This presentation shows the importance of folklore by looking at five different indigineous cultures. It educates readers on how sustainability and folklore are very much a part of each other.

1. Folklore and
Harvest
Prof. Becker, Catherine
COM 344

2. PURPOSE
To educate the students about culture, communication, and sustainability and how folklore is
involved with daily survival associated with food.
Folklore to facilitate education
➢ Folklore from Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Alaskan, and Ainu cultures
➢ Folklore explains cause and effect of food used for survival
➢ The importance of folklore associated with certain food diet for each culture

3. What is Folklore?
(Establishing the Term)
Folklore can be defined as “The traditional beliefs, legends, customs, and etc;
lore of people”
-Dictionary.com
Or “Traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved
among a people.”
-Merriam Webster

4. MAORI

5. Culture
• Proud and strong people
• Indigenous people of New Zealand
• Originally from Polynesia about 1,000 years ago
• Utilized sky and sea as seen in folklore
• First settlers sailed from China and stopped in Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia,
Melanesia, Fiji, Samoa, Marquesas, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands
• British influence from colonial rule

6. Sustainability
Cause and Effect:
●Cause: shortages of food (seafood) due to overharvesting (overfishing)
●Effect: utilizing “rāhui” (restrictions or bans) on gathering of certain species of animals
➢ Over harvesting affects the villagers on land who rely on the sea
● Banned gutting fish and discarding food, bait, and/or rubbish at sea
➢ Using every part of the animal or plant
• Slash and Burn in Forests - different areas burned throughout year
➢ Bracken fern that grew in regenerating areas was a staple of the Māori diet

7. Communication
●An oral tradition
➢ Te Reo Māori is native language
➢ similar to Tahitian and Hawaiian
• Using “waiata” (songs)
➢ Folklore custom that’s easier to facilitate the Maori culture
• carvings in “whare” (homes)
➢ Used for entertainment to tell stories
• “haka” is war dance with chant
➢ Boost morale and spiritual strength before battle

8. Food
●“tītī” -> muttonbird -> sooty shearwater -> member of petrel family of seabirds
●Annual harvesting season for Rakiura (Stewart Island) Maori: April 1 - May 31
• ‘chicks were described as being remarkably fat with meat resembling mutton’ (sheep meat)
➢ Great in calories for fatty meat
• Chicks extracted from burrows during day (nanao) and caught above ground at night (rama)
➢ After nanao, hole then sealed with “puru” (natural plug) to stop water from getting in and collapsing the nest
chamber
➢ During rama, chicks emerge from burrows at night to exercise developing wings
• Cause and effect
➢ Only harvesting during certain seasons and management systems in place to prevent depletion of food source

9. Folklore Associated with Tītī Bird
Traditional Māori story about food, specifically birds and food
The Folklore:
One of the creation myths explaining the origin
of the world. Primal couple (first beings): Rangi
and Papa (short for Ranginui and Papatūānuku).
Sky Father and Earth Mother in a tight embrace
and their children, all sons, are gods of different
aspects of the natural world. Sons forced to live
in cramped darkness with parents, they want to
live in the light, so they try to separate their
parents.Tū (Tūmatauenga) is only one who
wants to kill parents. Tāne, god of forests and
birds, is one to successfully break them apart
then Tū (god of humankind and war) thought
about the actions of Tāne in separating their
parents and made snares to catch the birds, the
children of Tāne who could no longer fly free”,
and he ate all of his brothers.
●It’s not mentioned as much, but the tītī bird
has a significance for its creation and to the
Maori
●Folklore explains where the tītī bird
originated from
●A food source ancient and modern Maori
rely on for survival
●A legend about a bird they eat and utilize
for sailing to find land

10. HAWAIIAN

11. Culture
●The first settlers
➢ Polynesians sailing to find land from ~ 300-500 CE
➢ Eventually encountering the six major islands: Big
Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai
●Adapted their beliefs to accommodate their living
ie. Gods: Pele, Lono, etc.
➢ Stories based off the legends and superstitions told by
ancestors

