Te Rii ni Banaba: backbone of Banaba

CONTENTS

Thanks

Introduction: Heritage and Ethnic Identity of the Banabans

PART ONE: TE AKA

1. Indigenous People of Banaba:  They were known as the sorcerers

2.  Totem and Kauti (Magical Ritual)

3.  Myths and Legends

4.  Genealogy

5.  Customs and Culture

6.  Sports

7.  Music and Dance

PART TWO:  AURIARIA

8.  The First Invasion of Banaba:  They came as warriors

9.  Establishment of Tabwewa District

10. Interpretation of Auriaria’s History

11. Myths and Legends

12. Fishing

PART THREE:  NEI ANGINIMAEAO

13. The Second Invasion of Banaba:  They came in peace

14. Old and New Boundaries

15. Claiming the Rights

16. Myths and Legends

17. Sports

18. Customs and Culture

PART FOUR:  TE I-MATANG

19. Early Contact and Misinterpretations

20. Beachcombers, Blackbirders and Whalers

21. Drought

22. The Banaban Exodus and the Arrival of Missionaries

23. Banaban Language and its Decline

24. Banaban Villages and Individual Land Holdings

25. Banaban Architecture

26. Turning Point:  World War II

27. Japanese Occupation

28. Exile from the Homeland

29. Archaeological Investigation of Te Aka Village, 1965

30. The Last Archaeological Dig, 1968

31. Peter Anderson’s Legacy

32. A Sad Story

33. To the Next Generations

Glossary

Bibliography

APPENDICES

1. Approval Letter from Aurakeia Clan Elders of Karieta, Tabwewa, 24 September 1997

2. Approval Certificate from Aurakeia Clan Elders of Karieta and Karia Clans, Tabwewa, 10 October 1997

3. Approval Letter from Karieta Clan Elders, 24 July 1998

4. Approval Letter from Te Maiu Clan Elders, 22 September 1997

5. Approval Letter from Te Aka Clan Elders, 28 August 1998

6. Letter from Governor-General’s Office to Secretary of State for the Dominion Affairs, 27 October 1927

7. Acknowledgement Letter for the Return of Te Aka Artefacts and Relics - Professor J.M.A. Chappell, Head of Division of Archaeology and Natural History, ANU, Canberra, 10 November 1997

8. Acknowledgement Letter for Return of Te Aka Artefacts from Peter Anderson, 16 June 1998

9. Words for the Karanga (War Spear) Dance

10. Words for the Karanga Are e Uarereke (War Club) Dance

11. Those Who Died on Banaba during World War II

12. The First Banaban Pioneers (Rabi Honour Roll) to Arrive on Rabi 15 December 1945

About the Authors:

