The Past Weaving the Future Project: Passing on Traditional Knowledge throughout the Republic of the Marshall Islands

The Historic Preservation Office (HPO) and WUTMI’s Weaving Project consisted of four components: 1) Locate Master Weavers; 2) Conduct a Workshop on Traditional Weaving; 3) Train participants to become “Skill Docents”; 4) Development of Weaving Portfolios. WUTMI first identified two Master Weavers, Mrs. Kiop Leon of Arno Atoll and Mrs. Belleri Annam of Mejit Island, who then led two weaving workshops at WUTMI’s 2nd Annual Meeting in 2007. One Workshop focused on making a type of Marshallese sitting mat called a Tclao, and the other workshop focused on making baskets, or Iep. The workshops were one week long, and each participant learned how to weave and finish the product taught in the workshop. As the participants of the workshops continue to practice and build their weaving skills, WUTMI hopes that they become “Skills Docents” to their communities. In addition to the workshops, two manuals, or “Toolkits,” were created, listing the materials used to make these products (one Toolkit is for making Tolao, and the other is for making Iep), as well as providing step-by-step instructions on how to weave them. These Toolkits will be duplicated and distributed as the final part of this project. In addition to the workshops and Toolkits produced for the Tolao and Iep, WUTMI staff worked with trainees at Wa in Aelon in Majel (WAM) to create an additional tool kit providing the steps and materials necessary to produce a Marshallese canoe sail are included here

Perceived Impact of a Land and Property Rights Program on Violence Against Women in Rural Kenya

The current study focuses on a community-led land and property rights program in two rural provinces in western Kenya. The program was designed to respond to women's property rights violations to reduce violence against women and HIV risks at the community level. Through in-depth interviews with 30 women, we examine the perceived impact that this community-level property rights program had on violence against women at the individual and community level. We also examine perceptions as to how reductions in violence were achieved. Finally, we consider how our findings may aid researchers in the design of structural violence-prevention strategies