Table of Contents
- 1 What is the meaning of the Tokelau flag?
- 2 What is Tokelau culture?
- 3 What language does Tokelau speak?
- 4 What is the history of Tokelau?
- 5 Who colonized Tokelau?
- 6 Do they speak English in Tokelau?
- 7 Can you live in Tokelau?
- 8 What is unique about Tokelau?
- 9 How big is the island nation of Tokelau?
- 10 When did Tokelau become part of the British Empire?
What is the meaning of the Tokelau flag?
Tokelau’s Flag above depicts a Tokelauan canoe sailing towards the manu (Southern Cross). White also signifies the cooperation and unity among the atolls of Tokelau and a shared aspiration to secure a better life for Tokelauans. Yellow signifies a happy, peaceful community.
What is Tokelau culture?
Tokelauans are Polynesians and they have strong cultural links with Tuvalu and linguistic, family and cultural links with Western Samoa. Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889.
What language does Tokelau speak?
Tokelauan
English
Tokelau/Official languages
Who is the leader of Tokelau?
Kelihiano Kalolo
| Head of Government of Tokelau | |
|---|---|
| Badge of Tokelau | |
| Incumbent Kelihiano Kalolo since 8 March 2021 | |
| Inaugural holder | Salesio Lui |
| Formation | February 1993 |
What is Tokelau famous for?
Tokelau has the smallest economy of any sovereign nation, although it is a leader in renewable energy, being the first 100% solar powered nation in the world. Tokelau is officially referred to as a nation by both the New Zealand government and the Tokelauan government.
What is the history of Tokelau?
Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1877, a status that was formalised in 1889. The British Government annexed the group (which had been renamed the Union Islands) in 1916, and included it within the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (Kiribati and Tuvalu).
Who colonized Tokelau?
Do they speak English in Tokelau?
Tokelau has two official languages: Tokelauan and English….
| Languages of Tokelau | |
|---|---|
| Minority | English (59.2%), Samoan (42.0%), Tuvaluan (11.7%), Kiribati (2.7%) |
Is Tokelau a Samoan?
As indicated by linguistic affinity, Tokelau was probably settled from Samoa, and the small atolls rapidly became densely settled with nucleated villages. The first European visitor, in 1765, was the British commodore John Byron, who gave Atafu the name Duke of York Island.
Does Tokelau have an airport?
Tokelau has no airports.
Can you live in Tokelau?
Tokelau has a life with a very specific pace. There are about 250 people living in the main village of Atafu atoll, and you can walk around the islet in five minutes. The houses are build close to each other, sometime at arm’s length. People spend their days either working or fishing and going to church.
What is unique about Tokelau?
How big is the island nation of Tokelau?
There is no official capital although Nukunonu is the largest. The combined landmass is 7 square miles (12 km2) and 16 feet (5 meters) above sea level which puts the nation at risk from rising seas caused by global warming . In total only 1600 people live on the islands and in terms of population, Tokelau is the fourth-smallest country.
Why was Tokelau important to the Lapita?
These islands may have been a steppingstone for the Lapita as they colonized eastern Polynesia. Tokelau was once dominated by chiefs who often engaged in tribal warfare . The victor would rule the others and dominate all three atolls. Each of the islands had a council of elders which represented the local clans.
When did the US give Tokelau to New Zealand?
Between 1856 and 1979, the United States claimed that it held sovereignty over the island and the other Tokelauan atolls. In 1979, the U.S. conceded that Tokelau was under New Zealand sovereignty, and a maritime boundary between Tokelau and American Samoa was established by the Treaty of Tokehega .
When did Tokelau become part of the British Empire?
In the 1870s the British annexed the island. This was despite claims made by America, who had occupied what became American Samoa and Swain Islands, which is geographically and culturally part of the Tokelau Islands. This led to a territorial dispute which has still not been resolved.