Raobeia Ken Sigrah

Stacey King

PHOTOGRAPHS

1.  Raobeia Ken Sigrah, Stacey King, Harry and Honor Maude

2.  Dr Ronald Lampert and Raobeia Ken Sigrah

3.  Raobeia Ken Sigrah and Stacey King with Robert Langdon

4.  Prof Jack Golson releasing Te Aka relics to Raobeia Ken Sigrah

5.  Mining surrounding Te Aka site 1965

6.  Karanga dancing costume wearing wigs

7.  Tabo ni kauti (private terrace for magic ritual)

8.  Uma ni kauti (special ceremonial house and small day shed)

9.  Dr Ebon C. Gould removed Teimanaia's skull from Banaba, 1933

10. Banaban girl nearing puberty

11. Banaban girl preparing pandanus

12. Banaban girl scraping coconuts

13. The mined-out area looking towards Te Aka site 1965

14. Inside a bangabanga (water cave)

15. Te bana (boxing gloves) made with coconut fibre

16. Tame frigate bird on perch

17. Tame frigate birds on Banaban terrace

18. Karanga dancing costume and cap

19. Raobeia Ken Sigrah preforming Te Karanga Are E uarereke

20. Banaban dancing group on Rabi 1992

21. Mere Nabure

22. Banaban elder in traditional karanga dance costume

23. Tabwewa Village (Ocean Island)

24. Tabwewa Canoe Passsage

25. Tabwewa Village

26. Bareaka (canoe shed)

27. Te waa (single outrigger canoe with curved prows)

28. Te waa (three-seater outrigger canoe with curved prows)

29. Te kaneati (Banaban fishing hooks)

30. Te kaneati, UK Museum

31. Pathway through Tabiang

32. Uma Village 1920

33. Teitintakanoi Banaban maneaba (meeting house)

34. Aon te Tarine terrace

35. Buakonikai village early 1900s

36. Uma village

37. Men playing katua (weight game)

38. Women playing karemotu (stick tossing)

39. Ruoia (sitting dance) costumes and wigs

40. Rabi dancing group on Rabi, 1993

41. BPC facilities, Home Bay

42. Four of the original elders who signed a contract with Ellis in 1900

43. Early Banaban converts led by Solomon 1900

44. Banaban girls in traditional dress

45. Early mission building on Banaba early 1900s

46. Banabans in early 1900s marching to celebrate the arrival of Christianity

47. Banaban congregation at church service in the early 1900s

48. Banaban girls early 1900s wearing Mother Hubbard dresses

49. Fatima Catholic grotto

50.Banaban girls wearing Mother Hubbard dresses

51. Harry Maude’s notebook, 1932

52. A view Toakira District

53. Te Itintakanoi, Buakonikai village’s new maneaba

54. Buakonikai village 1932

55. Buakonikai village

56. Typical landscape and mwenga early 1900s

57. Early phosphate mining on Banaba

58. Construction of mwenga (traditional house)

59. Banaban mwenga (dwelling house)

60. Evacuation from Banaba aboard Le Triomphant 1942

61. BPC staff and Chinese labourers aboard Le Triomphant 1942

62. Arthur Mercer prior to WWII evacuation 1942

63. Banaba while under Japanese occupation

64. Nei Makin Corrie

65. Japanese Commander Suzuki Naoomi surrenders on Banaba 1945

66. Kabunare, the survivor of the mass executions

67. Nabetari

68. Kaintong, Arthur Mercer's best friend

69. Japanese surrender to Australian Army on Banaba 1945

70.The Japanese surrender signed aboard the HMAS Diamantina

71. Kabunare Koura 83 years old

72. First Banaban settlers on Rabi Island, 1945

73. Rabi settlers unloading rations in 1945

74. Aftermath of mining topside

75. Banaba twelve years before mining ceased in 1979

76. Kaiekieki Sigrah

77. Te Aka dig site and mining area in the background

78. Te Aka site and massive coral limestone pillar

79. Te Aka site - partly excavated mwenga (A)

80. Te Aka site - headless skeleton in mwenga (B) area

81. Tabwewa Village

82. Tabwewa dig site when first discovered

83. Tabwewa dig and skulls

84. Raobeia Sigrah meeting with Peter Anderson

85. Te Aka artefacts and drilling tool

86. Ati ni mate (coral pounder) found Te Aka dig

87. Various adzes found Te Aka dig

88. Fossilised shell found Te Aka dig

89. Back scratchers and te atau (half-worked stone weights) found Te Aka dig

90. Te atau (fouling weight for snaring frigate birds) found Te Aka dig

91. BPC facilities Home Bay peak of mining 1960s

92. View of Home Bay after mining 1997

93. Banabans seek justice in UK Court 1975

94. Banaban camp Tabonaba 1975

95. Rotan at Tabonaba camp 1975

96. Coming Home to Banaba 1997

97. Hospital theatre light Banaba after mining

98. Mining rubbish left behind after mining

99. Young Banabans dancing Rabi 2008

100. Future Banaban generations

