Who Are the Palauan?
The Palauan (Belau) are the indigenous Micronesian people of the Republic of Palau, an archipelago of over 500 islands in the western Pacific. Numbering approximately 18,000-20,000 (with many more living abroad, particularly in Guam and the US), they speak Palauan, an Austronesian language with complex verbal morphology and a unique phonological system. Palau is distinguished by one of Micronesia's most elaborate traditional cultures, featuring strong matrilineal clans, intricate systems of customary money, monumental architecture, and complex social hierarchies. The bai (meeting houses) with their carved storyboards represent one of Oceania's greatest artistic traditions.
Matrilineal Society
Palauan society is organized through matrilineal clans (kebliil), with land and titles passing through women. Each village traditionally had ranked clans, with chiefly titles held by men but inherited through their mothers' line. Women's councils held significant political power, counterbalancing male chiefs. The elaborate system of Palauan money (udoud) includes both ceramic and glass beads, used in traditional exchanges including bride price, funerals, and first-birth ceremonies. Different types of money carry different values and appropriate uses. The bai—large meeting houses decorated with carved and painted storyboards depicting myths, history, and moral lessons—served as political meeting places and repositories of cultural knowledge.
Colonial History
Palau's strategic location brought successive colonial rulers: Spain (1885-1899), Germany (1899-1914), Japan (1914-1944), and the United States (1944-1994). Japanese colonization was particularly intensive, with large numbers of Japanese settlers, commercial development, and cultural pressure. World War II brought devastating battles—Peleliu saw some of the Pacific's bloodiest fighting. American administration under the UN Trust Territory system brought different influences. Palau achieved independence in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Throughout colonial periods, Palauans maintained cultural institutions and identity, though traditional practices were modified by Christianity, cash economy, and external governance.
Contemporary Palauan
Modern Palau balances traditional culture with contemporary challenges. The Palauan language remains strong, spoken by most Palauans and taught in schools alongside English. Traditional customs including the clan system, customary exchanges, and village councils continue operating alongside constitutional government. Tourism, particularly diving (Palau has some of the world's richest marine biodiversity), drives the economy. Palau has become a leader in marine conservation, establishing large marine protected areas. However, challenges include emigration (many Palauans live abroad), dependence on US financial support, and climate change threats to low-lying areas. Palau demonstrates how a small Pacific nation can maintain cultural distinctiveness while engaging with global systems.
References
- Barnett, H. G. (1949). Palauan Society: A Study of Contemporary Native Life in the Palau Islands
- Nero, K. L. (1987). A Cherechar a Lokelii: Beads of History of Koror, Palau
- Rechebei, E. D. & McPhetres, S. F. (1997). History of Palau: Heritage of an Emerging Nation