Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia

by Flores (Editor), Craig Santos Pérez (Contributor), Baltazar Aguon (Contributor)

For the first time, poetry, short stories, critical and creative essays, chants, and excerpts of plays by Indigenous Micronesian authors have been brought together to form a resounding--and distinctly Micronesian--voice. With over two thousand islands spread across almost three million square miles of the Pacific Ocean, Micronesia and its peoples have too often been rendered invisible and insignificant both in and out of academia. This long-awaited anthology of contemporary indigenous literature will reshape Micronesia's historical and literary landscape.



Presenting over seventy authors and one hundred pieces, Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia features nine of the thirteen basic language groups, including Palauan, Chamorro, Chuukese, I-Kiribati, Kosraean, Marshallese, Nauruan, Pohnpeian, and Yapese. The volume editors, from Micronesia themselves, have selected representative works from throughout the region--from Palau in the west, to Kiribati in the east, to the global diaspora. They have reached back for historically groundbreaking work and scouted the present for some of the most cited and provocative of published pieces and for the most promising new authors.

Richly diverse, the stories of Micronesia's resilient peoples are as vast as the sea and as deep as the Mariana Trench. Challenging centuries-old reductive representations, writers passionately explore seven complex themes: "Origins" explores creation, foundational, and ancestral stories; "Resistance" responds to colonialism and militarism; "Remembering" captures diverse memories and experiences; "Identities" articulates the nuances of culture; "Voyages" maps migration and diaspora; "Family" delves into interpersonal and community relationships; and "New Micronesia" gathers experimental, liminal, and cutting-edge voices.

This anthology reflects a worldview unique to the islands of Micronesia, yet it also connects to broader issues facing Pacific Islanders and indigenous peoples throughout the world. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Pacific, indigenous, diasporic, postcolonial, and environmental studies and literatures.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies, Indigenous, Short Stories, Nonfiction, History, The World

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Craig Santos Perez's "Afterword":
"The editors, after years of voyaging, have guided us safely to our destination: here, upon the shore of your attention. This anthology is significant because it is the first compilation of twentieth- and twenty-first-century Micronesian writers. It is significant because it changes the perception that our literature is lacking. It is significant because it introduces our literature to an international audience. The anthology makes visible what was once invisible.”

Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection. Read this collection.

Do it!!

Every morning, for the past six months, I've read an excerpt from Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia. I discovered the book last year when I was writing a paper on Chamorro mythology. I've always wanted to read more Pacific Islander literature, so finding it was an ecstatic moment. When I told my mom about the book, her first comment was this: "That's real?" It is in fact, very real. Real enough to be a three-hundred-page anthology.

It warms my heart that this collection exists. Consisting of poetry, prose, and drama, the book explores the vastly diverse regions of Micronesia. From war anecdotes to familial journeys, every piece tells an important story. For the first time ever, I've been able to read works written by Guamanian authors, works written in Guam, and works about Guam. My love of literature burns all the brighter, welcoming this part of my heritage. In 2024, I'll set foot on the island for the first time when my parents renew their vows!!! Will I be running straight to the University of Guam, fangirling for Evelyn Flores? Who knows!

I never annotate books, but I post-it noted A LOT of pages in this book. So many of the stories, songs, and lessons touched me. I'm going to share this collection with any and all I can. I'm an English major, so you bet I'll be promoting this book until the day I die. Micronesian literature is real, and it's a tragedy people don't recognize it. It's as brilliant, inventive, and plentiful as any other subset. So please, buy yourself a copy. This was a deeply personal read for me, but I guarantee anyone can appreciate its beauty.

[Janae (The Modish Geek) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, essays, excerpts, and poems that insists on being remembered. The editor is right when she says this anthology "makes visible what was once invisible". This is the first compilation of its kind and hopefully won't be the last. I didn't love every entry here. Some read like a textbook, but I do think this book could be used as a reference for Micronesian literature, so... I really enjoyed the poems and developed a preference for the "slice of life" entries that discussed the before and after of the colonialism, capitalism, and climate disruption and how it affects Pacific Islanders around the world. I went in having never read Micronesian literature, but after reading these works I look forward to reading more.

