NASA picture of Tikopia.

Tikopia is a small and high island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of 5 km² (2 sq. mi.), the island is the remnant of an extinct volcano. Its highest point, Mt. Reani, reaches an elevation of 380 m (1,247 ft) above sea level. Lake Te Roto covers an old volcanic crater which is 80 m deep.

Tikopia's location is relatively remote. It is sometimes grouped with the Santa Cruz Islands. Administratively, Tikopia belongs to Temotu Province as the southernmost of the Solomon Islands.

Population[link]

Tikopia and inset showing position

Historische Karte Tikopias (1943-1945

The population of Tikopia is about 1,200, distributed among more than 20 villages mostly along the coast. The largest village is Matautu on the west coast, not to be confused with Mata-Utu, the capital of Wallis and Futuna. Historically, the tiny island has supported a high-density population of a thousand or so. Strict reproductive policy prevented further increase. Unlike most of the Solomon Islands, the inhabitants are Polynesians, their language, Tikopian, is a member of the Samoic branch of the Polynesian languages and is generally referred to as a Polynesian outlier.

Tikopians practice an intensive system of agriculture (which has been compared to permaculture), similar in principle to forest gardening and the gardens of the New Guinea highlands. Their agricultural practices are strongly and consciously tied to the population density. For example, around 1600 AD, the people agreed to slaughter all pigs on the island, and substitute fishing, because the pigs were taking too much food that could be eaten by people.

Unlike the rapidly Westernizing society of much of the rest of Temotu Province, Tikopia society is little changed from ancient times. Its people take great pride in their customs, and see themselves as holding fast to their Polynesian traditions while they regard the Melanesians around them to have lost most of theirs.

Four chiefs reign over the islands of Tikopia and Anuta, still holding court in their huts.

Tikopians have a highly developed culture with a strong Polynesian influence, including a complex social structure.

New Zealand anthropologist, Raymond Firth, who lived on Tikopia in 1928 and 1929, detailed the social life of Tikopia at that time. He showed how the society was divided geographically into two zones and was organized into four clans, headed by clan chiefs. At the core of social life was the te paito - the house inherited from male (patrilineal) ancestors, who were buried inside it. Relationships with the family grouping of one's mother (matrilateral relations) were also very important. The relations between a mother's brother and his nephew had a sacred dimension: the uncle oversaw the passage of his nephew through life, in particular, officiating at his manhood ceremonies. Intricate economic and ritual links between paito houses and deference to the chiefs within the clan organization were key dimensions of island life.

Raymond Firth speculates about the ways population control may have been achieved, including celibacy, warfare (including expulsion), infanticide and sea-voyaging (which claimed many youths). Currently, many young men leave the island, heading to either the Russell Islands or the national capital, Honiara, in search of work. As a result of this outflow, population control is less necessary.

Cyclone Zoe in December 2002 devastated the vegetation and human settlements in Tikopia. Despite the extensive damage, no deaths were reported, as the islanders followed their traditions and sheltered in the caves in the higher ground. The narrow bank that separated the freshwater lagoon from the sea was breached by the storm, resulting in the continuing contamination of the lagoon and the threatened death of the sago palms on which the islanders depend for survival. A remarkable international effort by "friends of" the island, including many yacht crews who had had contact with Tikopia over the decades, culminated in the construction of a gabion dam to seal the breach.

Some discussions of Tikopian society include its nearest neighbour, the even tinier island of Anuta.

The Melanesian Mission (Anglican) first made contact with Tikopia in 1858. A mission teacher was not allowed to settle on Tikopia until 1907.^[1]

See also[link]

• Melanesia
• Oceania
• Pacific Islands
• Polynesian outlier
• Jared Diamond's book Collapse describes Tikopia as a success case in matching the challenges of sustainability, contrasting it with Easter Island.

