THs Ee EVET AI Al alOLL T SOF LE Historical Background The present inhabitants of Ujilang Atoll are the former inhabitants of Enewetak Atoll. Hore than twenty-five years ago they were moved en masse from their home atoll to make way for the testing of nuclear weapons by tne Unites States. In order to wmderstand the present situation, we must examine the history of this group, and how they arrived at their present location. A summary of pertinent events is herewith presented. The Enewetak People say that they have always lived on Enewetak Atoll as far as they know, and that "there have always been two chiefs (iroij) and two grouns, because there are two big islands: Enjebi and snewetak." {At one time in the distant past there was a third socio-political unit on the southeastern part of the atoll, called Wurrin. This was absorbed by the Enewetak group). The people state that they are the people of Enjebi Island and the people of Enewetak Island who lived on the atoll of Enewetak. They claim that the two grovps have never warred against each other but have always cooperated very closely. (For all practical purposes the Enewetak People are one group today. This is due to intermarriage over the years and the intense in-group feeling the people have). According to those who know the history of their peoples; the chiefs, the wise old men and women, and those few of the younger people who have learned the ancient lore from their elders, four separate groups of Marshallese arrived on Enewetak Atoll before the coming of the suropeans. These cane from the atolls of Bikini, Ujae, Jotto, and other atolls may miles to the east of Enewetak, These invaders, apparently castaways, either fought the Unewetak Toast 3 x ~ ~3 se oveetkebvracatines Ne Pr er oa Vo acorn ie ~ eee oe . | oe ws ~ ee we seo ae, te - Los me Sayan t der we ~ates he et fyparantly none ofTbe them ronainoa on4unc weycctc.. gine as Some LRG nd Gwe Ye de @