TM Overseas Lands of

CultureGrams
Kids Edition 2017 French Polynesia
Polynesie Francaise

The word Polynesia is made up of two Greek words, poly and nesos, meaning "many islands."
Overwater bungalows (low huts set on stilts) were invented on the island of Moorea in the 1960s and are used as
tourist hotels.
The English word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word tatau. Tattoos are considered signs of beauty in Polynesian
culture.
Local legend states that the island of Raiatea rose from the bottom of the ocean and was the beginning of life on
earth.
There are no poisonous snakes or insects in French Polynesia.
French Polynesia is known for its beautiful and valuable pearls, also called black pearls, which are exported (sold
to countries) around the world.
Many Tahitians have a box outside their homes (similar to a mailbox) for daily bread delivery.

Flag
The wave pattern stands for the sea, while the gold and white rays represent the sun.
The red Polynesian canoe has a crew of five people, symbolizing the five island groups.
Red and white are traditional Polynesian colors. French Polynesia also uses the flag of
France for official occasions.

National Image
The white tiare flower is a symbol of Tahiti. Both men and women wear this flower
behind their ears or as part of a crown or necklace. The flower is also used to make
sweet-smelling coconut oil.

Land and Climate

Area (sq. mi.)

1,609
Area (sq. km.)
4,167

French Polynesia is made up of several archipelagos (island chains) in the South

Pacific Ocean about halfway between Australia and South America. They are named
the Society Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, and Marquesas Islands. Four of
the archipelagos are volcanic, while one is made up of coral atolls (ring-shaped reefs).
There are around 130 islands total in French Polynesia. Tahiti is the largest and most

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populated island. Altogether, French Polynesia covers an area just larger than Cape
Verde or slightly less than one-third the size of the state of Connecticut. Some of the
islands are very high and rugged. Others are low and surrounded by reefs. Mont
Orohena is the highest point and is located on Tahiti.

French Polynesia's climate is tropical, meaning it is hot and humid most of the year.
Cyclones sometimes hit the islands anytime from October to May.

Population

Population
285,321

The majority of French Polynesians are of Polynesian descent. There are also smaller
percentages of Chinese and French peoples. Most French Polynesians live on the
island of Tahiti, many of them in the capital city of Papeete. Those people who have
mixed French and Polynesian ancestry are sometimes called Demis, which means
"half" in French. Many of the Chinese are descendants of workers who were brought to
the islands by the French in the 1800s.

Language
French and Tahitian are the official languages of French Polynesia. Most people speak French in their everyday
conversations and at work and school, while they often speak Tahitian at home with their families. For many years, the
French outlawed Tahitian in public schools. In the 1980s, teachers began teaching it again as a second language. The
Tahitian alphabet has 13 letters, and all syllables end in a vowel. Several different languages and dialects (ways of
speaking and pronouncing) are spoken on the smaller, outer islands.

Can You Say It in French?

Hello Bonjour (bone-ZHURE)
Good-bye Au revoir (OH re-VWAHR)
Please Sil vous plat (SEEL voo play)
Thank you Merci (mare-SEE)
Yes Oui (wee)
No Non (noh)

Religion

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Source: The World Factbook 2017. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2017.
Ancient Polynesians used to worship gods of nature and showed their respect for their ancestors through traditional
dances, festivals, and offerings. Today, more than half of French Polynesians are Protestant, while many others are
Roman Catholic. The Maohi Protestant Church is the largest Protestant group. Smaller percentages of people belong to
a number of other religions, including Judaism, Buddhism, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Jehovah's
Witnesses, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Others have no religion. Many French Polynesians go to
church every Sunday. Some wear traditional Sunday white hats and dresses.

Time Line
AD 200
AD 200 Polynesians reach what are now the Marquesas Islands

800 Polynesians arrive at what are now the Society Islands

1500
1521 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sights the Pukapuka Atoll, in
the Tuamotu Islands
1722 Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen sights Bora Bora
1769 Captain James Cook arrives on Tahiti
1774 Spanish priests spend a year on Tahiti teaching Christianity
1797 The first Protestant missionaries arrive in Tahiti

1800
1803 King Pomare II flees Tahiti for Moorea
1812 Many of Pomare IIs people convert to Protestantism

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1827 Queen Pomare IVs 50-year reign begins