References[link]

1. ^ Ethnographic Artifacts: Challenges to a Reflexive Anthropology, by S. R. Jaarsma, Marta Rohatynskyj, University of Hawaii Press, 2000, p. 112-13

External links[link]

• An essay on Tikopia, prepared for the BBC
• BBC photo essay, from the aftermath of Cyclone Zoe Despite the overwhelming devastation and the greatest fears, no one on Tikopia was killed in the disaster.
• Tools and practical help after the cyclone
• Restoring the freshwater lagoon of Tikopia
• Solomon Islands - John Seach a Tour Site but with information on each of the islands
• older detail map

Further reading[link]

• We the Tikopia (1936), Raymond Firth's classic study, still used in anthropology classes today
• Kirch, Patrick Viinton, Tikopia; The History and Ecology of a Polynesian Outlier, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, 1982.
• Firth, Raymond, The Work of the Gods in Tikopia, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press (1940, 1967)
• Firth, Raymond, SOCIAL CHANGE IN TIKOPIA. Re-Study of a Polynesian Community after a Generation, London: Allen and Unwin. 1959, 360 pages

v t e Islands of the Solomon Islands by province Central Aeaun Gavutu Mbanika Nggela Islands Pavuvu Russell Islands Savo Tanambogo Tulagi Choiseul Choiseul Cyprian Bridge Island Nuatambu Rob Roy Taro Vaghena Guadalcanal Guadalcanal Korasahalu Marau Sound Nughu Tavanipupu Vulelua Isabel Arnarvon Furona Island Kerehikapa Maleivona Ramos San Jorge Santa Isabel Sikopo Makira-Ulawa Ali'ite Makira Malaulalo Malaupaina Pio Santa Ana Santa Catalina Ugi Ulawa Malaita Adagege Alite Anuta Paina Funaafou Langa Langa Lagoon Lau Lagoon Laulasi Maana'omba Malaita Maramasike Mbasakana Ndai Ontong Java Roncador Reef Sikaiana Sulufou Rennell and Bellona Bellona Indispensable Reefs Rennell Temotu Anuta Banie Duff Islands Fatutaka Fenualoa Lomlom Makalom Malo Matema Nendö Nifiloli Nukapu Nupani Patteson Shoal Pigeon Pileni Reef Islands Santa Cruz Islands Taumako Teanu Tikopia Tinakula Utupua Vanikoro Western Arundel Faisi Fauro Ghizo Ghoi Kavachi Kennedy Kiambe Kingguru Kohinggo Kolombangara Liapari Logha Lola Lumbari Marovo Matikuri Mbava Mborokua Mbulo Mondomondo Mono Nakaza New Georgia New Georgia Islands Nggatokae Nusatupe Ranongga Rendova Shortland Shortland Islands Simbo Stirling Telina Tetepare Treasury Islands Vella Lavella Uepi Vangunu Vonavona

Coordinates: 12°17′47.3″S 168°49′55.0″E / 12.296472°S 168.83194°E / -12.296472; 168.83194

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2011)

Coordinates: 10°45′S 167°00′E / 10.75°S 167°E / -10.75; 167

Temotu Province
—  Province  —
Map of the Temotu province
Coordinates: 10°45′S 167°0′E / 10.75°S 167°E / -10.75; 167
Country	Solomon Islands
Capital	Lata
Government
• Premier	Fr. Charles Brown Beu[1]
Area
• Total	895 km2 (346 sq mi)
Population (2009[2])
• Total	21,362
• Density	23.9/km2 (62/sq mi)
Time zone	+11 (UTC+11)

Temotu is the easternmost province of the Solomon Islands. The province was formerly known as Santa Cruz Islands Province. It consists, essentially, of two chains of islands which run parallel to each other from the northwest to the southeast.

