Editing Micronesia (section)

==Culture==
===Animals and food===
By the time Western contact occurred, although Palau did not have dogs, they did have fowls and possibly pigs. Pigs are not native to Micronesia. [[Fruit bat]]s are native to Palau, but other mammals are rare. Reptiles are numerous and both mollusks and fish are an important food source.{{sfn|Morgan|1988|p=3}} The people of Palau, the Marianas and Yap often chew [[Areca nut|betel nuts]] seasoned with lime and pepper leaf. Western Micronesia was unaware of the ceremonial drink, which was called ''saka'' on Kosrae and ''sakau'' on Pohnpei.{{sfn|Morgan|1988|p=30}}

===Architecture===
The book ''Prehistoric Architecture in Micronesia'' argues that the most prolific pre-colonial Micronesian architecture is "Palau's monumental sculpted hills, megalithic stone carvings and elaborately decorated structure of wood placed on piers above elevated stone platforms".{{sfn|Morgan|1988|p=2}} The archeological traditions of the [[Yapese people]] remained relatively unchanged even after the first European contact with the region during Magellan's 1520s circumnavigation of the globe.{{sfn|Morgan|1988|p=30}}

===Art===
Micronesia's artistic tradition has developed from the [[Lapita culture]]. Among the most prominent works of the region is the megalithic floating city of [[Nan Madol]]. The city began in 1200 CE and was still being built when European explorers begin to arrive around 1600. The city, however, had declined by around 1800 along with the [[Saudeleur dynasty]] and was completely abandoned by the 1820s. During the 19th century, the region was divided between the [[colonialism|colonial powers]], but art continued to thrive. Wood-carving, particularly by men, flourished in the region, resulted in richly decorated ceremonial houses in [[Belau]], stylized bowls, canoe ornaments, ceremonial vessels and sometimes sculptured figures. Women created textiles and ornaments such as bracelets and headbands. Stylistically, traditional Micronesian art is streamlined and of a practical simplicity to its function, but is typically finished to a high standard of quality.
<ref>{{cite web|title=Micronesia, 1800–1900 a.d|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah//ht/10/oci/ht10oci.htm|work=Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History|publisher=[[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201183658/http://www.metmuseum.org/toah//ht/10/oci/ht10oci.htm|archive-date=1 December 2008 |year=2000}}</ref> This was mostly to make the best possible use of what few natural materials they had available to them.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Oceanic art | encyclopedia = [[Columbia Encyclopedia]] | edition = Sixth | year =  2006 | publisher = Columbia University Press}}</ref>

The first half of the 20th century saw a downturn in Micronesia's cultural integrity and a strong foreign influence from both western and Japanese Imperialist powers. A number of historical artistic traditions, especially sculpture, ceased to be practiced, although other art forms continued, including traditional architecture and weaving. Independence from colonial powers in the second half of the century resulted in a renewed interest in, and respect for, traditional arts. A notable movement of contemporary art also appeared in Micronesia towards the end of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web|title=Micronesia, 1900 a.d.–present|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/11/oci/ht11oci.htm|work=Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History|publisher=[[The Metropolitan Museum of Art]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521202632/http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/11/oci/ht11oci.htm|archive-date=21 May 2009 |year=2000}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
The cuisine of the Mariana Islands is tropical in nature, including such dishes as [[kelaguen]] as well as many others.

[[Marshallese cuisine]] comprises the fare and foodways of the Marshall Islands, and includes local foods such as breadfruit, taro root, [[pandanus]] and seafood, among others.

Palauan cuisine includes local foods such as cassava, taro, yam, potato, fish and pork. Western cuisine is favored among young Palauans.

===Education===
The educational systems in the nations of Micronesia vary depending on the country and there are several higher-level educational institutions.