1836 Polynesians force French Catholic priests to leave Tahiti

1842 France declares Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands a French
protectorate (country protected by another country)
1843 The capital city of Papeete is founded
1844 Mormon missionaries arrive on Tubuai; the Tahitian War of
Independence begins and lasts until 1847; after the war ends, Queen
Pomare IV accepts French protectorate status once more
1880 France changes French Polynesia from a protectorate to a full-fledged
colony
1884 A fire burns most of Papeete
1900
1914 German cruisers bomb Papeete during World War I
1918 An outbreak of influenza kills around 20 percent of the Polynesian
population
1942 The United States establishes a military base on the island of Bora
Bora during World War II
1946 Tahitians become official French citizens
1961 An international airport opens at Faaa
1963 France moves its nuclear testing facility to the southern Tuamotu
Islands
1966 The first atmospheric nuclear test explosion occurs
1974 France stops atmospheric testing and moves testing underground
1977 France grants some autonomy (self-control) to French Polynesia
1984 More autonomy is granted
1996 France begins closing the testing facilities in the Tuamotu Islands
2000
2004 French Polynesia is officially made an overseas country of France,
meaning they are self-governing but remain under greater French rule

2013 French Polynesia sees an outbreak of the Zika virus

PRESENT

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Polynesian Settlers
The earliest known people to reach what is now known as French Polynesia were
Polynesians who settled on the Marquesas Islands in the third century. They lived in
clans that were led by local chiefs. More Polynesian peoples migrated (moved from one
area to another) to what are now the Society Islands around 800. These early peoples
are thought to have sailed to the islands in wooden canoes built with double sails, using
the winds and the stars to travel and navigate. Some of the canoes were 65 to 98 feet
(20 to 30 meters) long and could transport families as well as animals.

Once settled, they lived by fishing for fish and shellfish. They also ate breadfruit (a type
of fruit with a texture similar to freshly baked bread) and raised some crops, mainly taro
(a root vegetable). They left behind some evidence of their existence in the form of
traditional family headdresses made out of porpoise (a marine mammal similar to a
dolphin) teeth and beads. Many of the islands are also home to ancient stone statues
called tiki and pyramid-like raised stone structures called marae that are believed to
have been religious sites where the clans held important ceremonies.

Colonization
In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sighted the Tuamotu Islands. He was
followed by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who sighted the island of Bora Bora.
British, French, and Spanish explorers arrived in Tahiti in the 1700s. Roman Catholic
and Protestant missionaries were not far behind, setting up missions meant to help
convert the native Polynesians to Christianity.

At the time, the island of Tahiti was ruled by the Pomare, led by King Pomare II. The
king began listening to the European Protestant missionaries and was eventually
baptized, along with many of his people. When French Catholic missionaries arrived,
they were forced out. France responded by sending a gunboat in 1838. The Tahitians
and the French fought over control of the island from 1844 to 1847, but Tahiti and the
Marquesas Islands were eventually declared a French protectorate (country protected
by another country) in 1847, and Queen Pomare IV signed the agreement. Catholic
missionaries were then freely allowed to work among the native peoples.

French Rule
In 1880, France changed the islands' status from a protectorate (country protected by
another country) to a colony and appointed a governor and general council to oversee
the colony. Many Polynesians went on to fight for France during World War II. In the
years after the war, all Polynesians were given French citizenship; the colony became
an overseas territory of France with more control over its own affairs, and its official
name was changed to French Polynesia.

French Polynesia Today

Beginning in the 1960s, France conducted nuclear testing in the Tuamotu Islands. The
testing continued for many years. However, the capital city of Papeete broke out in riots
in 1995 after people began getting sick and it became clear the testing was not good for
public health or the environment. The following year, the president of French Polynesia
signed a treaty making the South Pacific a nuclear-free zone.

In recent years, the country's government has struggled with instability and corruption
(dishonesty), and there have been many changes of power. Today, French Polynesia is
a popular tourist destination, as people from all over the world come to enjoy the

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islands' beautiful beaches and waters. French Polynesians are very concerned with
conservation and protecting their waters and the marine life that lives in them.

Games and Sports

French Polynesians love to play sports, especially water sports. Va'a is a traditional sport in which people race
pirogues (canoes) between islands. Surfing and kite boarding are both popular, and French Polynesia is known for
having some of the best waves in the world. People also enjoy swimming, fishing, spear fishing, and scuba diving.
Soccer is a favorite sport, along with volleyball, basketball, and boxing. Kids enjoy riding bikes.

Holidays
Christmas and New Year's are two of the most popular holidays in French Polynesia.
People get ready for the holidays by putting up Christmas trees and decorating their
homes with garlands. Some people leave their decorations up all year long. Families
get together and eat large meals and exchange presents on Christmas morning. A
favorite New Year's Eve dish is foie gras (duck liver paste). People also celebrate by
setting off fireworks.

The Heiva Festival is an important one in Polynesian culture. It honors Polynesian

warriors and culture and lasts from June until August. There are parades and contests
for the fastest canoe racer, for who can carry the heaviest stones or the most fruit, and
for who can husk coconuts the fastest.

