DOCUMENT DOES NOT CONTAIN ECI a ~ > , Reviewed byc. Nh all Date KHoifb REPOS!TORY HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE PEOPLE OF ENEWETAK PNNL : coutection Marsha lt Tslan ds BOX No. FOLDER IG &5 Eneweta Kk 147 7 ANTHROPOLOGY Most anthropologists are of the opinion that the Marshalls and other islands of Micronesia were settled by peoples who migrated from the area of Indonesia and into the insular Pacific centuries ago. Reflecting the ancient migration patterns in Oceania, the Marshallese language 409815 belongs to the large Malayo-Polynesian lanquage family which is spread from Madagascar, through the Indonesian area, and across Micronesia, Polynesia, and most regions of Melanesia. With regard to physical type, Marshallese are relatively short in stature and of slender build. They have brown skin, brown eyes, broad flat noses, straight to curly black hair, and sparse body hair. According ts their own legends, the people of Enewetak had always lived on Enewetak Atoll prior to their relocation to Ujelang; in their own words: "We were there from the beginning." Because of Enewetak Atoll's isolated location in the northwestern region of the Marshallese archipelago, the people had relatively little contact with other cultures prior to the European era. As a consequence, the language and customs of the Enewetak people became different from those of other Marshall Islanders, and the people ceased to identify themselves with the others. Rather, they thought of themselves as a people who were separate and unique, "the people of Enewetak” as opposed to the islanders to the east and south. The past and current accomplishments of the Enewetak people reflect intelligence and qualities of ingenuity, self-reliance, and hardiness of the Marshallese which have allowed them to meet the challenge of the atoll environment which is quite restrictive in comparison to the high volcanic islands of Oceania. Long before the advent of Europeans, the Marshallese had developed a culture which represented a sophisticated adaptation to their ecological setting. They were skilled navigators, expert builders of sailing canoes and are among the world's best fishermen. In response to traders, missionaries, and the successive colonial governments which have dominated the istands over the past centuury, they have been quick to learn and adjust to the different .,categories of outsiders. Today, they have achieved a good understanding of the behavior and values of Americans, and several have distinguished themselves in government and mission schools. CULTUREANDECONOMY Throughout the Marshall Islands, the traditional forms of settlement patterns and exploitation of the natural resources are characterized by several general features. First, the people of an atoll reside on one or