My stand outs: What Am I, Egade, We Are Human at the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time, Hineksa Anonymous, and I Am From.

[Timár_Krisztina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Réges-régen ideje volt már ennek az antológiának. Ahogy az előszó írja: be kellett bizonyítani a nagyvilág számára is, a saját maguk számára is, hogy a mikronéziai kultúráknak hangjuk is van. Nemcsak európai antropológusok által összegyűjthető népköltéseik (nem mintha azok nem lennének fontosak), hanem a hagyományaikat a modernnel és posztmodernnel ötvöző verseik, novelláik, esszéik, röpirataik, drámáik és regényeik is. (Utóbbiak természetesen nem kerültek bele teljes egészükben a kötetbe.) Isten áldja Evelyn Florest és Emelihter Kihlenget, hogy ekkora munkát végeztek. Hogy régit és újat egyaránt felkutattak, gondoztak, elrendeztek. 

Itt olvasható tovább:
https://gyujtogeto-alkoto.blog.hu/202...

[Shai Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is both shocking and unsurprising that this first anthology of Micronesian literature was only published in 2019. Shocking because Micronesian cultures contain rich narratives that deserve to be told by its native people. But unsurprising because this region is rendered invisible by the rest of the world, unless an outsider decides to write about us. In a much-needed change to this dynamic, this entire anthology contained work by indigenous people of Micronesia. Admittedly, some parts of Micronesia are represented more than others, which the editors acknowledge up-front. Even so, this was a beautiful and crucial beginning.

I read achingly beautiful poetry that made my heart long for the Pacific. Stories of family, matrilineal traditions, and the strength of Micronesian women made my heart swell with love and gratitude for the women of my own family. Western colonialism in the Pacific was examined and critiqued throughout the book. There were also narratives about the Japanese occupation of Guam during WWII, which is hardly discussed in wider narratives. Racism between Pacific cultures were also addressed, including experiences of being Micronesian in Hawai'i or the dynamics of moving to Guam from other parts of Micronesia. I especially appreciated the multi-faceted explorations of contemporary indigenous identity - a path that can be confusing and painful in the wake of colonialism.

If you want to read from Micronesia, then definitely pick up this book. Deep gratitude to those who made this book possible.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had an entire review written out and then the Goodreads app did that thing where it spontaneously combusts for no reason, so here I am writing it again.
Definitely not the same thing because I can’t do that.

I can’t believe I just read an entire anthology.
But here I am writing about my experience so I won’t lie to you and say that I skipped anything, because I didn’t. I must be a masochist. You know most people read for enjoyment. But here I am, again, reading something that is probably mostly read in universities— by choice.
And maybe more people should choose to read books like this. Although it would probably help if it was shorter. And had more pictures.

But in all seriousness, this was a very in depth collection of poetry, short stories, essays, and what I can only presume were research papers. They covered topics like colonization, history of war, the atom bomb, globalization, strip mining, climate change, poverty, obesity, preservation of culture and language, and more. Some of the pieces were fascinating, I learned so much about the region, because well, I honestly didn’t really know anything before reading this. Some were a little more slow and hard to get through, mostly because I don’t particularly enjoy reading essays.
But overall, worth the read.

Also my white guilt was strong while reading this one. And in my opinion, any book that makes me feel discomfort like that, is worth all my time to read.

Enjoyment: 3 stars
Did I learn something: 5 stars
So 4 stars overall.

Part of my reading the world challenge for: Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, and Marshall Islands.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Split into seven thematic sections, INDIGENOUS LITERATURES FROM MICRONESIA is the first significant anthology published that presents a range of Micronesian literature, including poetry, fiction, songs, and essays. The pieces included within this anthology should be celebrated both as literary achievements and as a crucial remembering of history told by Micronesian voices.