101. Author - Raobeia Ken Sigrah

102. Author - Stacey M. King

FIGURES

1.1  Pacific Islands

1.2  Banaba

1.3  Banaba prior to 1500 - Te Aka

1.4  Proclamation of the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony, 1892

1.5  Text version proclamation of the Gilbert and Ellice Island Protectorate 1892

1.6 Copy of Annexation of Ocean Island (Paanopa), 28 November 1900

1.7  Te Aka genealogy

1.8  Te Aka bangota

2.1  Banaba from 1500 - first invasion

2.2  Auriaria genealogy – Tabwewa District

2.3  Banaban land holding - Buakonikai District, 1947 (Te Aka and te Maekananti sites)

2.4  Tabwewa Village - before destruction

3.1  Banaba from 1600 - settlement

3.2  Anginimaeao genealogy - Tabiang District

3.3  Tabiang Village - before destruction

3.4  Teborata genealogy - Toakira District

3.5  Maninimate genealogy - Uma District

3.6  Uma Village - before destruction

3.7  Katua game played by men

3.8  Karemotu game played by women

3.9  Social organisation of Banaban society

4.1  Ocean Island Rainfall Chart

4.2  Banaba, 1900 onwards - forming of Banaban villages

4.3  Toakira genealogy- believed to be the missing link

4.4  Buakonikai Village - before destruction

4.5  Typical Banaba district layout - Artist’s impression prior to 1900

4.6  Banaban mwenga

4.7  Kiribati mwenga

4.8  Te Aka village map

4.9  Te Aka maneaba

4.10 Te Aka Burial 3

4.11 Artefacts found at Te Aka site dig 1965

4.12 Location Aurakeia dig, Tabwewa site, 1968

4.13 Tabwewa archaeological dig Banaba, August 1968

THANKS

We thank Banaban elders and clan members who gave their knowledge and encouragement for writing the first history from a Banaban perspective and endorsed the writing of this book. All the Banaban clans involved in this history have sanctioned the work of this book. With the elder’s permission, their findings are now finally published. Sadly, most of these elders have passed away since the first edition's publication. Some of the topics covered here are culturally sensitive; therefore, the trust the elders and clan members have placed in us is much appreciated.

We hope this work meets their expectations. The completion of this book has been made possible with the advice and assistance of many people from different cultural backgrounds. We would also like to sincerely thank the following honoured I-Matang (European) friends who supported this project in many ways.

Harry and Honor Maude supported the preservation of Banaban culture and provided us with copies of their unpublished research papers and photographs. Dr Ronald Lampert came out of his retirement to drive 200 kilometres to meet with us in Canberra. He donated all his research material, including photographs, slides and maps of his Te Aka dig. Professor Jack Golson arranged for the return of Te Aka artefacts and ancestral remains to the people.

Ewan Maidment from the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau (PAMBU/PMB) was involved in locating Te Aka archaeological files and artefacts at ANU for us. He arranged interviews and maximised the effectiveness of our time in Canberra.

1. Raobeia Ken Sigrah and Stacey King with Harry and Honor Maude, Canberra (Kitaguchi Collection 1997).

Monica and Peter at the PAMBU office always greeted us with friendly, welcoming faces. Thanks to Professor R. Gerard Ward from the Department of Human Geography, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at ANU, in the awarding of a grant from the Norman McArthur Memorial Fund to assist in publishing the first edition. For drawing a Banaban map for this book, thanks to Neville Minch from the Cartography Unit, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU. Thanks to Linda Crowl, Publications Fellow, Institute of Pacific Studies, the University of South Pacific, who supported this project and assisted in the publication of our first edition in 2001.

2. Dr Ronald Lampert and Raobeia Ken Sigrah looking over maps at

ANU, Canberra (Kitaguchi Collection 1997).

Thanks to Claire and Bill Murray, who offered moral support and Claire assisted in editing our first drafts. Our good friend and renowned Pacific historian, Max Quanchi, provided valuable advice and assisted with our second edition in 2019. Kam bati n raba to you all!

3. Raobeia Ken Sigrah and Stacey King with Robert Langdon, author of

the ‘Scandalous Document’ at ANU, Canberra (Kitaguchi Collection 1997).