12. Sustainability
● Kalo became their life-substance of food
➢ Folklore mentioning Kalo as the source of human existence
●Profound connection with the Earth, so they cared for the Earth as the
Earth cared for them
➢ Understood cause and effect from the Kumulipo chant (Hawaiian
creationism)
●Only took what resources were needed. Gave the unused resources back to
the land
➢ Their stories emphasize spiritual connection with the land and sea gods
➢ Caring for the land and sea means the blessing from the god to continue a
good harvest

13. Communication
●An oral tradition
➢ Using mele (song) and oli (chant)
➢ Using mele and oli as an easier way to pass down folklore tradition and culture
●Hula (dance)
➢ Dances of Auana (modern) and Kahiko (traditional) to symbolize acts of nature and natural
phenomenons
●Hana (crafts)
➢ Crafts to represent folklore myths and legends
➢ Visual aid to tell stories

14. Food
●Kalo (Taro)
●Utilized wet and dry taro for agriculture
●Many uses
●Made into poi (pasty mash of taro root), leaves used as steamers, a lunch box, and etc.
●Steep in folklore
●Cause and effect
➢ Culture/cultivation of Taro and Hawaiian culture/way of life closely interwoven
➢ Similar to caring for a baby inside of their mother

15. Folklore Associated
with Kalo (Taro)
The Folklore
Their daughter was born, Ho’oho-kui-
kalani, and was named Ha-loa-naka-lau-
kapalili, literally meaning “long-stalk-
quaking-trembling-leaf” referring to the
trembling taro leaf on its quivering stalk.
This first born child died and was buried by
Wakea; from the child's body sprang a taro
plant. A second child was born to this
couple and was simply called Haloa; he
became the ancestor to all people.
●Taro “Kalo”, referring to the child of Papa
and Wakea
●It defined the connection between the
people and the Earth
●Ohana is derived from the ‘oha of taro, the
offspring (sucker) attached to the mother corm
(underground stem)
●Taro had a sacred status, meaning that it could
be planted, harvested and mashed into poi only
by men. However, women knew how to make
poi and did so when they were left alone
●Folklore myth of life regeneration

16. ALASKAN

17. Culture
●The Unangan people of Alaska (Aleuts)
➢coastal natives who were believed to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia 12,000- 15,000
years ago.
➢arrived in the Aleutian Islands from the Alaskan mainland about 2000 B.C.
●Estimated population of 25,000 Alaskan Natives of Aleut culture until contact with Russians in the
1820s.
➢Name of Aleut (Pacific Eskimos) came from the Russian fur traders who came to conquer the land in
1745

18. Sustainability
●Hunting and gathering
●Gathering salmon, shellfish, cod, crabs
●Hunting bigger game animals such as whales, otters, walruses, seals
●Only hunting during certain season
●Allowed non seasonal animals to grow larger for hunting
● Never hunting for sport

19. Communication
●culture passed down generation to generation through totems
➢ Visual aid for myths, stories of ancestors
●Oral tradition
➢ A language between Russians and then Ivan veniaminov
➢ created a writing system to tie the languages together along with culture
●Communication through dance
➢ Many stories and legends would be taught or shared through dance at tribe gatherings
➢ creative masks were made to tell of legends and myths

20. Food
Salmon
● Animal harvest is a huge community
effort
● Prepped different ways
● Were hung to dry on structures to
keep away from predators
● Smoked to preserve or with salt
Bear
● Used mostly for fur
● A protein source that sustains a whole
village
● Never hunted for game

