Irooj Mike Kabua with a partly-made jaki-ed.
Expert weaver Tobep Bokin from Ujae teaches the apprentices on Ebeye.
They're creating them on Mejit. Namdrik too. Also Arno. And, starting on Monday, January 7, they began to make them on Kwajalein. That's four atolls that simultaneously have small groups of young women being taught how to make the traditional Marshallese jaki-ed (finely woven clothing mats).
The program, which is implemented by University of the South Pacific and sponsored by the National Training Council, had its humble beginnings at the National Vocational Training Institute in 2007. That's when expert weavers Patsy Harmon and Susan Jieta taught a pilot program at NVTI, giving students and insight the ancient skill they learnt as children.
Patsy is today the lead instructor for a weaving apprenticeship program on her home island of Namdrik. Meanwhile, in busy little Ebeye on Kwajalein Atoll, expert weaver Tobep Bokin from Ujae Atoll has taken on the same role and is passing on her skills to 10 women aged between 18 and 22 in what will be a four-month program.
"Tobep was invited to take on the role by the jaki-ed program's patron, Iroij Mike Kabua," USP's Coordinator of Continuing and Community Education Tamara Greenstone Alefaio said. "Her husband is Thomas, a master canoe builder and navigator and he also came to Ebeye for the program.
"Tobep is being assisted for the first month by weaver Susan Jieta, who has been involved in the jaki-ed program since its early days." Susan and Tamara flew to Ebeye for the program's opening ceremony, which was held on the Friday before at Mon Mike, the Iroij and Senator's 'entertainment center.'
"It's a wonderful location for the program," Tamara said. "It's an indoor-outdoor space with great facilities."
In contrast to the more remote atolls, where the new apprentices already had a grasp of weaving, the women of Ebeye were totally new to the concept. Tamara has a wonderful short video of a student learning how to pound the 'maan' (dried pandanus leaves). The apprentice lifts the heavy 'dreka in nin' (heavy pounder) and, 'thud,' it lands on the leaves. Again she lifts it and seems to allow it to fall onto the leaves. On her fourth try, with her wrist looking particularly limp, she looks up and laughs into the lens and gives up.
The women meet each week day and work on their mats from 10am to 3pm. "The program provides all the materials, while Mike is generously providing the space."
During the opening ceremony, which was emceed by Alab Jesie Rikata and included remarks by Mayor Johnny Lemari, Mike spoke of the importance of passing on this intricate skill. "The Iroij made a point of explaining that he's extremely supportive of this project, in particular because the skill needs today to be shared by everyone. In the old days, it was only certain people who were allowed to learn this art, but now he believes it's no longer just for a few people to know."