This collaborative project involving the community on Nanumea, the Nanumean communities in Funafuti and Auckland, Tagisia Kilei and Anne and Keith, was begin initially by Tagisia Kilei in the 1990's. In September, 2003 Ane and Kiti were invited to Funafuti to work together with Tagisia on this project, in close consultation with a Committee of Elders of Nanufuti, the Nanumean community in Funafuti.

In December and January Kiti and Ane also went to Nanumea to work with elders there. Back in Funafuti again in late January, 2004, work continued with Tagisia. The "New Revised Draft" of the manuscript was finished on February 4th. It was given the title: Origins, Customs and Identity of Nanumea. Faka taatou, te igoa o te tuhi ko Tupuga, Faiga mo Iloga faka Nanumea.

In January, 2008 Kiti traveled to Funafuti (Ane had stayed in Oregon due to her job) to continue work. The Faiga mo Iloga Komiti of Nanufuti met with Kiti to discuss the project. We agreed that the manuscript, which had not been updated since its 2004 unveiling, needed more work. However, we also agreed that it would be best to share it now with Nanumeans worldwide now by posting it on this website. The manuscript, produced in 2004 and unchanged since then, is available by clicking the links below.

ORIGINS, CUSTOMS and IDENTITY of NANUMEA

Title Page and Introduction (pdf, 12 p)
Chapter 1  The Island of Nanumea (pdf, 17 pp)
Chapter 2  Origins of Nanumea's Chiefly Traditions (pdf, 29 pp)
Chapter 3  The Ahiga - The Heart of the Community (pdf, 15pp) Chapter 4  Governance of the Island (pdf, 37pp)

Other Chapters are coming soon

TUPUGA, FAIGA mo ILOGA faka NANUMEA

Fakatogamuna mo "laupepa kamata" (pdf, 12 itulau)
Mata o Muna 1  Te Fenua ko Nanumea (pdf, 17 itulau)
Mata o Muna 2  Fakavae Akega o Faifaiga Aliki o Nanumea (pdf, 29 itulau)
Mata o Muna 3  Te Ahiga: te Loto o te Fenua (pdf, 15 itulau)

We are making minor revisions to the remaining chapters to prepare them for posting on this site. In time, the entire volume (about 215 pages) will be available here. Koa pili hoki o faulu ikonei te tuhi i te gana faka taatou!

Remember please -- the Nanumea Community, te Fenua, and a Komiti of elders from Nanufuti that assisted in producing this book has asked that this version (finished in 2004) be thought of as a DRAFT (he ata fakatautau). Though that was many years ago, and there were hopes to add to this book, that has not yet happened.

Still -- Ane and Kiti wish to honor the Fenua's view and so we are emphasizing that the book is not finished. While it is the best thing we all have at the moment, still it is felt to be "a work in progress" (he galuega koi fai, maalielie...)

Ka hee oti te galuega, te tuhi tenei. Te fakamoemoega ke toe maua te avanoaga o galue fakatahi te Komiti o Nanufuti mo Ane mo Kiti, mo taumatua o Nanumea, ke naa fakaoti fakalei te tuhi. Kae fai e loto koe ki ai, ke tuhituhi mai, o fesoasoani mo te haga mafa tenei! Fakafetai lahi!

Kiti mo Ane.
Contact Kiti mo Ane ... anekiti@gmail.com