Book 2, Post 2

 Book 2, Post 2

I chose the book, The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World by Wade Davis because I was interested in learning more about Polynesians' mastery of navigation across the Pacific Ocean. As someone from the islands, I've always had a strong interest in learning more about the history and culture of Pacific Islander communities to deepen my own understanding and engage more mindfully with these traditions. Although the book focuses largely on Polynesia, it still has strong correlations to the cultures in Micronesia and Melanesia. It truly is incredible that these islanders were able to navigate across the waters without any modern technology, only the stars, ocean currents, wind, and bird flight patterns.

I only read Chapter 2, The Wayfinders, from the book, mainly because I did not have enough time to read the rest. My review will be based solely on this chapter. Initially, I assumed this would be another Westernized perspective of the islands, focusing on how Europeans “discovered” them and viewed the people as “barbaric and uncivilized,” which I honestly thought was going to frustrate me. However, as I read more into the chapter, I was pleasantly surprised that the author gives credit where it’s due. The book highlights the incredible skill of the Polynesian navigators who traveled thousands of miles across the open ocean without modern technology, relying solely on their natural understanding of the world. Even as the Europeans studied the Polynesians’ navigation techniques, they still struggled to understand this incredible feat thousands of years ago.

One unique aspect of islander culture is that many of their teachings have been passed down through generations by word of mouth and hands-on experiences, with little written transcription. This method has been crucial for their cultural identity and resilience over the years.

However, there are broader implications of relying only on oral and hands-on traditions. The author discusses how Polynesian cultures face threats from colonialism, globalization, and assimilation. This doesn’t just apply to Polynesians, but Pacific Islanders as a whole. My CHamoru friends back home often talk about the growing concern that their culture and language are being forgotten. Many of the new generation cannot speak the language, nor do they know the history their grandparents know due to colonialism. This ties back to how important it is to recognize Pacific Islander heritage, not only for their cultural preservation but also to address modern issues.

I would recommend this book to others for the reasons mentioned above, but especially because it brings awareness to Pacific Islanders' culture and heritage so that they might not be forgotten in the near future.