21. Folklore Associated with Food (Bear)
The Folklore:
Every village has a master hunter that protects the village people of
dangers from predators. In this case the folklore story of the white
faced bear is intriguing. One man seemed to have hunted for sport
killing all bears he laid his eyes on. Until a hunte from another village
came across and warned him of a great bear with a white face and
four white paws. The man claims this is the biggest bear he's ever
seen and seems to become invisible and just vanish. The man didn't
listen and went out for a hunt. When he saw this great bear he crept
up the tundra and stayed still. Looking away for a second and turning
back to meet the great bear face to face. The bear then began to
speak and warn him to not kill anymore bears. The man listened for a
week and set off with seven companions. Killing seven bears one
each. The leader then spotted the Great bear and took aim.
Vanishing into thin air the bear appeared behind him and gored him.
The spirits then spoke to the hunter and the reasoning behind his
death by the Great Bear
●A moral
➢Killing to kill takes many unnecessary lives
➢Nature has mysterious ways to take
vengeance on those who take advantage of
nature
● Cause and effect
➢Over hunting resulting in depletions of an
important food source

22. SAMOAN

23. Samoan Culture
●Samoa consists of five main islands and two coral atolls (Tutuila. Aunuu, Manua,
Upolu, Savaii and the Rose Atoll and Swains Island)
● Rituals and protocols
➢Few differences between Tutuila “American Samoa” and Upolu “Western Samoa” due
to the American Influence in Tutuila and the Australian/New Zealand influence in
Upolu.
●The motto for American Samoa is “Samoa, Muamua Le Atua” -Samoa put God
first.....Western Samoa’s motto is “Faʻavae i le Atua Sāmoa”-Samoa is founded on
God.
● The three pillars every Samoan kid is taught to respect and follow are God, Family,

24. Sustainability
●“fanua” (land) and “sami” (ocean) for food and other resources
➢ Every Samoan child is taught how to utilize his/her surroundings
●Fanua and sami are interconnected
➢ Myths, legends, and stories are taught to understand the
interconnected purpose of fanua and sami.
●Only harvesting and collecting what is needed

25. Communication
●History and Culture
➢ Includes myths and legends passed down orally
➢ Kids are trained at very young ages about the different practices
in the culture.

26. Food
●Palolo-”Coral Sperm ”Palola viridis
➢ a Polychaeta species from the waters of the Pacific islands around Samoa
●Usually blossom in the month of Nov.
➢ The Early Samoans calculated the year according to the blossom of the Palolo.
Calculated the day and months using the birth of the Palolo. (Taumafamua-
November Toetaumafa-December)

27. Folklore Associated with Food (Palolo)
The Folklore
The 8th night after the full moon in the Taumafamua
(November) is called the masina usunoa which can be
translated to “to walk aimlessly” or salefu because a first
sign that the birth of the Palolo is about to begin is the
appearance of sea foam. The 9th night after a full Moon
is called the masina motusaga which means “MOTU-
fragile and SAGA-constant/lasting. Lastly, the 10th night
which is labeled the “great” night is called the masina
tatelega, TA-to fish, TELEGA-great. This night is when
the spawning of the Palolo is at its strongest thus
signifying the end of the birth.
●The Early Samoans also used the birth of the
Palolo to study the “masina“ (moon phases); in
the Taumafamua month, the 8th /9th and 10th
nights after a full moon is when the Palolo are
birthed.

28. Bonus Folklore
The Folklore
According to Samoan legend, long ago there was a great war
between the birds of the air and the fishes of the sea. The fish
kept the birds back from coming to feed in the ocean, likewise
the birds held the fish back from swimming upstream into the
lakes and rivers. The fish were the ones who determined which
creatures in the ocean were useful in the war. The fishes
determined the Palolo were not useful in the war but would be
useful for the humans. Which is why Palolo swim towards the
shallow waters. This war waged on for a while until a “gogo”
bird was killed by the fishes, the fishes made a covenant with
the birds to allow only the gogo birds to feed on the smaller
fish. while the birds agreed to let the fishes swim upstream
without being attacked. Which is why to this day the only
samoan native bird that feeds on the small fishes is the “gogo”.
The Palolo have helped the Samoan
people not only enjoy a yearly delicacy
but figure out linear and lunar calendars
based on their birth.