Islands[link]

The islands or island groups which make up the province are:

• Anuta
• Duff Islands (including Taumako)
• Fatutaka
• Lomlom
• Malo
• Matema
• Reef Islands (including Fenualoa, Makalom, Nalongo and Nupani, Nifiloli, Nukapu, Patteson Shoal, Pigeon Island and Pileni)
• Santa Cruz Islands (including the large island Nendö)
• Tikopia
• Tinakula
• Utupua
• Vanikoro (including Banie and Teanu)

The provincial capital is Lata, located on Nendö, the largest and most important of the Santa Cruz islands.

Population[link]

The population of 21,362 (2009)^[2] is quite diverse for the small land area encompassed. The Santa Cruz Islanders are predominantly Melanesian, although the inhabitants of Tikopia, Anuta, the Duff Islands and some of the Reef Islands are Polynesians.

Languages[link]

The province has given its name to the Temotu languages, a putative linguistic subgroup within the broader Oceanic family of languages.

The languages spoken in the province include all nine Temotu languages proper, plus two Polynesian outlier languages: Vaeakau-Taumako and Tikopia.

See also[link]

• Remote Oceania

References[link]

External links[link]

• Solomon Islands Photogallery of Temotu Province. Includes a map.

v t e Provinces of the Solomon Islands Capital territory: Honiara Central Choiseul Guadalcanal Isabel Makira-Ulawa Malaita Rennell and Bellona Temotu Western

This Solomon Islands location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Kevin S. MacLeod CVO, CD, BA MA Carl
Kevin S. MacLeod in the Canadian Senate Chamber
Born	1951 (age 60–61) North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Author, Usher of the Black Rod, Secretary to the Queen

Kevin Stewart MacLeod CVO CD is the Usher of the Black Rod for the Canadian Senate,^[1][2] the Canadian Secretary to the Queen of Canada,^[3] and the author of the historical fiction novel, A Stone on Their Cairn/Clach air An Càrn.^[4]

Born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, MacLeod studied at Boston University and Carleton University, where he received both his bachelor's degree in history and political science and a master's degree in international affairs,^[1] before moving on to the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. After his return from there, MacLeod served for 10 years as an administrative assistant in the Canadian House of Commons, subsequently acting as a chief of staff for one of the then ministers of the Crown before being employed by the Department of Canadian Heritage for 22 years. Among his accomplishments in that office, MacLeod was appointed as the Chief of Protocol and then authored A Crown of Maples/la couronne canadienne – an educational book on the Canadian monarchy, published by the heritage department.

It is the responsibility of the Department of Canadian Heritage to organise royal tours of Canada, and it was for that in 1987 of Queen Elizabeth II, that MacLeod first had a part in coordinating such an event, and, by the time of the Queen's 2005 visit to the prairies to celebrate the centennials of Alberta's and Saskatchewan's entry into Confederation, MacLeod was given the role of Acting Secretary to the Queen. For his service to the monarch, he had already been in 1992 appointed as a member of the Royal Victorian Order, and in 2002, the year of Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.^[5] But, it was during the 2005 tour that MacLeod was elevated by the Queen in person to the highest position a Canadian can hold in the order (due to the government's adherence to the Nickle Resolution), that of commander;^[6] this made MacLeod the only Canadian to be promoted through all three levels of the order in Canada.^[1]

On March 27, 2008, MacLeod was appointed by order of the Governor-in-council as the Usher of the Black Rod for the Senate,^[2] replacing Terrance Christopher.

On April 1, 2009, MacLeod was further appointed as the full-time Canadian Secretary to the Queen,^[3] putting him in charge of, amongst other things, coordinating royal tours of Canada, and chairing the Diamond Jubilee Committee, which is to organise the celebrations in 2012 for the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession as Queen of Canada. He was responsible for the visit of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to Canada in November 2009.,^[7] and he was responsible for co-ordinating the Queen's 24th official visit to Canada in 2010.^[8]

In 2010, MacLeod was appointed by the Prime Minister to the Governor General Consultation Committee^[9] a special committee to recommend a successor to Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean. The panel recommended David Lloyd Johnston who was installed as viceroy on October 1, 2010.^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Personal website of Kevin MacLeod