As someone who never learned about the history of these islands, the stark impact of colonization and militarization upon the indigenous people and their land was startling to learn about. Nuclear waste and ongoing damage wrecks havoc on land and bodies; in "History Project," Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner reflects on "the miscarriages unspoken / the broken translations.../ i thought it was my fault. / i thought / there must be something wrong / inside me." Self-determination is withheld from the people of Guåhan; Frederick B. Quinene asks Uncle Sam, "You say I am your citizen, / Then why is it I don't feel free?" This anthology not only brings forth crucial issues that Micronesians face, but also exemplifies and preserves memory of indigenous traditions and resilience and resistance to these challenges. I particularly loved the pieces that celebrated connection and family, whether it be through food, songs, or creation stories.

Full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGRDRKrcvp/

[Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my read the world selection for Micronesia.

This is a collection of poetry, short stories, essays and excerpts of longer stories and plays. There are even a few pieces of writing that seem to fit somewhere between a few of these mediums. All are written by Indigenous Micronesian authors and on topics that are distinctly Micronesian and are grouped together by seven themes, including Origins, Resistance, Remembering, Identities, Voyages, Family and New Micronesia.

As with any anthology, some inclusions are interesting and others are less interesting. I feel that it’s an excellent way of learning about the Micronesian islands and the issues facing Pacific Islanders and Indigenous peoples worldwide.

I think this would be of particular interest to those interested in environmental issues as well as those wanting to learn more about the Islanders response to colonialism and militarism. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

[Suzesmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

69📘MICRONESIA
Published by University of Hawai’i Press in 2019, this is just collection I was searching for to cover off the many small countries in Micronesia. Editors Evelyn Flores and Emelihter Kihleng are well-respected writers and academics and they’ve assembled an impressive 69 authors from 9 of the 13 language groups:
Palau 🇵🇼 Chamorro (Guam 🇬🇺) Chuukese (Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲) I-Kiribati 🇰🇮Kosraen (FSM 🇫🇲)Marshallese 🇲🇭Nauruan 🇳🇷Pohnpeian (FSM 🇫🇲) and Yapese (FSM🇫🇲)An amazing achievement and one that blows the myth that there is no literature from these tiny countries. A must read if you are on this reading adventure in the Pacific. My only criticism is that it’s a little Guam-heavy🏝#🌏📚#readingworldtour2021

[Lanie Tankard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's my review in The Woven Tale Press:

Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia, edited by Evelyn Flores and Emelihter Kihleng (September Woven Tale Press)
https://www.thewoventalepress.net/201...

[Tamara]

Favorite lines:

"Rubak married the daughter of the island chief.
But that was a long, long time past gone
when he was young, agile, happy and strong.
He stood straight like a proud tall palm tree
with its leaves and fruits conversing with the stars.

Alas for the last several years, Rubak's life had ebbed
to its lowest point like the low tide in the lagoon.
His dearly beloved spouse had passed away
like water seeping through the sand
and his children had gone to schools far away
and married through their heads and lived that way."

- parts of: Rubak by Valentine N. Sengebau (Belau)

"On the Seashore
in moonlight encounters
we share sunlight in our kisses
starlight in our breath

bodies are palimpsests
onto which beauty is registered
again and again
and again.

We are tåsi
the ocean
an infinite source of ink
with which we pen poems of love.

We are langit
the heavens
via lactea
the milky way galaxy

flows between us
our passion creates
constellations of pleasure
in secret skies."

- Fino' Gualåffon/Moonlight Talk by Mary Therese Perez Hattori (Guåhan)

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no connection to the Micronesian islands, except for a father in the US military and a year living on Okinawa. Still, I could relate to the indigenous islanders through their combined prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction in this anthology! It is highly recommended to all interested in indigenous peoples and cultures, world cultures, colonization, anthropology, family lives, spirituality, or the search for one's true home.