Finally, our sincerest gratitude to the following members of the Banaban Heritage Society; Peter and Sue Anderson shared their wealth of knowledge, artefacts and, most of all, their support and willingness to help the Banaban people. Lorraine Thwaites and Vickie Conrad recorded the last village site on Banaba in 1968, another lasting legacy for the people. Frank Miller donated his father’s te itai table, handmade on Banaba in 1927, back to the community on Rabi. Colin Hinchcliffe located research material in the United Kingdom.

4. Prof Jack Golson, releasing Te Aka relics to Raobeia Ken Sigrah (Kitaguchi Collection 1997).

Dr Alun Hughes in Wales and Avi Gold in Israel commented on our work, and they continue to research the lost Banaban language. Manabu Kitaguchi in Japan helped to get Ken to Australia and travelled from Tokyo to join us on our epic research trip to Canberra. We appreciate the support and friendship of all these people, especially while Ken was living in a foreign land.

We did not realise when we commenced work on this book that our research would lead to the discovery of precious and priceless artefacts and ancestral remains from the sacred village of Te Aka.

By the conclusion of this project, two separate collections, one held at ANU and the other by ex BPC engineer Peter Anderson, were donated back to the Banaban people.

It has been an honour for us to return these items, knowing that they will provide all Banabans with a tangible link to their heritage. Now, more than a century after phosphate mining began stripping the Banaban homeland, we finally see the first repatriation of such treasured items. We are proud to be associated with this truly historical moment in Banaban history.

back to top

Figure 1.1. Pacific Islands Map.

Figure 1.2. Banaban map drawn by Neville Minch, Cartography Unit, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU, Canberra.

INTRODUCTION

Heritage and Ethnic Identity of the Banabans

Raobeia Ken Sigrah and Stacey M. King

Once covered with coconut palms and surrounding waters teeming with fish, Banaba consists of 595 hectares in the Central Pacific, almost on the equator; latitude 0.50 south, longitude 169.530 east. Originally settled by the Te Aka people, with two successive waves of migration created the Banaba we know today. This small isolated island is the tip of a submarine mountain that stands alone, 180 kilometres from its nearest neighbour Nauru. The rest of the world seems to have forgotten it, but the Banaban people have not. The Banabans struggle to survive under two separate Pacific Island nations, and it is crucial that their heritage and ethnic identity are preserved for future generations.

On 28 August 1900, Albert Ellis from the Sydney Office of the British - based Pacific Islands Phosphate Company arrived on Banaba, or Ocean Island as it was known in colonial days. Ellis discovered that the island was one of the richest deposits of phosphate rock ever found at that time. He immediately negotiated a deal with the innocent Banaban people to mine their island for the next 999 years for £50 per annum. Mining began in 1900. Japanese forces invaded Banaba in August 1942, and over the next three years, the Banabans suffered greatly from starvation and other atrocities. Most of the community was forcibly removed to labour camps on other Pacific islands: Kosrae, Nauru and Tarawa. A contingent of one hundred and sixty Banaban and Gilbertese workers (in Colonial times, these people were known as Gilbertese, but when the country of Kiribati gained independence in 1979, its people became I-Kiribati) who were regarded as the fittest and best fishermen were left behind to supply food for the Japanese troops. They were murdered two days after the war was over. For eighty years, Banaba had been rapaciously mined. Now, only 20 hectares remain unmined. Forests of tall coral pinnacles, with some rising to a height of 18 meters, make the island’s interior impassable. Masses of rusting mining machinery lie rotting under the hot equatorial sun. A small community lives on the island. Their presence serves as protection against anyone ever taking Banaba away from us again. The Banaban people now find themselves scattered between their greatly diminished homeland and the faraway Rabi. The Republic of Kiribati governs Banaba. Rabi is governed by the Republic of Fiji.