29. AINU

30. Culture of Ainu
● They are a distinct native people of Japan
● Ceremonies and practices differ dramatically from Japanese culture
○The people who lived with nature harmoniously
● Using folklore and stories
○Folklore was used to better understand nature’s phenomena
● They are a dying culture due to Japanese colonization

31. Sustainability
● Animal parts and plant materials never go to waste
● Practicing zero-waste is associated with folklore
○Stories associated with respect to the hunted animals and plants
● Only hunting and gathering what is needed
○Stories associated with cause and effect from overhunting
○Believing gods would accusing the Ainu of being greedy

32. Communication
● An oral tradition to generation after generation
○Using folklore to better facilitate tradition and customs
● Song and chant
○An easier method to pass down oral traditions
● A manga (Japanese comic book) is made to popularize the culture
○A modern take to expose Japanese people about the Ainu culture
○Popularize the culture to save the culture

33. Food
● A prized food source
○ The Asiatic black bear is known
as tsukinowaguma 月の輪熊 AKA cresent moon chest black bear
● Hunted during the spring and autumn
● Hunted in the wild
○ Hunted in their burrows during winter
○ Snared by bear traps
● Raised in captivity
○ Orphaned cub would be kept in a pen
○ Treated as a member of the village
○ Fed food better than what Ainu people ate
● Eventually sacrificed for ceremonious reasons

34. Folklore Associated with Food
(Black cresent bear)
The Folklore
“Heper (bear cub), we have revered
you as a deity and nourished you as
though
you were our own child. Tomorrow
you will be sent back with
many gifts to the realm of the
ancestral spirits. Today let us dance
together and pass the time in joy.”
● An upbringing of a spoiled bear cub
● A proper send off
● Folklore custom to encourage the
bear spirit to return back to earth
● Cause and effect
● If the bear is mistreated until death,
the spirit won’t return and no bears to
hunt for food
● A culture that respects from folklore
stories about nature’s delicate balance

35. Recap
Folklore from Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Alaskan, and Ainu cultures
○ Maori: A struggling battle of freedom that creates the titi bird as a food
staple for the Maori
○ Hawaiian: The story of two gods’ conception of taro: a staple diet that
represented life regeneration
○ Samoan: Not only was Palolo a food source, but also used in folklore customs
for sailing navigation
○ Alaskan: Folklore customs to teach their villagers never to hunt for sport
○ Ainu: Treating bears with the same respect as humans will encourage
reincarnation of more bears to be hunted for food

36. ReCap (cont.)
Folklore explains cause and effect of food used for survival
○ Maori: Following folklore customs helps to prevent hunters from over
hunting titi birds
○ Hawaiian: Folklore belief to care for the land and water for a good harvest, if
not it's believed the gods would cease conception for new taro
○ Samoan: Teaching younger generations has an effect for the health and well
being for palolo, if not, resources of land and sea would be wasted
○ Alaskan: Hunting for sport will lead to over hunting, eventually causing an
extinction of an important food source
○ Ainu: Folklore customs dictate the mistreatment of bears will prevent their
souls to reincarnate into living bears for hunting season

37. ReCap (Cont)
The importance of folklore associated with certain food diets for each culture
○ Maori: A story about the creation of the culture’s important food source
○ Hawaiian: A legend that explains the creation of the food staple and means
to explain nature existence in the world
○ Samoan: Morals and traditions to encourage care and respect towards
nature
○ Alaskan: Morals of cause and effect that can disrupt the natural ecosystem
○ Ainu: Spiritual reminder how Ainu and nature are connected and support
each other

38. In Conclusion
● Students will be educated about the importance of folklore and the foods
associated
○ Google slides will aid students to understand why folklore and food are
interconnected
○ Explanation and folklore stories associated with culture, communication, and
sustainability will help to connect the concepts
● All 5 cultures believe in Folklore as a means to care and respect nature's resources
● Orally, music, dance, and crafts are utilized to continue customs and traditions
● Compare:
● All 5 culture’s folklores explain a form of creationism of the foods cultures depend
on
● Contrast:
● The customs, stories, and legends differ how creationism occurred
● Due to environmental reasons, location, and oral perception passed down to
different generations

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