Research Trip to Canberra

by Banaban Ken Sigrah, Australia

The highlight of Ken's research trip to Canberra was meeting the late Harry & Honor Maude with Manabu Kitaguchi.

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A Research Trip to Canberra

by Banaban - Ken Sigrah, Australia

Taken from Issue No. 27 of the 'Banaba/Ocean Island News' - Oct, Nov, Dec '97

My name is Ken Sigrah, and I’m a Banaban currently here in Australia writing a book on behalf of the Te Aka, Te Maiu, Te Karieta and the Teinamoriki Clans. I have been partly sponsored by Manabu Kitaguchi and the Society branch in Japan. Some of the Society members know me from the ‘Homecoming’ Trip. As a Banaban, I hope my book will help my people restore their culture and dignity.

It is a great privilege for me to write this article for the December Issue. The writing of this book is of great importance to the future of the young Banaban generation concerning our history, culture and customs.

I also feel honoured to acknowledge to our readers that I will be the first Banaban to write on Banaban issues from a Banaban point of view. Thus, the reason for my visit to Australia.

I acknowledge the support of the four Clans mentioned in my opening paragraph and the help of dependent friends and relatives in undertaking this essential duty. Also, I would like to thank my late Elders and those who are still on Rabi for being my teachers. I have been in training as a Clan Spokesman since I was 14 years old. Since then, I’ve been attending general Clan meetings, and believe that this knowledge of Banaban Culture should be recorded and kept for guidelines, for future generations.

Unfortunately, previous writings about the Banabans have been confusing and inaccurate in relation to true Banaban history, culture, and customs. This only made me more determined to write about what I have learnt from my Elders. This written record will remove the confusion and correct the mistakes of the past before it is too late.

The three-hour flight from Nadi to Brisbane brought me to a different land with different cultures. It will stand out as a great experience in my life, as will the people I have met and still have yet to meet in Australia. Many Banaban histories are stored in the Archives in Canberra, Australia’s capital city.

Another Adventure Begins

FRIDAY 7th November was the most exciting day of my visit to Australia, which marked the beginning of my ‘great Aussie’ tour to Canberra with Stacey as host for this trip. We spent three-quarters of the day travelling from the Gold Coast to the town of Taree in New South Wales. We left again at 3 am the next morning to pick up Manabu Kitaguchi by 10 am, who was arriving at Sydney’s International Airport on a flight from Tokyo.

We had a good time in Sydney quickly sight-seeing and visiting the famous landmarks like the Harbour Bridge, the tunnel under the harbour and the Sydney Opera House, which brought back fond memories of my last visit to Australia in 1972 as a member of the Banaban Cultural Dance group who performed at the Opera House Opening Celebrations. Manabu was also keen to take some video footage of Nauru House, and it took us over two frustrating hours to finally locate the building in the maze of one-way streets that run through the heart of Sydney’s business district. By 1.30 pm Saturday, we left Sydney heading south for Australia’s Capital City of Canberra.

We arrived in Canberra with our mighty VW - ‘spitting the dummy’, an Aussie expression which means in my society as ‘spitting her guts out!’ This happened because Stacey and Manabu had pushed her hard for the past 1,350 km in 22 hours of driving. It was in the middle of the Capital’s first set of city traffic lights that our beloved VW conked out. To my surprise and joy, our host gave me the honour of the day to push our poor VW off the busy street to give way to the other motorists.

I was so proud to have Manabu as my assistant to execute the honour—what a way to go. Seeing people driving past with such beautiful, broad smiles makes me wonder if people thought we had been pushing our VW, with Stacey at the wheel, from where we came. Maybe it was a good sight for the people of Canberra to see three different nationalities crammed into a tiny, overloaded VW Beetle. Anyway, the smiles were a most acknowledged Aussie welcome, so I am told.

At Canberra Motor Inn, we set camp with Manabu, christening our 12’x12’ tent as our Banaban Heritage Society International Headquarters in Canberra.

A Wonderful Discovery Awaited Me In Canberra

SUNDAY 9th. November was spent in a bit of a panic finding a mechanic to look at our ailing VW. Our first appointments had already been arranged for 10 am the next morning, and we needed our car. After the assistance of a local mechanic, who couldn’t stop scratching his head in wonderment when he heard of the journey we had been through. The VW was down to her last two cylinders, and he couldn’t work out how the car had even made its way to his workshop.

