Preparation
Prior
to meeting with community leaders it was necessary for me to gain
an understanding of the culture, the community and the protocol
of interactions. This approach allowed an appropriate introduction
and set the groundwork for further relations. The importance of
the proposed project, in this case the canoe, within the culture
was also emphasized. Reviewing the historical precedence of past
projects helped me to clarify the initial meeting with the community
leaders and conceptualize the project through to completion.
The Kapingamarangi are extremely community oriented. The order
of command begins with the chief and moves from there. Still,
whenever a question was asked of Andrew Lucky concerning the community
he would usually consult with other members of the community before
replying. Historically, the importance of the canoe to the Kapingamarangi
was great. Traditionally, a house was built without fanfare, whereas
the construction of a canoe was a community event blessed by religious
and political leaders alike.
Locating A Master Carver
Ideally, the process of choosing a master carver should be done
by the chief of the community. His choice is usually arrived at
through community discussion and is, by design, supported by the
group. Should any problems arise during the project, the chief
and the community are there to help solve them. For the Kapingamarangi,
a canoe is not built by one man, but by the community. Allowing
the community to lead with choosing the builders is important.
A construction crew chosen in this manner allows the individual
carvers of the crew a respected position in the community.