Land as Society in an Atoll Environment

Abstract

This paper reports the complementarity between two kin categories, i.e. laiul mwal (children of men) and laiul shoabut (children of women), found in the formation of land-holding groups in Falalap, Woleai Atoll, Central Caroline Islands. The fundamental units in Falalap social structure are matrilineal clans (gailang) and matrilineages or uxorilocal extended families. However, according to Falalap people, one does not belong exclusively to mother’s group, but to both mother’s and father’s groups. Two categories are recognized among the members of a matrilineal clan. The children of male members are called laiul mwal (children of men) and the children of female members are called laiul shoabut (children of women). These two categories show oppositions in the complementary contexts of respect-avoidance behaviors and the formation of land-holding groups. Strict respect-avoidance behaviors are stipulated between brothers and sisters. In this context, the children of men are superior to the children of women. On the other hand, in the formation of land-holding groups, the children of women are superior to the children of men. A segment is formed only when certain members within a lineage receives land from their father's lineage. When the children of men received certain land from their father's group, they had certain obligations towards their father's group before World War II. When the children of men could not meet these obligations, the children of women could chase the children of men out. This relation between the children of women and the children of men is in sharp contrast with the cross-sibling relationship in the respect-avoidance behaviors, so that it is possible to say the crosssibling relation in Falalap, Woleai shows complementarity across the contexts.