The mechanic disappeared under the car and began tinkering and tapping away. Stacey conveniently had disappeared, not wanting to see her car in its final death throes. A nervous Manabu and I stood by, waiting for the final verdict. Suddenly, a large burst of black smoke coughed out of the exhaust, and the engine began to rev.

Somehow, Stacey had once again pulled off one of her so-called ‘miracles’, (like some of our readers will remember on the recent ‘Homecoming’) Even the mechanic stood back in awe and amazement as he told Stacey - ‘You must be blessed!’

How could Manabu and I tell him that, after pulling off taking a leaking boat across the Pacific on mostly one engine, on our voyage to Banaba, our sick VW was nothing? Just another one of Stacey’s seemingly endless adventures.

MONDAY, November 10th, saw a happy start to a very exciting day. Fellow Society Member Ewan Maidment from the Pacific Manuscript Bureau at the ANU in Canberra had helped set up and arrange all our appointments. We met him at his office on time, at 10 a.m., and received a warm greeting from him and his assistants, Monica and Peter.

When Stacey first arranged the Canberra visit some months back, she contacted Ewan to ask for his help in trying to locate files and material she believed might be stored at the ANU relating to the archaeological dig of my Clan’s sacred village site back on Banaba—Te Aka.

From Stacey’s talks with Ewan, he became fascinated with the story of what had happened and went on a personal search on our behalf to see what he could locate. Before leaving the Gold Coast, we had already received the exciting news from Ewan that he had recovered not only the whole Te Aka file and report but also numerous artefacts, and two skeletal remains were also in storage at the ANU.

But what was more exciting for us was that Ewan had advised the department of our visit, and arrangements had been made for Dr Lampert, who had led the dig in 1965 and was now retired to Moss Vale in New South Wales, to come to Canberra to meet us.

At this stage, I would like to express my gratitude to Stacey and Ewan for arranging everything for me and setting up such meetings, which would be some of the highlights of my life.

It was great to meet with Dr Lampert and hear his first-hand accounts of what he discovered at my village. Also, he never realised the importance of the site, and after he had completed the dig, the actual mining of the site ended up being abandoned. For all he knew, Te Aka now didn’t exist. (Look to page 10 for Ewan’s article in this month’s issue of PAMBU magazine regarding our Canberra visit)

At my meeting with Dr Lampert, I also met Prof. Jack Golson, who had been Head of the Archaeology & Natural History, RSPAS, at ANU and the main organiser of the Te Aka dig all those years ago in co-operation with the Bishop Museum. What a moment it was for me when, unexpectedly, Prof. Golson officially handed back our sacred artefacts and remains to me for return to my people. Their research over the years has shown the relics to be dated between 300 and 400 years.

Dr Lampert offered to write a forward for my book, and Prof. Golson agreed to write a conclusion recounting the return of these precious items to our people. There is nothing more I could have asked for, except that I now feel this gesture will help the future look brighter for my people.

Professor Ron Lampert came out of retirement to give Raobeia (Ken) Sigrah all his notes and files on the Te Aka dig he conducted

on Banaba in the 1960s.

Bringing History to Life

Tuesday, November 11th, saw us off to the Australian National Library, where we researched articles until lunchtime. We continued our work at the ANU Library, photocopying the essential documents we could access, mostly the Ellis diary.

WEDNESDAY, November 12th, saw us visit the Australian Archives, another highlight of my Canberra visit. To see Manabu and Stacey working together without a break that morning was just the inspiration I needed, and it is something I will always admire.

At 4 p.m., Stacey had arranged for me to meet the seemingly ageless couple Honor and Harry Maude, at their residence. I was so pleased to see them both in good health despite being in their 90s.

What amazed me so much was that when Stacey introduced me to Harry and explained that I was from the Te Aka clan, he immediately began speaking to me in Gilbertese and started to tell me about my clan history.

It was a wonderful experience to sit down with Harry and talk about such important issues related to Banaban history and what he had written over the years. It was only while speaking with him that I began to understand the full extent of what he had tried to achieve through his writings, especially in his last book, 'BOOK OF BANABA,' which our people find very controversial.

He answered so many of my questions that are relevant to my research on my book about our people’s history, especially our clan, Te Aka, the indigenous people of Banaba. Stacey tape-recorded the most important information of our discussion, a copy of which will be made and sent to my clan elders on Rabi.

