Place, Destabilized: Ambivalent Heritage, Community and Colonialism in the Marquesas Islands

Indigenous place-making in the Marquesas Islands, though marked by colonialism and discomfort, can foster strong community bonds. This study reveals that painful memories and historical silences, rather than solely affirmative interactions with the physical world, play a crucial role in shaping cultural identity and heritage landscapes. By analyzing ethnographic research, the author demonstrates how ambivalent heritage—rooted in personal belief, colonial legacies, and shared approaches to contested places—can bind communities together, overcoming violent pasts. This challenges traditional notions that long-term connections to land are solely supportive, highlighting the complex interplay between discomfort and cultural cohesiveness.

Donaldson, E. C. (2018). Place, Destabilized: Ambivalent Heritage, Community and Colonialism in the Marquesas Islands. Oceania, 88(1), 69–89. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ocea.5182