Raobeia Ken Sigrah is a descendant and clan spokesman for Te Aka and other Banaban clans, a role acknowledged by his elders. The secrecy surrounding Te Aka up to now has prevented the recording of their history. Ken has experienced the hopelessness and despair, even spending time in 1979 with fellow Banabans in a jail cell on Banaba itself when they stood against the further destruction of their homeland by the ever-powerful British Phosphate Commission. The Banabans on Rabi and Banaba now find little of their homeland left unmined. They have lost most of their language. Witnessed the plunder and removal of sacred artefacts and relics from village sites. But after a century of abuse and neglect, the tangible links to the past remain.  Daily life on Rabi reflects cultural ties to the homeland. From birth until death, customs, events and rituals are founded on identity as Banabans within family clans. Bonds with beloved Banaba, land, water caves and terraces are still keenly felt and cherished and will be passed on to Banaban children wherever they might be until the end of time. This is Banaban heritage! They may be financially poor, but Banabans are spiritually rich.

Stacey’s personal connection to Banaba stretches over four generations, starting with her great-great-grandfather Henry Williams, who arrived in 1901. He was followed by her great grandfather John Williams in 1905, together with her great-grandmother Ella and her grandmother Hazel who was just five years old at the time. Hazel would meet and marry Thomas O’Sullivan, Stacey’s grandfather, on the island in 1922. Stacey’s history and mining history on Banaba are entwined. However, it was not until the discovery in 1989 of her family’s old photographs from this early part of Banaban history that the stories told as a young child came to life.

Among Pacific historians, only Maude and Maude (1932, 1994), Lampert (1968) and Peter Anderson (1963) have touched on the subject of Te Aka people. In 1932, the Maude’s confused their limited information on the indigenous inhabitants of Banaba with the later history of the Mangati clan, who were descended from the Auriaria clan (as explained further in Chapter 9). The Maude’s’ mistake is understandable, considering the secrecy and silence surrounding Te Aka clan. When Ken and Stacey met Harry Maude in Canberra in November 1997, and he heard that Ken was from Te Aka clan, his first words were ‘te moa ni kainga!’ (the first hamlet!). He then went on to say that during his time as Lands Commissioner on the island in 1932. While he was researching traditional Banaban history, it was virtually impossible to get information about the Te Aka because of the code of secrecy. The stories of Te Aka people are timeless and have been passed from generation to generation despite the invasions of foreigners and the discovery of phosphate. Because of the secrecy surrounding this clan, this book challenges many previous writings recorded on Banaban history, especially those of Arthur Grimble, former Resident Commissioner for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now the independent nations of Kiribati and Tuvalu), and other historians of Kiribati. Ken, a descendant of Te Aka clan, obtained approval from the clan elders on Rabi for this project.  This book would not have been possible without their consent as it covers controversial and taboo subjects relating to genealogy, ceremonial rites and village sites.

Today Te Aka site, which covers about one-fifth of a hectare, is like an island in the middle of the mined-out interior amidst a forest of limestone pinnacles. On a trip to Banaba, Stacey was fortunate enough to accompany Ken on an excursion to Te Aka as the first I-Matang to visit this sacred site since mining ceased on Banaba in 1979. The incredible difficulties in negotiating and climbing through this dangerous region of the island only seemed to add to the experience of arriving at Te Aka itself. It is a strangely beautiful, eerie place, so silent, left unmined amidst so much destruction.

The authors hope this work clarifies Banaban identity and corrects accounts that align Banabans solely to Kiribati origins. The photographic collections support and document a uniquely Banaba way of life that existed until the Banabans were forcibly removed from their homeland in 1943 by the Japanese.

5. Mining around Te Aka site in 1965 (Lampert Collection).

The archival collections contain a wealth of never published material and provide a broader view and aspect of Banaban history. The authors have bequeathed their original collections to the community on Rabi as their legacy in the belief it will benefit all Banabans in the struggle to preserve Banaban identity in the uncertain and challenging years ahead.

back to top

PART ONE

TE AKA

Figure 1.3. Banaba map prior to 1500 - Te Aka (by Raobeia Ken Sigrah).

