Revision as of 14:22, 25 March 2009

Island scene, Saint-Joseph, Île des Pins, Nouméa, New Caledonia.

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by Noël Neville Cardon

Because Pacific island family history is based largely on an oral tradition, researchers face special challenges. They need to use special methods. These methods are not widely known among family history researchers, so in writing this guide, we found Pacific islanders who had been successful in doing family history work and learned from them how they did it.The people who shared their stories and information with me were very kind and generous, and it is their hard work that has made this guide possible. Most of their names are in the Bibliography.

I tried to find someone from each of the island groups to interview, but was not able to get a case study from all groups. My hope is that one of the case studies in Step 9 will be close enough to your situation to help you.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Guide

Using canoes like this navigators explored and settled the Pacific basin.

Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage
Steps of Research for Pacific Island Ancestors

Step 1. Write what you can from memory

Step 2. Gather written records

Step 3. Learn about customs and history

By clicking on this step, you can learn about:

Personal names

Determining gender

Wriitten records that are available

Other sources of informtion

Step 4. Gather oral histories from your oldest relatives

Step 5. Organize your information

Step 6. Organize your papers

Step 7. Track your research

Step 8. Find ancestors on the IGI

Step 9. Obtain and search other records

By clicking on this step 9, you will get information about:

Island naming customs
How dates have been estimated
How to decide whether a name is male or female
Other Pacific island customs related to family history
The Cole Jensen Collection and Index
Oral Genealogies collected during the 1970s
How to use records from institutions near you
How to use photographic collections
How to use the Family History Library Catalog

Click this map to enlarge it. The Pacific islands are split into 3 groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Step 10. Submit names to the IGI

Step 11. Share what you found

Table of Pacific Island Names

Cook Islands (Includes Rarotonga)

Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Hawaii background and case study

Hawaii research helps

Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)

New Zealand Maori Customs and Background

New Zealand Maori research ideas

Niue

Capt. Cook, a British explorer, mapped many of the Pacific islands.

Papua New Guinea

Samoa (Western and American)

Solomon Islands

Tokelau

Tonga

Tongan customs and research ideas

Tongan oral history

Register of Tongan Oral Histories

Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)

Vanuatu

Wallis and Futuna Islands

Bibliography

How to Use This Guide[edit | edit source]

Steps 1 through 7 and Steps 9 and 11 are the same for all Pacific island researchers. They will help you get started with your basic family history work.

Some of the information in Steps 8, and 10 are about temple work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). Just use the information in the guide that will be of help to you in your needs. You will find that you will be skipping back and forth from one step to another as you do your research. This is normal, so feel free to do it.

