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Mauri Itinteang and those who had contributed to the very interesting ISSUE!!!
Moan te kakaongora all comments on the issue, and what I understand now is that "Te I-Banaba has a distinct Identity from that of I-Kiribati". Well, as far as the question of "upholding Identity" is concerned may I suggest that an issue as such should be raised as a "motion of separation" by Hon. Teatu Kaibuariki, the Nominated Member from the RCL to the Republic of Kiribati House of Parliament during the up-coming Parliamentary Meeting that will fall on 12 April this year. This will of course resolve any further conflicts between the "copyright" and the "copycat" as mentioned by Ken Sigrah.
We look forward to that motion.
Dearest Friend, Itinteang. You may have misinterpreted my message, however there was no record of such motion, "Banaban Separation!" in the "Journal of the Parliament of Kiribati" ever since Kiribati achieved its Independence on 12 July 1997. I did not say "copyright" and "copycat" but "te I-Banaba" I acknowledge with thanks those saying and I salute all your comment which are not insulting to "te I-Kiribati". God bless Kiribati
After reading the blogs about rising sea levels, There is going to be a twist of events into the future and which i think is by the will of God as He is the creator of the whole earth and the Administrator of nature's events which is beyond the control of Man....so the ironic situation is....Banaba our beloved is undergoing rehabilitation which i believe will fully restore our Banaban identity and Banaban flag forever and no more arguments by our neighbour that there is no such terms as Banaban batere, Banaban language, Banaban custom and culture ...etc...as the Bible says 'there is a time for everything....'
Sorry if I may have misinterpreted your message but that was how I saw it. Anyway the separation motion was not made to the Kiribati government but to the Colonial masters. I think that's the reason why you could not find any record in the "Journal of the Parliament of Kiribati". God bless.
Ruatamaki Tataio said:Dearest Friend, Itinteang. You may have misinterpreted my message, however there was no record of such motion, "Banaban Separation!" in the "Journal of the Parliament of Kiribati" ever since Kiribati achieved its Independence on 12 July 1997. I did not say "copyright" and "copycat" but "te I-Banaba" I acknowledge with thanks those saying and I salute all your comment which are not insulting to "te I-Kiribati". God bless Kiribati
Ko na mauri Ken,
I totally agree with you. I read 'Te Rii ni Banaba' and hope that all Banabans have a copy in their home.
I was thinking that to answer those who still deny what you have said about our unique BANABAN identity(culture and customs), dance and language is to look first at God's creation.
Why did God create Banaba and Kiribati differently? Simply, one High and one flat?
I do believe in the restoration of Banaba as in the restoration of Israel in these last days. Hitler wanted to wipe out the jews from the face of the earth and create a super race but failed.
I am a proud Banaban and I-Kiribati from Nikunau and Arorae. I am very disappointed and mad when people try to take away my Banaban identity.
Ko raba n am boki.
Dearest Friend, Itinteang. You may have misinterpreted my message, however there was no record of such motion, "Banaban Separation!" in the "Journal of the Parliament of Kiribati" ever since Kiribati achieved its Independence on 12 July 1997. I did not say "copyright" and "copycat" but "te I-Banaba" I acknowledge with thanks those saying and I salute all your comment which are not insulting to "te I-Kiribati". God bless Kiribati
One thing we should be fully aware of is that the Kiribati nation is a creation of contemporary development - a by product of Colonialism which I am sure you agree that the Banaban situation is also a by product of that. Before the notion of a Kiribati nation - there was Island identity i.e. Onotoans, Beruans, Tarawans etc no Kiribati and each Island was seeking dominance over the other islands - refer to their legends and myths. The classic example is Abemama - which under Binokas rule was able to annex Kuria and Aranuka, 2 nearby Islands.
Auriaria came and according to legend there were people already living on Banaba - darker in complexion and have a language. Auriaria raira Banaba - literal meaning change the customs/culture and posiibly to some extent language i.e. enforce his own customs/culture/language, dominate those people and then left Banaba travelled to Tarawa, Onotoa etc and also influenced the culture/customs/languages of those people. Maybe he was the first to create a link between these Islands. This is the same case to the Beruans - Te Matawarebwe came and aslo enforced his customs/culture to the people already living on Beru before his arrival. His descendants travelled to nearby Islands and to some extent enforced similar changes hence the similarity in some of the cultures/customs.