The [[CariPac]] consists of institutions of [[higher education]] in [[Guam]], the [[Northern Mariana Islands]], [[American Samoa]], [[Puerto Rico]], the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], the [[Marshall Islands]] and [[Palau]]. The [[Agricultural Development in the American Pacific]] is a partnership of the University of Hawaii, American Samoa Community College, College of Micronesia, Northern Marianas College and the University of Guam.

In the Federated States of Micronesia, education is required for citizens aged 6 to 13,<ref name=".info">{{cite web |url=http://micronesiaeducation.info//profile.asp |title=Education Profile of Micronesia, Micronesia Education, Education in Micronesia, Universities in Micronesia, Schools in Micronesia, Micronesia Education Profile |publisher=micronesiaeducation.info |access-date=13 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425062651/http://micronesiaeducation.info//profile.asp |archive-date=25 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is important to their economy.<ref>{{cite book |last1 = Dunford |first1 = Betty |last2 = Ridgell |first2 = Reilly |title = Pacific neighbors : the islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia |publisher = Bess Press |year = 1996 |location = Honolulu, Hawaii |isbn = 1-57306-023-2}}</ref> The literacy rate for citizens aged 15 to 24 is 98.8%.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=4845 |title=UNESCO Institute for Statistics |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=13 October 2011}}</ref> The [[College of Micronesia-FSM]] has a campus in each of the four states with its national campus in the capital city of [[Palikir]], [[Pohnpei]]. The COM-FSM system also includes the Fisheries and Maritime Institute (FMI) on the [[Yap]] islands.<ref name="FMI">{{cite web |url= http://www.comfsm.fm/fmi/index.html |title= Fisheries and Maritime Institute |work= College of Micronesia - FSM | publisher = College Of Micronesia-FSM | date = 1 December 2011 }}</ref><ref name="JICA">{{cite web|url=http://www.jica.go.jp/english/evaluation/project/term/oc/archives/14-1-52.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011631/http://www.jica.go.jp/english/evaluation/project/term/oc/archives/14-1-52.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-28 |title=Outline of the Fisheries Training Project in the Federated States of Micronesia |work=[[Japan International Cooperation Agency]] |quote=Partner Country's Implementing Organization: Fisheries and Maritime Institute (FMI), College of Micronesia (COM)}}</ref>

The public education in Guam is organized by the [[Guam Department of Education]]. Guam also has several educational institutions, such as [[University of Guam]], [[Pacific Islands University]] and [[Guam Community College]], There is also the [[Guam Public Library System]] and the [[Umatac Outdoor Library]].

[[Weriyeng]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Gladwin|first=Thomas|title=East Is a Big Bird|url=https://archive.org/details/eastisbigbirdnav00glad|url-access=limited|year=1970|publisher=Harvard University Press|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|isbn=0-674-22425-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/eastisbigbirdnav00glad/page/n218 200]}}</ref> is one of the last two schools of traditional [[navigation]] found in the central [[Caroline Islands]] in Micronesia, the other being [[Fanur]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Woodward|first=David|title=History of Cartography|year=1998|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=0-226-90728-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k_NoubO0RiYC&q=%22Fanur%22+navigation&pg=PA470|access-date=2010-08-04|page=470}}</ref>

The [[Northern Marianas College]] is a two-year [[community college]] located in the [[United States]] [[Northern Mariana Islands|Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]] ([[CNMI]]).

The [[College of the Marshall Islands]] is a community college in the Marshall Islands.

