation’s interest in continue to pass on these stories to their
traditional culture. children and younger relatives.

In order to document stories from If you would like to contribute stories

knowledgeable elders and pass them or know someone who is willing to
down to younger generations, Pasifika share stories with us, please contact us
Renaissance began filming those stories in at pasifika.renaissance@gmail.com or by
2015 sharing the videos on our YouTube phoning the above Division (320-2652).
channel with kind permission from the If you have a knowledgeable elderly
FSM Office of National Archives, Culture relative or friend staying overseas and
and Historic Preservation. This method have the ability to record his/her story
of documenting and sharing traditional via cellphone, tablet or digital camera,
knowledge through online media is rare please let us know. Please follow us on
in the Pacific Islands. However, we Facebook and our YouTube channel to
believe that it has a great potential for receive updates as this project develops.
future applications due to the relative
ease of use and the Internet’s global
We plan to extend this project to other
reach. Our project has been welcomed
states in the FSM and other Pacific
and supported by traditional chiefs,
regions in the near future, and hope to
elders and other community members,collaborate with researchers, government
who share our concern that traditional
agencies, NGOs, and community
knowledge could be lost. members. Please get in touch, and let
us know how you can help spread this
We are very happy to announce that “renaissance” movement!

Interviewing Mr. Rasner Elias, Pohnpei Interviewing His Majesty Aliki Chief
Yostaro David of Kapingamarangi