The point is before europeans arrive on the scene there were a lot travelling between the Islands hence the similarities which leads to the annexation for easier administratvie purposes ... you extend this
Hi Albert,
It is interesting to view your point of 'creation of contemporary development'. Well, to be honest with you this concept does not apply to Banaba but maybe it does apply to Australia, N.Zealand, England and Kiribati. My question is, 'since when does Banaba was part of this so called 'contemporary development?'. How come that you are not even aware of Banaba situation? Do you think that destroying Banaba and the uprooting of it's indigenous inhabitants is a very smart way of 'creating contemporary development? One thing that we must not forget is that we the Banabans were not part of the Colonial DyNASTY until as late as 1900 when they found phosphate on our lsland, even at that time we were not even part of the Gilbert (now Kiribati) and Ellis Colony. The truth is we became part of Gilbert and Ellis Colony when Britain ANNEXED Banaba TO BE PART OF the Gilbert and Ellis Colony but NOT PART of Kiribati alone.
Also you mentioned the Kiribati mythes of creation and other folklores but I'm sorry to tell you that we Banabans are not interested at all for a simple reason that we are not part of those mythes and forlklores, sorry. Ours is very different from those.
Anyway thanks for your input and hope you keep in touch.
God bless.
ken.
Albert William Smith said:One thing we should be fully aware of is that the Kiribati nation is a creation of contemporary development - a by product of Colonialism which I am sure you agree that the Banaban situation is also a by product of that. Before the notion of a Kiribati nation - there was Island identity i.e. Onotoans, Beruans, Tarawans etc no Kiribati and each Island was seeking dominance over the other islands - refer to their legends and myths. The classic example is Abemama - which under Binokas rule was able to annex Kuria and Aranuka, 2 nearby Islands.
Auriaria came and according to legend there were people already living on Banaba - darker in complexion and have a language. Auriaria raira Banaba - literal meaning change the customs/culture and posiibly to some extent language i.e. enforce his own customs/culture/language, dominate those people and then left Banaba travelled to Tarawa, Onotoa etc and also influenced the culture/customs/languages of those people. Maybe he was the first to create a link between these Islands. This is the same case to the Beruans - Te Matawarebwe came and aslo enforced his customs/culture to the people already living on Beru before his arrival. His descendants travelled to nearby Islands and to some extent enforced similar changes hence the similarity in some of the cultures/customs.
The point is before europeans arrive on the scene there were a lot travelling between the Islands hence the similarities which leads to the annexation for easier administratvie purposes ... you extend this
I give credits to those who contribute this long standing issue. Well done! I just want to add some thoughts of mine that can be further clarified. First, I agree that Banaba was annexed separately and at a later date compared to the Gilbert Islands. I do not dispute that fact. However, if you dig further, one could find that all of the islands that have been annexed by the British colonial government which includes Banaba, were all incorporated as one nation (Kiribati).....despite that that island is Beru, Makin or Tarawa. This means that as a nation, Banaba is still seen as one of the islands of Kiribati legally and politically. For example, Banabans on Rabi Island in Fiji are today catogarized as citizens of Fiji whereas Banabans on Banaba still categorized as I-Kiribati people.
So in arguing for Banaban identity.....that is good in order to preserve the unique culture of the Banaban people to remain survive. I encourage other islands of Kiribati to do the same like the people of Banaba Island. The people of other islands in Kiribati should look at the people of Banaba Island and think what is left to maintain to show eitheryou are true Tarawan or Beruan person. I cannot agree that all Tarawans and the Beruans have the same identity.... lols
The Banaban people occupy a unique position in the Kiribati society today as a result of colonial exploitation of their island by the British government in partnership with Australia and New Zealand. Anyone who knows the story will feel sorry for the people of Banaba island. However that unique position must not be abused today and should remain as it is when it was first enforced.
Finally, I would like to say that the people who prouds to call themselves I-Kiribati should also look at their respective islands they originally come from and try to do something that will not show only you as an I-Kiribati but also as a true Tabiteuean or Beruan person.
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