Weaving across Oceania

  • Weaver Tan Lucia Torres from Guam Image Source: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2556/3984807283_2ef9bd95cd_b.jpg
  • A weaver making the kuta mat in Fiji Image Source: http://3qeo6723e7wq21id3f33dwjq10jv.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/D829004.jpg
  • Women and young children weaving accessories in Yap Image Source: http://bcvactions.com/gyph/Yap/page19.html
  • A woman from Samoa weaving her basket out of palm leaves Image Source: https://hiveminer.com/User/Museum%20of%20Samoa
  • A woman weaving a hat in Cook Islands Image Source: http://pearlauthority.com/portfolio

Many other islands across the Pacific Ocean have and continue to practice weaving to create mats, baskets, and accessories, and further tradition. Although men do partake in weaving now, in many Pacific Islander communities, such as the Chamorro from the Marianas Islands, women have historically done majority of the weaving. In ancient Chamorro society, women took care of all household tasks such as cooking, administered medicine, did all the weaving, and sometimes even fished and farmed (Cunningham 1992). Chamorro women were very instrumental in society because they also wove the sails for canoes and created many of the household utensils (Cunningham 1992). The Chamorros and other oceanic groups used weaving for similar purposes and acquired the materials from plants around them including pandanus trees, palm trees, and coconut trees.

 

To recognize that women are an integral part of weaving in these communities, to the left are pictures showcasing women from different island nations weaving.   

 

Source: Cunningham, Lawrence J. 1992. Ancient Chamorro Society. Bess Press.