Chuukese

The Chuukese (also referred to as the Carolinians) are a diverse group of people who occupy a group of islands in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. The Chuukese predominantly descend from Micronesian and Polynesian background in addition to Japanese and European influence. The Chuukese have upheld strong cultural values despite numerous foreign invasions to their country throughout history.

Learn more about the Chuukese

Religion in Chuuk

Religion in Chuuk predominantly consists of Catholic (60%) and Protestant (40%). Religious groups with small followings include Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Baha’i faith. Religious service attendance is generally very high, and congregations support their churches.

Demographics

High unemployment rates and unavailability of higher education opportunities lead many Chuukese individuals to the US.

There are large populations of Micronesian people, which may include Chuukese, in the following locations:

• • Hawaii

  • Corsicana, Texas

  • Central Florida

  • Tri-state border area in the Southern Midwest (Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma)

  • Portland, Oregon

Chuukese population in Oregon

• • Oregon has approximately 580 individuals who speak Chuukese.

  • Portland Public Schools has approximately 42 Chuukese speaking students.

Chuukese Culture

• • There are many similarities across the four states in the FSM.

  • The economy relies on tourism, agriculture, and fishing.

  • Chuukese tend to be more collectivist than individualistic. Collectivist cultures view the needs of the group to be more important than the needs of individuals.

  • There is special importance attached to land rights because of its scarcity in Chuuk.

  • The culture also revolves around the lagoon and the sea.

  • Chuuk has a rich history of oral language, specifically rooted in music.

Birth and Death

The father is typically the head of the household. When he passes away, the first-born male will take this role.

Childhood

• • Many children are taught to be respectful of their elders. They are supposed to listen quietly and always concur with their elders.

  • Many children are also taught not to talk in a group of people or if their elders are speaking. 16)

  • Marriage/Divorce

  • The majority of Chuukese are now Christian.

  • Traditionally, Love Sticks are used during courtship. The man takes two sticks and carves identical designs on them. The shorter stick would be for his own hair, and the longer one would be for the woman’s hair.

Social Interactions

Historically

• • Society was divided into three large groups: chiefs, chief's people and common people.

  • Status was predetermined at birth.

  • Chiefs had control over land, property, food, and marriages

  • Clan relationships are important in Chuukese culture.

  • Clans are typically matrilineal. This means that lineage is traced through the mother and the mother's name is passed down to children.

  • Values and cultural heritage were passed on through traditional stories and dances.

  • Belief in ghosts and the use of magic contribute to the Chuukese culture.

Currently

• • Social organization is a mixture of traditional and western cultures.

  • Family constellation typically consists of the father, mother, their offspring, the grandparents, the first cousins, and the aunts and uncles.

  • Households typically include extended family.

  • Greetings to an elder includes shaking of hands or bowing down.

Chuukese Holidays and Celebrations

Major occasions for feasts and celebrations include weddings and funerals of family members, completion of large projects, birthdays, and visitors. Many Chuukese families celebrate Christmas and New Years day.

Chuukese cuisine

Note: These culinary traditions apply to Chuukese living in FSM and may not be applicable to those living in the US

• • Many Chuukese are self-sufficient, growing most of their food and constructing goods.

  • One of the most important foods to the Chuukese culture is the breadfruit.

  • Traditional foods include pounded breadfruit, preserved breadfruit, taro, pounded taro, sweet taro, banana, tapioca, fish, sea clams, sea cucumber, pig, and chicken.

  • Food is a very important part of social activity for the Chuukese. Rituals and proverbs associated with food include asking for forgiveness or permission to cure sickness, mwengeed kasopw (celebrating accomplishments of many people), mwenge chuu (eating together/collective ownership), mwengenipwin (people who eat at night were thieves).

  • Traditional methods for gathering food include digging taro from ground, picking breadfruit with a long pole, and harvesting bananas with knives. Additionally, fishing lines were made from hibiscus bark, and fishing baskets were made from coconut’s young leaves. Birds were caught using traps made of sap of breadfruit stems and poisonous roots from certain plants and vines.

Implications for the SLP

Language evaluation tools

• • There are no standardized language or articulation assessments in Chuukese.

  • Dynamic assessment should take into account language differences.

  • There is no past tense or perfect tense

  • Full and partial reduplication is common

  • The vowels in Chuukese are different from English vowels

  • These language and phonetic differences may lead to slightly different second language acquisition. It is necessary to take into account years of language experience, input, output, use, proficiency, and monitor change over time.

  • Please visit the Assessment page for additional information.

Clinical Implications of the Chuukese Language

• • English is required for school in Chuuk; however, Chuukese language classes are available as well.

  • Differences in education levels, exposure to English, and age of onset of literacy skills may vary widely across individuals.

  • Parents may use cultural stories and idioms to facilitate language at home. Oral narratives may be a focus of assessment and facilitate intervention.

  • Example: “Feed your children food, but also feed your children words”

  • Please visit Bilingual Language Development and Clinical Myths and Intervention for additional information.

Cultural tips for working with Chuukese families

Please keep in mind these are general guidelines and may or may not apply to the particular individual

• • Dress is typically casual, simple, and modest.

  • Be aware that children may not respond or volunteer information to adults out of respect.

  • Chuukese parents may push for their children's education but may view the education system as a separate entity that they are not connected to; therefore, finding ways to encourage and facilitate family involvement may be challenging.