NAIS 30.28 Peoples of Oceania
The “Peoples of Oceania” course is an intentionally post-colonial and anti-racist approach to studying the vast and varied cultures of Oceania. We will focus on relationships between the religious, social, political, and economic systems in Oceania, rather than dividing weeks into the four geographic regions: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Australia, which have historically made up the foundation of many Pacific survey courses. Using the work of indigenous Tongan and Fijian scholar Epeli Hau’ofa (1939-2009) and his seminal text “We are the Ocean” as a guiding force, we will crisscross the atolls and islands that make up Oceania, creating a navigator’s chart of discussions and debates. Major themes discussed in class include: race/gender/class politics surrounding the ownership and control of cultural heritage, indigenous data sovereignty and intellectual property rights, and climate justice as social justice.