[Michele Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Micronesia. Anthology of indigenous literature. I struggled through most of the poetry which includes a great deal of local language translated in the footnotes. The short stories were a little better, mostly dealing with the lack of native identity after colonization. The most interesting stories dealt with cooking and recipes passed from generation to generation.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read some of the stories in this but was rather disappointed. The stories and poems are nearly all the same - they’re about colonization and exploitation. I understand that those acts had lasting and devastating effects but I thought the editor could have included a wider variety of stories.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it

[Kara Hisatake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This phenomenal collection is groundbreaking in that it is the first collection of its kind--Micronesian literature from the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries--contemporary plays, poems, excerpts from novels, and nonfiction pieces such as speeches--all from a variety of voices. It is rare to see the voices of those from Kiribati, Federated States, and Belau, in particular, and so it is refreshing to see them all together, to show the common history they are as a group of islands Europeans termed "Micronesia," but also how their own specific cultures shine through.

The introduction is useful in defining what the literatures of Micronesia means--"Micronesia includes four main island groups (the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands), plus the islands of Nauru and Wake. The indigenous islanders of the region included in this anthology are Chamoru (Chamorro), Belauan (Palauan), Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Chuukese, Yapense, Marshallese, Nauruan, and I-Kiribati" (1). It is important to highlight the many waves of colonization through first the Spanish, then for Guam, the United States but for many of the rest, Germany and then Japan, and then the supremacy of the United States again. It tells of the independence of most of the nations, although many remain in dependent relationships. Due to its importance as a military base, "Guåhan remains the only island in Micronesia that has not been given the opportunity to exercise its right to self-determination" (2).

The rest of the book is organized into 7 sections:

Origins
Resistance
Remembering
Identities
Voyages
Family
A New Micronesia

I highlight a couple of excerpts that speak to the strength of the collection as a whole:

America
A giantman
Is fishing
In a U.S.-made
Fish pond
Called Micronesia. [ . . .]

Micronesia
Is hooked
By a tiny bait
On a silver hook. [. . .]

You hooked me
By the mouth and
No matter how hard
I struggle
I cannot be free,
For the hook rips me
As I struggle. (excerpt from "Freedom" by Hermana Ramarui, Belau)

My backyard
is not like your backyard
My backyard is trees, crippled
It is broken bones unearthed from graves
It is nuclear-radiation rich
It is tides with white fangs
It is houses broken down, no more occupants within
It is the land getting smaller
and smaller (excerpt from "More than Just a Blue Passport" by Selina Neirok Leem, Marshall Islands)

My island is one big American footnote. [. . .] We are the territorial thoughts that are too precious to let go, but not precious enough to bring into the fold. (excerpt from "My Island Is One Big American Footnote" by Michael Lujan Bevacqua, Guåhan)


There is quite a lot of Guåhan (Guam)-focused literature; this is no surprise, considering that one of the editors teaches at the University of Guam, but there is more work to be done to raise other voices as well. I'm sure there are other voices not in English, and as folks in the collection point out, many voices that are of the oral tradition and not printed, that are missing here.

If you were raised in a Western education system, you have to be open to the fact that you won't understand everything in here. Sometimes there are no translations for phrases, and you just have to be open to understanding the many different island cultures across the Pacific.

Teacher's note: appropriate for a high school or college class, especially for something regarding Pacific literature, island literature, world literature, or literature of resistance, or literature coming out of colonization. There are many poems, and many discuss colonization and the effect of World War II. Quite a few of the poems also deal with climate change, as many islands in the region are low-lying atolls, which also coincide with militarism in the region like atomic bomb testing, and so Micronesians may become climate refugees; there are already many living outside of the islands than at home.
The book also includes how the Japanese and American bases have led to the sexualization and subjugation of Native women as well as the need for "comfort women" some of whom were Japanese, Korean, but also some from Micronesia. Several female authors speak out against sexism within their own culture.
The book also includes a discussion of language--how in many places but especially Guam, English was forced as the only language and Chamorro was banned.

[Hannah]

Global Read 119: Micronesia, Nauru, Palau

This really cool book contains works from a lot of the South Pacific, not just the country of Micronesia. It is an interesting blend of poetry, essays, academic paper excerpts, speeches, short stories and some pieces that defy easy categorization. While I would have loved to read something longer or more in depth, this was a great introduction.