===Law===
''Understanding Law in Micronesia'' notes that The Federated States of Micronesia's laws and legal institutions are "uninterestingly similar to [those of Western countries]". However, it explains that "law in Micronesia is an extraordinary flux and flow of contrasting thought and meaning, inside and outside the legal system". It says that a knee-jerk reaction would be that law is disarrayed in the region and that improvement is required, but argues that the failure is "one endemic to the nature of law or to the ideological views we hold about law".<ref name=Tamanaha1993>{{cite book|last=Tamanaha|first=Brian Z.|title=Understanding Law in Micronesia: An Interpretive Approach to Transplanted Law|pages=1–2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LPA9LCS9-RIC&q=%22micronesia%22 | publisher = E.J. Brill | location = Leiden, Netherlands |isbn=9004097686|year=1993}}</ref>

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a United Nations Trusteeship administered by the United States, borrowed heavily from United States law in establishing the Trust Territory Code during the Law and Development movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of those provisions were adopted by the new Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia when the Federated States of Micronesia became self-governing in 1979.<ref name=Tamanaha1993 />

===Media===
In September 2007, journalists in the region founded the [[Micronesian Media Association]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=72699&cat=1 | title = Regional journalists form Micronesian media group | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116043548/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=72699&cat=1 | archive-date=16 January 2008 | work = [[Saipan Tribune]] | date = 26 September 2007}}</ref>

===Music and dance===
{{See also||Music of the Federated States of Micronesia}}
Micronesian music is influential to those living in the Micronesian islands.<ref name="Garland">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ulLJUDmptFMC&pg=PA697 |encyclopedia =The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Volume 1 |publisher=Routledge | location = New York |title =The Music and Dance of Micronesia |year=2013 |pages=697–706 |isbn=978-1136095702}}</ref> Some of the music is based around [[mythology]] and ancient Micronesian [[ritual]]s. It covers a range of styles from traditional songs, handed down through generations, to contemporary music.

Traditional beliefs suggest that the music can be presented to people in [[dream]]s and [[altered state of consciousness|trances]], rather than being written by [[composer]]s themselves. Micronesian folk music is, like [[Music of Polynesia|Polynesian music]], primarily vocal-based.

In the Marshall Islands, the ''[[roro (chant)|roro]]'' is a kind of traditional [[chant]], usually about ancient legends and performed to give guidance during navigation and strength for mothers in labour. Modern bands have blended the unique songs of each island in the country with modern music. Though [[drums (musical instrument)|drums]] are not generally common in [[Micronesian music]], one-sided hourglass-shaped drums are a major part of Marshallese music.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/PacificInfo.html | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012123403/http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/PacificInfo.html | archive-date=12 October 2007 | title = Music of the Pacific Island Nations | first = Hans W. | last = Telford | date = n.d. | work = Music Archive for Pacific Island Nations | publisher = School of Arts, [[Southern Cross University]]}}</ref> There is a traditional Marshallese dance called [[beet (dance)|beet]], which is influenced by Spanish folk dances; in it, men and women side-step in parallel lines. There is a kind of [[Tirere|stick dance]] performed by the [[Jobwa]], nowadays only for very special occasions.

Popular music, both from Micronesia and from other areas of the world, is played on radio stations in Micronesia.<ref name="Garland"/>

===Sports===
The region is home to the [[Micronesian Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201008/2970170.htm?desktop |title=Micronesian Games begin in Palau | work = Asia Pacific News | publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=August 1, 2010 |access-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215215224/http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201008/2970170.htm?desktop |archive-date=15 December 2013 }}</ref> This quadrennial international multi-sport event involves all of Micronesia's countries and territories except Wake Island.

[[Nauru]] has two national sports, [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]] and [[Australian rules football]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/international/development/docs/nauru.pdf |title=Pacific Sporting Needs Assessment | author = Australian Sports Commission | year = 2004 | publisher = [[Government of Australia|Australian Government]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203042324/http://www.ausport.gov.au/international/development/docs/nauru.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2007 }}</ref> According to 2007 Australian Football League International Census figures, there are around 180 players in the Nauru senior competition and 500 players in the junior competition,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/2007_International_Census_Sheet_240807.pdf|title=INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL CENSUS 2007: Clubs & Players - Internationally | publisher = [[Australian Football League]] | url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524130530/http://www.afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/2007_International_Census_Sheet_240807.pdf|archive-date=24 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> representing a participation rate of over 30% overall for the country.