Republic of the Marshall Islands Marshallese in Northwest

Republic of the Marshall Islands & Marshallese in Northwest Arkansas

Hi, Hello, Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening Ia – Rainbow Kwe - you

29 Atolls and 5 Islands & thousands other islets Ralik Chain (18) Ratak Chain (16) • Ailinginae Atoll Kili Island Ailuk Atoll Nadikdik Atoll • Ailinglaplap Atoll Namu Atoll Arno Atoll Toke Atoll • Bikini Atoll Rongelap Atoll Aur Atoll Utirik Atoll • Ebon Atoll Rongerik Atol Bikar Atoll Wotje Atoll • Enewetak Atoll Ujae Atoll • Jabat Island Ujelang Atoll • Jaluit Atoll Wotho Atoll Bokak Atoll Erikub Atoll Jemo Island Likiep Atoll • Lae Atoll Majuro Atoll • Lib Island Maloelap Atoll • Namorik Atoll Mejit Island • Kwajalein Atoll Mili Atoll

Brief History • 1529 - Spanish Explorer de Saavedra • 1788 - British Captains Gilbert and Marshall • 1828 - a Russian explorer named the islands after captains Gilbert and Marshall • 1878 - Germans took over, established coaling station & later coconut farms

Brief History • 1899 - Germany purchased Marshall Islands from Spain • 1914 - after end of WWI, Japan controlled the undefended Marshall Islands • 1945 - after end of WWII, the U. S. under mandate from United Nations, administered islands as Trust Territory (including Marshalls, Guam & Saipan, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau)

Brief History • 1946 -58 - U. S. detonated 67 atomic & thermonuclear weapons in the air, on the land, and in the seas of Bikini and Enewetak Atolls • 1954 - one of the 67 bombs called Bravo, which was 1000 x more powerful than Hiroshima-sized bombs was dropped on Bikini Atoll • 1979 - Marshall Islands separated from TTPI, formed a constitution & became a republic • 1986 - Republic of Marshall Islands entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States.

Number of Schools & Students Public #students Private #students (2002 -03 SY) Elementary 75 8166 25 2806 Secondary 4 1445 13 1707

Age Structure 0 -14 years - 39. 1% 15 -64 years – 58. 2% 65 years and up – 2. 7% (2003 est. )

Body Language • It is not polite to point or touch another person’s head • Wave all fingers with palm facing down. Call someone to come over • Raise all eyebrows – to agree or say “yes” • Raise your shoulders – I don’t know • Shake your head side to side - no • Make a hissing sound – to get one’s attention

Marshallese Language and Other Languages in the Marshall Islands Two Official Languages – Marshallese and English Two Marshallese Dialects • Ralik – sample – itok, mona • Ratak – watok, kokan People from Outer Islands like Enewetak, Bikini, Kili have different accent than people from the Centers of Majuro and Ebeye.

Marshallese Migration to NWA • In the 1970 s John Moody came to attend college and settled in NWA. • By word of mouth, people started coming because they heard NWA had lots of job opportunities, housing, good schools and easy financing of vehicles.

Marshallese Migration to NWA • In early 2000 - greatest influx of migration took place when the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ government experienced downsizing of its workforce. • Marshallese are able to travel and move to the United States with only a passport issued by RMI government.

Trip to Arkansas 4 hrs flight from Majuro to Honolulu Ø 6 hrs flight from Honolulu to St Francisco Ø 8 hrs direct flight to St. Louis Ø 45 min from St. Louis to Tulsa Ø 2 hrs drive from Tulsa to Springdale, AR Ø Costs up to $1, 500 RT Ø Others now flying from Denver to Fayetteville Arkansas which is actually Rogers, Arkansas or XNA. Ø

In 2010/2011 there were 1599 Marshallese LMS and 1531 ELLs in Arkansas. Of these, Springdale has 1503 LMS and 1446 ELLs. (these numbers do not include students in mainstream classes who are Marshallese but English is their native language) There is no exact number of Marshallese people in NWA. It is estimated to be around 6, 000. More are living in Springdale. Others have moved out to live in Fayetteville, Lowell, Rogers, Bentonville, Ft. Smith, Huntsville, Centerton, and Tontitown.

19 Marshallese Churches in Northwest Arkansas 3 Full Gospel Churches 5 Assembly of God 2 United Church of Christ 6 Bukot Non Jesus 2 Church of God 1 Baha'i Faith

National Holidays in the Marshall Islands New Year's Day January 1 Nuclear Survivor's Day March 1 Constitution Day May 1 Fisherman's Day First Friday in July Rijerbal Day (Worker's Day) First Friday in September Manit Day (Customs Day) Last Friday in September President's Day November 17 Kamolol Day (Thanksgiving Day) Third Thursday in November Gospel Day First Friday in December Christmas Day December 25

Marshallese Big Celebrations • First Birthday Parties “Kemeem” • Funerals – 5 stages • Christmas Celebrations by churches “Jepta” • Gospel Day by churches • Weddings • Baptisms • Marshall Islands Constitution Day

Adjusting to Life in America • Money management problems • Limited English proficiency • Culture Shock • Faster pace of life

Marshallese Alphabet • • • a = an its/his/hers b = bwiin smell e = ek fish j = jijet sit l = lik back/ocean side m = mā breadfruit n = ni coconut tree/juice ņ = ņo wave ọ = ọj horse p = pidodo easy t = tipñōl outrigger ū = ūlūl ax ā = āne d = di i = ij k = kiki ļ = ļadik = ōñā ñ = ñi o = ok ō = ōn r = riab u = uklele w = wia land bone I am sleep boy eat tooth net vitamin lie ukulele buy

hello, goodbye yokwe / iakwe How are you? Ej et am mour? yes no, don't aeet jaab please jouj okay ebwe not good enana atoll aelōñ ocean lik lagoon ar eat mōñā drink idaak

Thank you very much. Kommool tata. You're welcome. Kin jouj. My name is. . . Eta in. . . What's your name? Etam? I'm sorry, excuse me. Jolok bwid. No problem. Ejjelok inebata. I'm hungry. Ikwōle. I'm thirsty. Imaro. What time is it? Jete awa? Do you want to. . . ? Kwō kōnaan ke . . . ? I don't know. ijaje

Marshallese language kajin Majōl English language kajin Pālle Please, say it again. Bar ba mōk. Where are you going? Kwōj etal ñan ia? Do you speak English? Kwō jelā ke kajin Pālle? Could you help (me)? Kwō maroñ ke jibañ? Please sit down. Jouj im jijet. Please come inside. Jouj im dreloñ. When did you come? Kwaar itok nāāt? Where did you come from? Kwōj itok jān ia? What would you like to eat? Kwōj mōñā ta? What would you like to drink? Kwōj idaak ta?

I am hungry. Ikwole. He/she/it is hungry. Ekwole. You are hungry. Kwokwole. We are hungry. Jekwole. They are hungry. Rekwole. Thirsty – maro Don’t know – jaje Don’t understand –jab melele Tire - mōk

1 Juōn 2 Ruo 3 Jilu 4 Emen 5 Lalim 6 Jiljino 7 Jiljilimjuōn 8 Rualitōk 9 Ruatimjuōn 10 Joñoul

Thank you very much! Marshallese say, “Kommool Tata” Bar Iakwe! Related Links: www. rimajol. com www. yokwe. net www. rmiembassyus. org www. bikiniatoll. com www. rreinc. com

Carmen S. Chong Gum Consul General Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Consulate Office in Arkansas 109 Spring St. Suite #9 Springdale, Arkansas 72764 Phone (479) 387 -1208 chonggumcarmen@yahoo. com