1:  INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BANABA

With discrete knowledge and self-contentment, Te Aka clan, who were known as sorcerers, regarded Banaba as the centre of the world. They had feelings of freedom and superiority at the very core of their awareness and nucleus of being Te Aka. These feelings still exist in the minds of Banabans today. The word Te Aka means ‘the first hamlet’, a small group of dwellings inhabited by members of the same family. Commonly referred to in the Banaban language as ‘te moa ni kainga,’ this was the place where the senior elder of Te Aka clan resided (see Glossary). Te Aka people view the senior elder of the clan as the person who singularly has the right to guide his people in settling land disputes, as well as in organising burials, marriages, sports and community functions. Leadership within Banaban society was based on a patriarchal system rather than an inherited chieftainship, as often reported by previous historians. (Webster, 1851; Grimble, 1935; Ellis, 1936, as cited in, Maude & Maude, 1932, 1994).

Te Aka hamlet was the focus of cultural rites and ceremonies. Because Te Aka practised sorcery, mentioning even the name of this sacred place is still considered taboo. The belief is that the power of Te Aka magic lies in secrecy; therefore, to utter the name will bring a curse upon that person.

Te Aka were said to be land dwellers who knew nothing of ocean seafaring and whose stage of social evolution was different from that of people who arrived during later invasions. Te Aka clan legends support this view (see Chapter 3). The Te Aka had a great affinity with the land and the fringing reefs, separate from other Pacific Islanders who are more renowned for their skills in trans-Pacific navigation. The nearest island is Nauru, 180 kilometres to the west. Early European accounts said Banaba lies in an area of the Pacific known as ‘no man’s land.’ Whichever way Te Aka came to Banaba, it remained remote, close to the equator and with strong equatorial currents. Maude and Maude (1975) stated it was indeed a place … from which there was no return (p. 5). In 1994, the Maude’s concluded,

on linguistic evidence we are told that the first settler on both the Gilberts and Banaba came from Vanuatu (the Banks Group or Efate?). A computer simulation involving ten canoes leaving the Reef Islands of the Banks Group in January resulted in two reaching the Gilberts and one Banaba, the rest going on to the Marshalls ... we can be fairly sure that what Irwin calls the orthodox view of the settlement of eastern Micronesian Islands is at least probable.

Maude’s evidence for this statement is found in Bellwood, 1979; Grace, 1964; Irwin, 1992; Grimble MS n.d. as cited, in Maude & Maude, 1994, p. 105.

How do we know Te Aka were the Indigenous People?

The Te Aka clan believe they were the original inhabitants of Banaba. While this issue is difficult to prove by orthodox means, key features of Banaba life and historical facts support this belief:

6. Te Karanga, dancing costumes, including wigs (T.J. McMahon 1919).

The Te Aka people are known to be physically different from all other Banabans. Other evidence is the earlier use of special Te Aka wigs made of thick, black, crinkly hair in the te karanga (war spear dance) performance. During later years, as the source for this unique type of hair vanished, coconut sennit fibre was used to duplicate this aspect of Te Aka culture (see Photo 6). They are described as being small bodied, squat, crinkly-haired, large-eared and black-skinned and were skilful in sorcery (Maude & Maude, 1932, p. 263).

Te Aka ancestors had long jaws, with many of their skulls well preserved in sacred family bangota (ancestral shrines) until the Banabans were forcibly removed from the island during the Japanese occupation in World War II.  There are two sources for this information:

They are apparently burial mounds, and at one situated under a mango tree near the site of the former maneaba in the hamlet called Te Aka one could see the skulls of both the long-jawed and the short-jawed people through gaps between the stones: at least as late as 1903. Evidently, the Melanesians had inter-married with later arrivals but were still distinguishable by the shape of their jaws (Maude & Maude, 1994, p. 106).

"... the skulls referred to