Oceania

Welcome!

The three main cultures of Oceania are Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian. (The first three culture groups, the last a geographic region) Australasia. To make the page less barren, I'll cover these three culture groups and some other things. W.I.P., page may be subject to change.

Polynesia

Polynesia is the easternmost region of Oceania, stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island, forming a large triangle in the middle of the Pacific. The region has much, much more ocean than land in it and islands are often spread sparsely. Polynesians have settled on various islands by navigating through the help of bird migration, star constellations and ocean tides. Long before any European set foot in any of the islands of Oceania, Polynesians had already set foot on close to every single island inside the Polynesian Triangle, with a few specialized navigators and canoes.

Melanesia

Melanesia is the second largest region of Oceania after Australasia, having the whole of Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands. Melanesians held warrior ethic who often engaged in confrontations with eachother over either land disputes or pigs, which are seen as symbols of high prestige, particularly in the inland of Papua New Guinea.

Micronesia

Micronesia is, in terms of total land size, the smallest region of Oceania. It's comparable to the size of Luxembourg. The name, meaning 'Small islands' in Greek, was coined by French explorer Louis Domeny de Rienzi.

Australasia

As the name implies, Australasia encompasses the whole of Australia + New Zealand. Culturally, New Zealand is Polynesian but because it is geographically Australasian it is considered to be part of both regions.

Aboriginals of Australia

The Aboriginal culture group consists out of hundreds of tribal nations, languages and distinct customs, spread all over the giant landmass that is Australia. But, there are generally a few things that they all value. Aboriginal cultures value oral knowledge, passing down information with the mouth and art. In Aboriginal cultures, land, Country, isn't something you can own. But rather something you as a person have a duty to care for.

Māori

The Māori people inhabit the island(s) of New Zealand. The Māori people are the descendants of the Polynesian natives who reached the island by canoe. Māori women tattoo their chins (moko kauae) to represent their identity, i.e. the tribe they're from, rivers, mountains, etc. Women with moko kauae were historically leaders or other important figures like healers and retainers of knowledge. Today, Māori women, regardless of social status, can get a moko kauae.