'Uveans (Wallisians) and Futunans

## Tagata 'Uvea mo Futuna

* Sigave
* Alo
* Uvea

* 1
* 2

## Country of Origin

Wallis and Futuna (France): 18,100New Caledonia (France): 3,000

## Language And Script

Faka'uvea (Uvean): 10,500Fakafutuna (Futunan): 6,600
Fagauvea (West Uvean): 3,000
 Latin Script

## Related Ethnic Groups

Polynesians Austronesians

The 'Uveans and Futunans are the indigenous Polynesian inhabitants of the French overseas territory, "Wallis and Futuna". The three islands, Wallis, Futuna and Alofi are divided into three traditional kingdoms which are part of the territorial government. The two Futunan kingdoms divide Futuna, with Sigave taking one have and Alo taking the other, the Alo kingdom also rules Alofi. The kingdom of Uvea rules over Uvea. Even though they have two names and two languages, they share a singular country and culture that unites them as 'Uveans and Futunans.

'Uveans also settled the Loyalty islands of New Caledonia, traditionally inhabited by the Kanaks and created a hybrid group between them called the West Uveans.

## Etymology

The Wallis Islands are named after the British explorer Samuel Wallis, who sailed past them in 1767 after being the first European to visit Tahiti. The Futunan Islands are named from *futu,* a poisonous plant that fishermen use to harvest fish.

## History (Hisitolia)

The earliest signs of human habitation on these islands are artifacts characteristic of the Lapita culture, dating roughly to between 850 and 800 BCE. The islands served as natural stopover points for boat traffic going between Fiji and Samoa. During Tongan invasions in the 15th and 16th centuries, the islands showed varying levels of resistance and accepted varying degrees of assimilation: Futuna retained more of its pre-Tongan cultural features, while Wallis underwent greater fundamental changes in its society, language, and culture. The original inhabitants built forts and other identifiable structures on the islands, many of which are in ruins, but some of which are still partially intact. Oral history and archaeological evidence suggest that the Tongan invaders reoccupied and modified some of these structures. Oral history also preserves a cultural memory of relationships between Samoa and Futuna that are so longstanding that they are described in the islanders' origin stories.

The French were the first Europeans to settle in the territory, with the arrival of French missionaries in 1837, who converted the population to Roman Catholicism. Pierre Chanel, canonized in 1954, is a major patron saint of the island of Futuna and of the region.

On 5 April 1842, the missionaries asked for the protection of France after the rebellion of a part of the local population. On 5 April 1887, the queen of Uvea (that is, of the traditional chiefdom that comprised the island of Wallis) signed a treaty officially establishing a French protectorate. The kings of Sigave and Alo on the islands of Futuna and Alofi also signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate, on 16 February 1888. At that point, the islands were put under the authority of the French colony of New Caledonia.

In 1917, the three traditional kingdoms of Uvea, Sigave, and Alo were annexed by France and integrated into the colony of Wallis and Futuna.

## Society (Sosiete)

The Traditional Tu'i Agaifo of Alo is Lino Leleivei, Sau of Sigave is Eufenio Takala, Lavelua of Uvea is Patalione Kanimoa. Traditional hierarchies exist alongside stratification by income. Classes are perhaps more pronounced on Futuna. In Wallis, the traditional hierarchy persists, with the Lavelua at the apex and the general populace referred to as commoners. A distinction exists between families with and without cash income. Remittances from family members overseas also distinguish families. The Catholic Church is the largest landowner. Families that have produced a priest or nun have a high status. The kava bowl is used to honor chiefs and the existing hierarchy. Tapa cloth is made by women for exchange at rituals that draw extended families together. It is symbolic of women's wealth, along with specially scented oil. Tapa is also sold to tourists. Food gifts are symbols of welcome and good will. The *malae* , or meeting ground, is a place where people gather to honor their chiefs (kings in Futuna). The Lomipeau canoe represents the ties between Wallis/'Uvea and the early maritime empire of Tonga of four hundred years ago. It also symbolizes the strong seagoing tradition of these people, particularly their journeys to Tonga, Samoa, and other islands.

## Food (Kai)

Family households rely on taro, yams, and sweet potatoes. Villages on Wallis near the lagoon eat fish. If no man in the family is available, women comb the lagoon for crustaceans. Pigs and chickens are raised mainly for celebratory occasions. Families eat twice a day. Bread and coffee are the mainstays of breakfast. The evening meal consists of taro or yam and fish (on Wallis) and sometimes frozen chicken or corned beef. Tea is the most common beverage. Every family contributes food on public occasions. Pork and turtle are feast foods, with chicken also being reserved for special occasions. Alcohol is an expected part of public feasting on Wallis, and kava is drunk by Futunan men. The land produces taro, yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, and breadfruit.

## Sports (Faigao'i)

Jocelino Suta is a French rugby union player who plays as a lock for RC Toulonnais. After his birth in Port Vila, capital of the Republic of Vanuatu, planted in the heart of the Paciﬁc near to Fiji, Jocelino Suta grew up in Wallis-et-Futuna, a French archipeligo, from where his parents originated, and then in New Caledonia where he was educated from the age of 10 years. He is the cousin of prop Mikaele Tuugahala. After the 2007-08 Rugby Pro D2 season led to a promotion for Stade Montois to the Top 14, he planned on joining Racing Métro 92 Paris. Since the club stayed in Pro D2, he moved to RC Toulonnais, another promoted club. Suta debuted for France in 2012 against Australia on November 10.

Mikaele Tuugahala is a French rugby union player. He plays at the Prop position and currently plays for Racing Métro 92. He is the cousin of Toulon Loose forward Jocelino Suta.

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