Food
Fish and coconuts are common foods in French Polynesia. Root vegetables such as
sweet potatoes and taro are also favorites. People also enjoy all kinds of Chinese food.
A typical dish is poisson cru (raw fish in lime juice) served with rice. Another common
dish is breadfruit (a type of fruit that has a texture similar to freshly baked bread)
roasted on a fire. Bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and papaya are favorite fruits. Fish
can be baked, fried, or sometimes wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a ground
oven. Breakfast usually includes bread and a hot drink. Lunch is the main meal of the
day and includes vegetables, fish, and rice. Dinner is a lighter meal. Kids enjoy chow
mein (stir-fried noodles), hamburgers, and french fries. They often eat baguette
sandwiches, while pizza is a special treat.

Schools

Adult Literacy
98%

Children start school when they turn five years old and continue until they are 16 or 18. Primary (elementary) school
lasts until students are 11, and then they move on to secondary (high) school. When kids turn 14, they get to choose if
they want to focus on academic studies or vocational studies that will train them for a specific job. Most of the islands
have primary schools, but only the larger islands have secondary schools, so it can be hard for some students to leave
their homes to go to school because they have to live in a dormitory on a larger island away from their families.

Most kids take the bus to school. Math, science, history, French, and foreign languages are the main subjects taught.
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Students get a break in the morning and then a lunch break in the afternoon. They eat lunch at the canteen (similar to
a cafeteria), where local mothers prepare the food. These lunches include lentil stew, chicken, pasta, and marinated
fish.

Most primary students have about an hour of homework each night, while secondary students usually have between
one and three hours of homework a night. Starting in eighth grade, kids have to pass an exam in order to move on to
the next grade. After high school, some students go straight into the workforce, while others go to the University of
French Polynesia in Tahiti, the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, or to a university in France.

Life as a Kid
Life in Papeete is very different than life in other parts of the country. Because there are few high schools in the outer
islands, many students have to come to Papeete if they want to complete their education. In the city, they find things
they may have only heard about before, such as McDonald's, big movie theaters, nightclubs that allow anyone 16 or
older, and much more. Many kids feel a bit lost away from their families and with so many new distractions. Some quit
school and go back home, while others adjust to the faster pace of life.

For high school aged kids, the biggest concern is finding work after they finish their studies. There are not many
options for young people in French Polynesia unless they go away to get a degree in France. At home, their options
range from construction and house cleaning jobs to working in the tourist industry.

Younger kids everywhere in the country tend to spend their days with siblings and cousins indoors (watching TV or
playing video games) or outdoors (riding bikes and playing in the water). All kids are expected to help out with chores,
and many are proud of themselves and feel more grown up when they do a good job sweeping, raking leaves, doing
the dishes, or even cooking. When kids have a little money to spend, they often go down to the local snack (small
restaurant) to buy baguette sandwiches, candy, cookies, sodas, and other treats.

Government

Capital
Papeete
Head of State
President Emmanuel Macron (France)
Head of Government
President douard Fritch

French Polynesia is an overseas country of France, meaning it is self-governing but remains under greater French rule.
The president of France is the head of state. French Polynesia has four representatives in France's lawmaking bodies.
French Polynesia's lawmaking body is called the Assembly of French Polynesia. Its 57 members are elected to serve
five-year terms. Together, they choose a president to become the head of government in French Polynesia. The
president also serves a five-year term. French Polynesians vote both for their own lawmakers and in France's
presidential elections. The voting age is 18.

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Money and Economy

Currency
CFP franc

Tourism is one of the largest parts of the French Polynesian economy, so most people
work in the tourism industry. Farming is also important. Farmers produce vanilla, beef,
dairy products, and copra (dried coconut meat) for sale within the country and to other
countries, such as Japan, France, and China. Mother-of-pearl and black pearls from
French Polynesia are also sold all around the world. The standard of living for most
people in the country is good. Those living on the smaller, outer islands are more likely
to be poor. French Polynesia receives a large amount of aid from France.

Getting Around
A bus system runs all over French Polynesia, and many people travel on buses. They also ride motorbikes and own
cars. Most kids ride their bikes or have their parents drive them places. On the outer islands, small motorboats are the
main form of transportation. Ferries and small planes take people between islands. In fact, many of the islands have
their own airports. Air Tahiti is the main airline, and there is an international airport in Tahiti. Papeete is also a major
seaport.

Tahitian Dance
Children start learning traditional Tahitian dance in schools as early as three years old.
Some also learn at home even before this. Girls sway their hips from side to
sidesometimes very quicklywhile the boys wiggle their knees in time. At school,
there is usually at least one performance per year when all the students dress in leaf
skirts (a traditional costume) and dance for the community. By middle school, dancing
is optional, but many continue to do it. High school students who love dancing often join
dance schools, where they participate in big dance competitions as part of the Heiva
Festival in June, July, and August. As adults, they often continue dancing, and some
dance into their 80s and 90s.

Learn More
Contact the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007; phone (202) 944-6000; web site
franceintheus.org. Or contact the Tahiti Tourism Board, phone (310) 414-8484; web site www.tahiti-tourisme.com.

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