22

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

FIGURE 1-26. A FAMILY GROUP IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.

one or a few of its largest islands. The second is a mobility that is
demonstrated by various extended fishing and collecting activities that
embrace every niche of the environment. For example, they have a
nonintensive form of agriculture in which regular expeditions are made to
all islands of an atoll to make copra and collect coconuts, breadfruit,
pandanus, arrowroot, and other vegetable foods in season. Clearing of
brush and planting are done during these visits. Marine resourcesare also
exploited, with a wide variety of marine animals being utilized. Special
expeditions are madeto collect shellfish, capture turtles, and gather their
eggs, in addition to catching fish. Several species of birds are also captured
as a food source. The Enewetak people may be expected to continuethis
way of life to some degree when they return to their home atoll, although
they may remain strongly influenced in many ways by their contacts with

western culture.2! The typical outrigger canoe of the Marshallese is shown
in Figure !-27.

Historically, the people of Enewetak have been divided into two
separate and distinct communities which were located on the twolargest
islands of the atoll. Here ‘‘community”’ is defined as the maximum group
of persons who normally reside together in face-to-face association. One
community was situated primarily on Enjebi (Janet) Island on the
northern rim, and the other was located primarily on Enewetak Island
across the lagoon in the southeast quadrant of the atoll. The traditional
(cr

muansine

Select target paragraph3