Watch Out for The Rapa Nui Warriors!

Chances are, you probably have not heard of the island of Rapa Nui. What about Easter Island? Does that ring a bell? Today students had the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and language of the Rapa Nui people. The Rapa Nui are natives from Easter Island, a Chilean territory at the southeastern point of the Polynesian Triangle located about 3,700 kilometers from the coast of Chile. This part of Chile has the highest concentration of indigenous people since the Rapa Nui make up 60 percent of the island’s inhabitants.

Fortunately, we had the chance to learn from an expert, a Rapa Nui herself, about the rich history and culture of these people. It doesn’t stop there! After getting a solid background on the linguistic components of the songs, students took part in a Rapa Nui dance workshop. Before learning the dances, our expert painted the students' faces with authentic Rapa Nui warrior designs. This really got everyone excited for the next step. Each of the three songs they learned tells an elaborate story, with each dance move expressing a significant aspect of the story. Most of the themes revolved around the preparation for war or honoring ancestors. As a result, students briefly became fierce Rapa Nui warriors, dancing to the rumbling rhythms of war. The students got so into it that some even kept their face paint on after the workshop!