Culture

Although we are trying hard to hold on to our ancestors' culture and traditions, they are changing rapidly before our eyes. Many of the changes that are taking place on Houk are inevitable, but many components of our culture remain intact though being challenged by modernism:

RESPECT: Respecting others is a primary value in our culture. It enables us as a community to live together in harmony.

FAMILY: Our focus is always the family. But family to us is more than the immediate family; it includes all our cousins, uncles, aunties, and all blood relations.

CLAN SYSTEM: There are 15 clans on the island. Every Houkese belongs to 2 clans; the primary clan (ainang) being the mother's clan and the secondary (afakur) is one's father's clan although the most endearing.

COMMUNITY: Having a peaceful community on the island is one of the most important aspect of our culture. We work together, pray together, laugh together, sing together, play together as a community. Mandatory community meetings happen every Tuesdays and Thursdays in which the traditional chief, the assistant mayor, and the katekista (church leader) assemble the people to provide news updates, give community advise, and delegate work schedules for the day.

NAVIGATORS: Houk and the neighboring islands in Pattiw and the outer islands of Yap have some of the last true traditional navigators in the world who still travel great distances by sailing canoes using only the traditional navigational skills passed on by our ancestors. We are proud of these skills. Today, we still carry on those skills.