Pacific Navigation
Pacific was explored by some great navigators who sailed from different parts of the world like Captain James Cook who used navigation tools like sextant and radars to navigate the Pacific. On the other hand, Polynesia was explored around 1000 years ago by navigators who used the waves, stars, and the flights of birds to set their voyage and travel through the Pacific Ocean. “In hand-built, double-hulled canoes sixty feet long, the ancestors of today 's Polynesians sailed across a vast ocean area, larger than Europe and North America combined”. There was a documentary made by anthropologist/filmmaker Sanford Low titled “The Navigators: Pathfinders of the Pacific” that looks at traditional form of navigating.
The documentary is based on small carol atoll of Satawal which is located on the Micronesia 's remote Caroline Islands. “The island is best known for its preservation of traditional navigational techniques without the use of instruments, based on indigenous astronomical and maritime concepts. Despite its small population, Satawal has continued to produce ocean-going canoes and expert navigators versed in these traditions. The best-known of the Satawal master navigators (paliuw), Mau Piailug, served as mentor and teacher to the founding members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society”. Mau was one of the last men to be initiated in the “Weriyeng school of navigation during the revered pwo ceremony presided over by Angora. It was to be the last pwo held on Satawal for the next fifty years”. In the pwo ceremony only those navigators are initiated who have the knowledge of sailing and magic.
The documentary is of great importance for the Pacific people as it shows the Art of traditional navigating that is being lost as more people are now focused on getting education and getting used to the technologies rather than the Traditional Art of ‘Ours’ passed down through the Pacific ancestors. The traditional navigators use information like the “motion of specific stars,
The documentary is based on small carol atoll of Satawal which is located on the Micronesia 's remote Caroline Islands. “The island is best known for its preservation of traditional navigational techniques without the use of instruments, based on indigenous astronomical and maritime concepts. Despite its small population, Satawal has continued to produce ocean-going canoes and expert navigators versed in these traditions. The best-known of the Satawal master navigators (paliuw), Mau Piailug, served as mentor and teacher to the founding members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society”. Mau was one of the last men to be initiated in the “Weriyeng school of navigation during the revered pwo ceremony presided over by Angora. It was to be the last pwo held on Satawal for the next fifty years”. In the pwo ceremony only those navigators are initiated who have the knowledge of sailing and magic.
The documentary is of great importance for the Pacific people as it shows the Art of traditional navigating that is being lost as more people are now focused on getting education and getting used to the technologies rather than the Traditional Art of ‘Ours’ passed down through the Pacific ancestors. The traditional navigators use information like the “motion of specific stars,
Bibliography: ASK.COM (2013). Polynesian Navigation. [online]. Last accessed 25 August 2013 at: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Polynesian_navigation?qsrc=3044 BELLWOOD, Peter (1987) DER Documentary. (2006). [online]. Last accessed 24 August 2013 at: http://www.der.org/films/navigators.html DRUETT, Joan (1987) Howe, K. R (2006), Vaka Moana: Voyages of the Ancestors - the discovery and settlement of the Pacific, Albany, Auckland: David Bateman, pp. 92–98 Kahua51.org Kirch, P.V. (1984). The Polynesian Outiers. 95 (4) Journal of Pacific History. p. 224-238. The Navigators: Pathfinders of the Pacific. (1983). [CD]. Directed by Low Sanford. Satawal, Samlow Productions. Samlow.com. (2002). [online]. Last accessed 27 August 2013 at: http://www.samlow.com/screeningroom/navigators-clippings.html SHARP, Andrew (1963) THOMAS, Stephen (1987). The Last Navigator. illustrated ed., New York, Henry Holt and Company. True Films Wikipedia. (2007). [online]. Last accessed 27 August 2013 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satawal WIKIPIEDIA (2010)