Science Commentary
written by Nicole Crane
Traditional stories have important lessons in them
Science Commentary 1
Stories teach local knowledge and culture, like how different islands are connected through the important traditions of the sawey.
“The Chain of Command” – sawey or “tribute voyage” connections from Yap to Chuuk. From Pacific Worlds Yap-Ulithi Website: "Neighbors" Pacific Worlds, 2003 http://www.pacificworlds.com/yap/arrival/neighbor.cfm
Storytelling has been an important way to pass knowledge through the generations throughout human history. With modernization, and with more young people going away to school, traditional stories are being replaced by stories from elsewhere. This means that local knowledge, explained through stories, is not being passed to young people the way it used to. Sometimes the stories seem like a fairytale, or not real. But they teach important values and knowledge. Values like respect for elders and for tradition, paying close attention to both what you see and what you are told, respect for the land, the sea, the plants and animals. They also teach local knowledge and culture – how different islands are connected through traditions like the sawey, how work is divided between men and women, and an introduction to important skills like navigation, weaving and house building. All together this makes a shared culture that helps the community work together and follow the same practices to take care of the land, sea, plants and animals that islanders need to survive.