After such an enlightening two hours spent with the Maude’s, we sadly bid ‘ti akabo’, with Harry promising to write a ‘Forward’ for my book.

On Friday, November 14th, I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Langdon at the ANU. Robert, or Bob, as he is known, ignited Banaban’s British Court case in 1967 by writing the article ‘Scandalous Document’ while an editor for the Pacific Island Monthly.

The pleasure of meeting these people was overwhelming. I can’t say more, but I will never forget my personal ‘Kam bati Raba’ (thank you very much) for making my trip to Canberra memorable and profitable.

Professor Jack Golson releasing Te Aka remains and relics to Raobeia (Ken) Sigrah ANU, Canberra, 1997.

Experiencing Real Aussie Bush Hospitality

We left Canberra and made our way back to the Gold Coast via the New South Wales country town of Tamworth to meet up with fellow society member Alan McCarthy and his family. The McCarthy family hosted us in Tamworth and even arranged for their local news media to interview us on Banaban issues. This was an exciting experience (see news clipping no. 17) and another valuable chance to promote my people and our culture.

We were joined by Grant, who had flown in from Sydney to meet us during our stay. Grant and Alan are working on a book on Pacific Coastwatcher history.

Our two-day stopover with Alan and his family was a first-hand experience for both Manabu and me. It was my first real taste of what is called Australian country hospitality and a big lesson in how not to drink so much Aussie beer.

Building New Friendships After The Legacy of War

Poor Manabu had arrived with a terrible backache after being crammed in the back of the VW with all the luggage. Manabu’s visit was also a big occasion for Alan, as it was Alan’s first time personally meeting a Japanese person. (Look to Alan’s ‘Feature Story’ page on the family’s tragedy of his uncle being executed as a Coastwatcher during WW2.) Through the Society, Alan had heard and read so much about Manabu’s efforts to educate the Japanese public about the War years, and Alan wanted to meet him. It was great to see the two of them busy chatting away, and Alan showing Manabu all his research material on Pacific Coastwatcher history.

To see them laughing together and warmly shaking each other's hands made me realise what the Banaban Heritage Society was all about: bringing people together—not just us Banabans, but people from all different backgrounds who shared a common interest and, more importantly, genuinely cared for others.

We finally said ‘farewell’ on Monday afternoon and again hit the road. We arrived back at the Gold Coast around 10:30 p.m., very tired and physically wasted but well and happy in spirit.

On Saturday, November 22nd, we said another ‘ti akabo’ to our good friend Manabu from Brisbane Airport. Another adventure had ended, safely and with such wonderful results.

Learning More Than I Bargained For

I’m now busy working on the actual writing of my book and learning to try to adjust to Western society here in Australia. The technology here is amazing, and Stacey hopes to teach me how to use the computer. Meanwhile, she also has me busy answering the mountain of mail she receives, especially over the INTERNET - another fantastic aspect of new technology.

A Heartfelt Experience

As I look back on my great experiences in Canberra and since arriving here in Australia, I understand that my attitude to life as a Banaban now seems different. As a younger generation of Banabans, born and raised in Rabi, I always felt the burden of our people’s history. Now I’m convinced that I have suffered and looked at my life from a ‘Victim’s’ point of view, which every other Banaban also feels. As I have learnt from another great Aussie expression, I have carried ‘a great chip on my shoulder’. It is time for us to feel no longer sorry for ourselves. (This is another reason I feel so strongly about changing our new Society Logo.) We, as Banabans, can achieve so much for our people in the future; it is up to each of us to make a difference. We cannot change what has been done to us in the past; we can only work towards a better future by building new friendships and addressing the problems our community faces in today’s modern world.

I also realise that we Banabans need support from our network of friends worldwide. (A big thank you to all those who have contributed over the past years in helping our people.) The Canberra trip showed me what we could achieve when we all put our heads down and worked together. A valuable lesson I hope I will be able to share with my people in future years.

So here ends my story - until the next adventure!

Managu Kitaguchi, Raobeia (Ken) Sigrah and Stacey King's visit to Tamworth, NSW featured in the local newspaper in 1997.

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2. Dr Ronald Lampert and Raobeia Ken Sigrah looking over maps at ANU, Canberra (1).png

Our homeland Our past Our identity Our future

Research Trip to Canberra

by Banaban Ken Sigrah, Australia