I just got this story from a good friend of my and really enjoy it. You may think that Pohnpei is a very “Westernized” country but once you leave your hotel rooms or downtown Kolonia and head out just a little into the country side, cuture and traditions rule the people of Pohnpei lifestyles in every imaginable way.
The Pohnpei culture is alive and strong, even if not seen by most people who visit or outsidres who live here.
Kaselehlie maing friends and partners:
This morning i am happy to share with you another progressive example of a community partner we work with. Here attached is a short story by Woaunkoapin Soamwoai practicing traditional means and local ways in modern day that best work for their community. It works then, it is working now and will remain relevant far into the future. Traditional knowledge and practices our hope for successful community based conservation. The Woaunkoapin Soamwoai example we have an opportunity here to learn from them and promote their example to get other traditional leaders to do the same.
Happy reading.
Enipein Community Village Chiefs and its Traditional Court
On the afternoon of June 24, 2010 four village Chiefs of Enipein community convened its traditional court for the second time to hear an infraction caused by a member of the Woaunkoapin Soamwoai community. Over 100 members of the Woaunkoapin Soamwoai community showed up at the Enipein traditional, community center to witness first hand their chiefs presiding as judges. The participants included high traditional leaders such as Dauk Kitti the third ranking traditional leader in line to the Paramount Chief of Kitti, family members of the accused, many young people and elders of the community. The case presented by an investigative committee formed by the Chiefs confirmed a young man to have stolen sakau plants on several occasions from various members of the Woaunkoapin Soamwoai community. Four counts of theft and malicious disregard to community livelihood and property were presented to the presiding chiefs and justices. The young man facing these charges and his parents were not available to stand trial and face the community. The presiding Chiefs however decided to proceed with the trial and heard the case. The Chiefs allowed advice and comments from community members to aid their ruling and decision. In the end Chief Soulikin Soamwoai puts it clearly “we gather here today as a family and to right this wrong as a family, there are over 1,300 members of our community; as community Chiefs it is our traditional duty to uphold peace and unity putting the community first”. The Chiefs served their judgment utilizing positive approach and sentenced the young man to work with the families he caused damage to and to replace stolen sakau plants by planting 1,500 sakau seedlings as his community service for his wrong doing. Selected members of the community will also work with the young man and plant his own sakau plot to ensure he does not ever commit infractions similar to this in the future. He is also banned from selling sakau to all known markets in Woaunkoapin Soamwoai until further notice. Finally because he failed to show for his hearing he is sentenced to serve a seven days jail time and Kitti municipal police were summoned to carry out this part of the sentence.