Cultural Immersion

After arriving in Penrhyn, we were greeted by three different officials who came out to our boat to check us into the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands are an independent group of islands associated with New Zealand, tied politically and economically with New Zealand. Each island in the Cook Islands has its own dialect of Maori that is spoken at home and in churches, but English is taught in school. As a result, everyone speaks two languages.

After checking in and paying what are a bit hefty fees, the officials gave us info about the atoll. We were permitted to anchor in front of either of the two villages, Omoka and Te Tautua. If we wanted to go anywhere else, we would have to ask permission of the island council. In addition, there are strict rules for Sundays, which are days of rest and prayer. You are not allowed to swim, work on your boat, go fishing or basically do anything except go to church. And, there are very strict dress codes for church, including for women wearing a long skirt, shirts that cover your shoulders and a hat. We were definitely not in French Polynesia anymore!

We didn’t spend much time anchored outside of Omoka, the main village, as it is on the west side of the lagoon and the strong easterly winds made it an uncomfortable and choppy anchorage. As soon as we were cleared in, we headed across the lagoon to Te Tautua where our friends on Allora were already anchored.

We wanted to go exploring both on land and in the water, but we were told we should go introduce ourselves ashore first. Te Tautua is a very small village with only about 50 residents. We didn’t know who we needed to talk to ashore, so we stopped at a catamaran anchored nearby and asked a nice Frenchman. He immediately said we needed to talk to the pastor of the church.

Ashore we walked to the only church but found it closed. As we were walking nearby, a young man and teenage girl came out of the home next to the church and greeted us warmly. We discovered that they were the pastor’s children and that their dad was down the street where workers were being given a feast to celebrate the end of construction of a new cistern and rain catchment system. We found the group gathered around, looking exhausted from a days work, and waiting for their meals to be served. We briefly said hello and met the pastor, and then went on our way.

Later that night, the pastor and his cousin arrived at our boat and wanted to come aboard. We visited for a while and made plans for the weekend. The pastor offered to take Mike and Marcus out to a spot where they might find some bonefish and do a little fly fishing on Saturday. We were also invited (or expected) to attend his church on Sunday. He also made very clear that we were not allowed to do anything else on Sunday. It was actually “against the law” to be out in your dinghy or go swimming or basically anything. I have no idea what that actually means as there is no police or jail here.

There were about six boats in the anchorage at this point, and they said there would be a lunch for everyone after the church service. On Sunday, I got up early and baked a cake to bring. I had to dig around for a skirt long enough that was acceptable to wear to church. I did all of this a bit begrudgingly. Its a bit strange coming from our culture for it to be mandatory to attend a religious service, but when in a foreign country we always try to be courteous and sensitive to the local culture.

As we all gathered on shore to head over to the pastor’s home before church, we started seeing many local boats arrive from across the lagoon, which was a little confusing given the lecture we had been given about being out in your boat on Sunday. Then, we learned why. Apparently, one of the elderly women in the village had died in the early hours of the morning. There would be no church service today, as all day would be dedicated to the funeral. The boats from the other village were given an exception to the “no boats” rule in order for friends and relatives to attend the funeral.

We were all invited (or expected) to attend the funeral. I was hesitant at first as I didn’t want to be intrusive to a grieving family, but the family and friends and villagers warmly welcomed us. First, we went to the family’s home where the deceased was laid out in a simple wood coffin. The family and friends sat around as various people got up to speak (in their local language) and many songs were sung. The singing was somewhere in between organized music and wailing, with people joining in spontaneously and with a lot of emotion. It was a bit fascinating. After a couple of hours, the family walked past the body one last time before the lid was drilled onto coffin. There are no mortuary services here, and in the tropical climate, bodies are buried within 24 hours.

The coffin was then carried to the church as we followed the procession. There was a church service with more singing, and then the coffin was carried back to the home where a shallow grave had been dug for burial. The grave had been lined with a concrete form where the coffin was placed. After more singing, the family and friends disbursed while workers got ready to cover it in concrete, essentially sealing the body in a tomb underground.

We made our way around to the other side of the home where a feast had been laid out for everyone of chicken, rice, oysters and clams. There is very little produce grown in Penrhyn. By 3:00 in the afternoon, I was exhausted..and hot. We excused ourselves and made our way back to the boat to relax.

This was our first real introduction to the culture here, which was strange and new. I doubt many outsiders get to see the ritual of a funeral in this remote place. I’m thankful they included all of us to be able to witness it, despite my reservations.

The people of Penrhyn, and in particular Te Tautua, have been incredibly welcoming, treating us as guests in their village rather than visitors just passing through. We have been invited into homes, asked to attend birthday parties, visited the school to tell the kids about where we are from and even had a feast prepared in our honor. I don’t think we’ve visited anywhere else that has so immediately embraced us as part of the community. It has really been a special place to visit.

~katie