Tourism, handicrafts, and ethnic identity in Micronesia

Abstract

This study examines the contemporary interactions in Micronesia between tourism, the production of handicrafts, and native perceptions of their culture and society in relation to foreigners. Special attention is given to the traditional distinctions made between mundane everyday handicrafts and highly valued products made by master artisans. Changes in the status of the latter products and their producers have occured as a result of varied colonial governments' policies affecting local economies. These political changes in the Twentieth Century with their attendant social and economic consequences as Micronesia approached political independence and a growing emphasis on tourism are examined with regard to the changing nature of native-foreign interactions and ethnic identity. The study suggests that the careful examination of the manner in which the local handicraft production system has changed can provide an important perspective on concurrent changes in ethnic identity.