Guide to Mokil, 1950

Scope and Contents

Edited film of daily life and celebrations on the Mokil atoll in the Caroline Islands, shot in 1947 through the Coordinated Investigation of Micronesian Anthropology. English narration, as if from the point of view of a Mokil islander, emphasizes familial and social relationships and in particular the influence of economic standing upon these interactions. Footage includes: growing, harvesting, cooking, and storing native plants including coconut, breadfruit, and taro; bird-hunting and fishing techniques; construction of a canoe; Christmas celebrations, with comparison of mens' traditional dances with newer missionary-taught dances; children, women, and men at play, including footage of canoe races; and a visit by American traders. Film concludes with reflection upon land boundaries as they pertain to wealth and status.

Supplementary materials: manuscript "Land and Livelihood on Mokil, An Atoll in the Eastern Carolines" by Conrad Bentzen; production overview and project report; subjects and story points/boards; film records; map.

Legacy keywords: Language and culture ; Dance ; Outrigger canoe ; Hunting ; Fishing ; Christianity ; Boatbuilding ; Food preparation cooking ; Domestic and family life

Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or Anthropology Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.