none < Previous | Next > Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage

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-{{breadcrumb
+[[Image:Pacific island scene.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Island scene, Saint-Joseph, Île des Pins, Nouméa, New Caledonia.]] <font size="+2">'''Forward'''</font>
-| link1=[[Oceania|Oceania]]
-| link2=
-| link3=
-| link4=
-| link5=[[Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research|Pacific Island Research Strategies]]
-}}
-==Guided Research==
+by Noël Neville Cardon
-*[[American Samoa Guided Research|American Samoa Guided Research]] - search for birth, marriages, and deaths
-*[[Fiji Guided Research|Fiji Guided Research]] - search for birth, marriages, and deaths
-*[[Hawaii Guided Research|Hawaii Guided Research]] - search for birth, marriages, and deaths
-==Introduction==
+Because Pacific island family history is based largely on an oral tradition, researchers face special challenges. They need to use special methods. These methods are not widely known among family history researchers, so in writing this guide, we found Pacific islanders who had been successful in doing family history work and learned from them how they did it.The people who shared their stories and information with me were very kind and generous, and it is their hard work that has made this guide possible. Most of their names are in the [[Pacific Island Guide Bibliography|Bibliography.]]
-Because Pacific Island family history is based largely on an oral tradition, it is important to apply indigenous methodologies to respectfully perform genealogy work. The methodology presented here is based on the successful genealogical experiences of other Pacific Islanders. Those who have shared their experiences are listed below in the [[Pacific Island Guide Bibliography|Bibliography.]]
+I tried to find someone from each of the island groups to interview, but was not able to get a case study from all groups. My hope is that one of the case studies in Step 9 will be close enough to your situation to help you.
-==How to Use This Guide==
+<font size="+2">'''Table of Contents'''</font>
-It is important to note the steps listed below are generalizations for getting started on the basics on Pacific Island research. Pages are currently being made to explain the cultural differences that are essential to understand when doing genealogy work in each Pacific nation and culture.
-Below the "Tips" section is a list of a major island groups, their nations, and links to research guides.
+[[Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research#How_to_Use_This_Guide|How to Use This Guide]] [[Image:Pacific canoe.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Using canoes like this navigators explored and settled the Pacific basin.]]<br>[[Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage|Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage]]<br>Steps of Research for Pacific Island Ancestors<br>
-==Pre-Research Research Tips==
+:[[Step 1. Write what you can from memory|Step 1. Write what you can from memory]]<br>
-Before beginning research, it is important to understand a few things. Family history work is much more than just finding names of ancestors. It involves these aspects that are significant in any kind of historical research:
+:[[Step 2. Gather written records|Step 2. Gather written records]]<br>
+:[[Step 3. Learn about customs and history|Step 3. Learn about customs and history]]
+:By clicking on this step, you can learn about:
+:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Personal names
+:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Determining gender&nbsp;
+:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wriitten records that are available
+:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other sources of informtion<br>
+:[[Step 4. Gather oral histories from your oldest relatives|Step 4. Gather oral histories from your oldest relatives]]<br>
+:[[Step 5. Organize your information|Step 5. Organize your information]]<br>
+:[[Step 6. Organize your papers|Step 6. Organize your papers]]<br>
+:[[Step 7. Track your research|Step 7. Track your research]]<br>
+:[[Step 8. Find ancestors on the IGI|Step 8. Find ancestors on the IGI]]<br>
+:[[Step 9. Obtain and search other records|Step 9. Obtain and search other records]]<br>
+::By clicking on this step 9, you will get information about:
+::*Island naming customs<br>
+::*How dates have been estimated<br>
+::*How to decide whether a name is male or female<br>
+::*Other Pacific island customs related to family history<br>
+::*The ''Cole Jensen Collection'' and Index<br>
+::*Oral Genealogies collected during the 1970s<br>
+::*How to use records from institutions near you<br>
+::*How to use photographic collections<br>
+::*How to use the Family History Library Catalog[[Image:Pacific Map.png|thumb|right|350px|Click this map to enlarge it. The Pacific islands are split into 3 groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.]]<br>
+:[[Step 10. Submit names to the IGI|Step 10. Submit names to the IGI]]<br>
+:[[Step 11. Share what you found|Step 11. Share what you found]]<br>
-#'''''History'''''
+[[Table of Pacific Island Names|Table of Pacific Island Names]]<br>
-#'''''Culture'''''
-#'''''Language'''''
-#'''''Land'''''
-#'''''Law & Religion'''''
-==Tips to Begin Genealogy Work==
+:[[Cook Islands (Includes Rarotonga)|Cook Islands (Includes Rarotonga)]]<br>
+:[[Easter Island|Easter Island (Rapa Nui)]]<br>
+:[[Fiji timeline|Fiji]]<br>
+:[[French Polynesia|French Polynesia]]<br>
+::[[Austral Islands|Austral Islands]]<br>
+::[[Gambier Islands|Gambier Islands]]<br>
+::[[Marquesas Islands|Marquesas Islands]]<br>
+::[[Society Islands (includes Tahiti)|Society Islands]]<br>
+::[[Tuamotu Islands|Tuamotu Islands]]<br>
