Interviews

Most Ivatans rely on the sea and land for sustenance, using one or the other depending on the season. We visited their homes, usually in the evening after they had come back from pastoral responsibilities.  We met with the fishermen’s association in a longhouse, which provided the only source of light on a long dark beach. We dug in our heels in soil being prepped for planting. In each place, they made us feel welcome, offering food and drink (in one case, a fifty-year old natural wine!) and the stories of their ancestors. They talked about how they use the moon and stars for fishing and agriculture, and a Zodiac-based calendar, called the pilatun for auspicious events.