| Our Small World
Reasons for change in Tokelau
Answers could include:
Consequences of migration:
- people who have left have taken traditional skills with them
- fewer people to teach traditional skills to the young people
- people who have left have forgotten traditional skills
- people returning to Tokelau bring new ideas (Western ideas)
- people returning to Tokelau may become change agents
- people who have travelled are exposed to new types of entertainment
- e.g. disco, clothing - e.g. football gear - and bring them back
- people brought back taste for Western food and the food itself
- health
problems
- people who have left don't return and there are gaps in the population.
- families are often spread around the
world (in fact Hegalo, Puka and Iane's parents have never had all
their eleven children together at the same time)
Technological changes:
- introduction of new communication technologies has lead to increased contact with other cultural
influences
- modern building materials, plastic buckets, nylon nets and aluminium boats make life
easier
- traditional skills may be enhanced by using modern tools - e.g.
carving
- outrigger canoes have been replaced by the dinghy and outboard
Education:
- New Zealand based education system has changed people's knowledge about the
world
- children encouraged to improve their education - but have to leave their community and family to do
it
- Western ideas challenge Tokelauan way
Economic:
- introduction of cash economy came about because people need money for Western foods, the plastic buckets, aluminium boats and so
on
- Tokelau Public Service needed to provide paid work
- role of Government changing - central government in charge of budgeting so needed a public
service
- remittances from overseas lead to dependence on cash
- only a few people like Puka remain to teach the young in the
traditional way - young people learn by watching and copying their
elders (like the young woman in the weaving scene and Puka's sons
fishing for example)
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