+:[[Hawaii Historical Background and Case Study in family history research|Hawaii background and case study]]<br>
+::[[Hawaii Research Helps|Hawaii research helps]]<br>
+:[[Micronesia|Micronesia]]<br>
+::[[Federated States of Micronesia|Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)]]<br>
+::[[Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands|Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands]]<br>
+::[[Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)|Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)]]<br>
+::[[Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands]]<br>
+::[[Nauru|Nauru]]<br>
+::[[Palau|Palau]]<br>
+:[[New Caledonia|New Caledonia]]<br>
+:[[New Zealand Maori cultural traits and historical background|New Zealand Maori Customs and Background]]<br>
+::[[New Zealand Maori Research Ideas|New Zealand Maori research ideas]]<br>
+:[[Niue|Niue]]<br>[[Image:Captain Cook.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Capt. Cook, a British explorer, mapped many of the Pacific islands.]]
+:[[Papua New Guinea|Papua New Guinea]]<br>
+:[[Samoa (Western and American)|Samoa (Western and American)]]<br>
+:[[Solomon Islands|Solomon Islands]]<br>
+:[[Tokelau|Tokelau]]<br>
+:[[Tonga|Tonga]]<br>
+::[[Tonga customs and research ideas|Tongan customs and research ideas]]<br>
+::[[Tonga Oral History in the Family History Library|Tongan oral history]]<br>
+::[[Register of Tongan Oral Histories|Register of Tongan Oral Histories]]
+:[[Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)|Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)]]<br>
+:[[Vanuatu|Vanuatu]]<br>
+:[[Wallis and Futuna Islands|Wallis and Futuna Islands]]<br>
-*[[Create an objective|Tip 1: Create an objective]]
+[[Pacific Island Guide Bibliography|Bibliography]]
-*[[Organize your research by creating a plan|Tip 2: Organize your research by creating a plan]]
-*[[Keep a record of your work|Tip 3: Keep a record of your work]]
-*[[Identify What You Already Know|Tip 4: Identify what you already know]]
-*[[Learn the History and Customs of Your Culture|Tip 5: Learn the history and customs of your culture]]
-*[[Speak with Your Family|Tip 6: Speak with your family]]
-*[[Research Written Records|Tip 7: Research written records]]
-*[[Share Your Discoveries|Tip 8: Share your discoveries]]
-[[Table of Pacific Island Names|Table of Pacific Island Na]]<nowiki/>mes
+= How to Use This Guide  =
-==Table of Pacific Island Research Guides==
+'''Steps 1 through 7 and Steps 9 and 11 '''are the same for all Pacific island researchers. They will help you get started with your&nbsp; basic family history work.
-===''Polynesia''===
+Some of the information in '''Steps 8, and 10 '''are about temple work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). Just use the information in the guide that will be of help to you in your needs. You will find that you will be skipping back and forth from one step to another as you do your research. This is normal, so feel free to do it.
-[[American Samoa Genealogy|American Samoa]]
-[[Cook Islands Genealogy|Cook Islands (Includes Rarotonga)]]
+''none &nbsp;&lt; &nbsp;Previous&nbsp; | &nbsp;Next&nbsp; &gt;&nbsp; [[Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage|Latter-day Saint Pacific Island Heritage]]''
-[[Easter Island|Easter Island (Rapa Nui)]]
+[[Category:Pacific]] [[Category:Melanesia]] [[Category:Micronesia]] [[Category:Polynesia]] [[Category:Pacific_Island_Research]] [[Category:American_Samoa]] [[Category:Chile]] [[Category:Cook_Islands]] [[Category:Fiji]] [[Category:French_Polynesia]] [[Category:Guam]] [[Category:Hawaii]] [[Category:Kiribati]] [[Category:Marshall_Islands]] [[Category:Micronesia,_Federated_States_of]] [[Category:Nauru]] [[Category:New_Caledonia]] [[Category:New_Zealand]] [[Category:Niue]] [[Category:Northern_Mariana_Islands]] [[Category:Palau]] [[Category:Papua_New_Guinea]] [[Category:Pitcairn_Islands]] [[Category:Samoa]] [[Category:Solomon_Islands]] [[Category:Tokelau]] [[Category:Tonga]] [[Category:Tuvalu]] [[Category:Vanuatu]] [[Category:Wallis_and_Futuna]] [[Category:Ethnic,_Political,_or_Religious_Groups]] [[Category:Maoris]] [[Category:Hawaiians]]
-[[French Polynesia Genealogy|French Polynesia]]
-*[[Austral Islands|Austral Islands]]
-*[[Gambier Islands|Gambier Islands]]
-*[[Marquesas Islands|Marquesas Islands]]
-*[[Society Islands (includes Tahiti)|Society Islands]]
-*[[Tuamotu Islands|Tuamotu Island]]
-[[Hawaii, United States Genealogy|Hawaii]]
-*[[Hawaii Research Helps|Hawaii research helps]]
-[[New Zealand Maori cultural traits and historical background|New Zealand]]
-*[[New Zealand Maori Research Ideas|New Zealand Maori research ideas]]
-[[Niue Genealogy|Niue]]
-Norfolk Island
-Pitcairn Islands
-Rotuma
-[[Samoa (Western and American)|Samoa]]
-[[Tokelau Genealogy|Tokelau]]
-[[Tonga (Pacific Island Guide)|Tonga]]
-*[[Tonga (Pacific Island Guide)|Tongan customs and research ideas]]
-*[[Tonga (Pacific Island Guide)|Tongan oral history]]
-*[[Tonga (Pacific Island Guide)|Register of Tongan Oral Histories]]
-[[Tuvalu|Tuvalu]]
-[[Wallis and Futuna Islands|Wallis and Futuna Islands]]
-===''Melanesia''===
-[[Fiji timeline|Fiji]]
-[[New Caledonia Genealogy|New Caledonia]]
-[[Papua New Guinea Genealogy|Papua New Guinea]]
-[[Solomon Islands Genealogy|Solomon Islands]]
-[[Vanuatu Genealogy|Vanuatu]]
-===''Micronesia''===
-[[Federated States of Micronesia (Guide)|Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)]]
-[[Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands|Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands]]
-[[Kiribati Genealogy|Kiribati (Gilbert Islands)]]
-[[Marshall Islands Genealogy|Marshall Islands]]
-[[Nauru Genealogy|Nauru]]
-[[Palau (Pacific Island Guide)|Palau]]
-===[[Pacific Island Guide Bibliography|''Pacific Island Guide Bibliography'']]===
-{{Template:Pacific}}
-[[Category:Pacific Island Research]]