ON EASTER ISLAND:

The committee made the trip on board an Air Force jet which touched down at Mataveri Airport at 15:15 hours Chilean time. At the terminal -- with a temperature of 60 degree F. but high humidity -- they were met by a greeting committee headed by Governor Jacobo Hey and Mayor Petero Edmunds and part of the 2800 inhabitants of this distant island.

Upon arrival, the Minister of Justice, Soledad Alvear -- who presided over the delegation in the absence of the Minister of Interior who had important matters on the continent -- summarized the reasons for this unusual way of remembering the incorporation of EI into Chile.

"In recent years we have been able to appreciate a notorious increase of expenditures that, without doubt, signifies the priority that Chile has given to Easter Island in order to make us feel closer to one another", she explained.

In this regard, she noted the money spent to lengthen the runway at Mataveri (sic) and pave the road from Hanga Roa to Anakena, both works inaugurated recently by the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Defence.

[NOTE: The lengthening of the runway was, of course, paid for by NASA some nine years ago. The author should have said "the re-paving" of the runway...]

Also she mentioned that soon there will be a computational connection of the continent with the local office of the Civilian Registry. Also the paving of the street Tu'u Koihu. She added that "All this shows how the country is investing in EI".

As for the way that they were celebrating this anniversary, the minister said that "we have made up a very important combination of a delegation artisic-cultural which will unite themselves with the island artists."

One of the novelties of this anniversary which has aroused interest among the islanders is the presence of some 50 musicians, artists and painters. Included are the popular folk-rock group Illapu, the classical music sextet Bartok Ensemble, and the medieval music Calenda da Maya, plus painters Francisco de la Puente, Eduardo Garcia de la Sierra, Rosario Vial & Consuelo Orb. These last people will bring to the Island the experience "Painting with Children" provided by the Fundacion Integra in the rest of the country.

The program -- in which participated the First Lady Mrs. Marta Larraechea (de Frei) and the Minister (fem.) of National Property, Adriana Delpiano -- included the attendance of the committee at the Catholic Mass, and the delivery of 30 titles of homes, a visit to the property where the new prison will be constructed, and the placing of a plaque which states that UNESCO has declared Easter Island as as a Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.

Tomorrow will be inaugurated the computation terminal of the Service of Civilian Registry and Identification. At noon a civilian-military act will be carried out commemorating the anniversary, and during the night the group Illapu will provide an unusual close to the ceremonies...."

- El Mercurio de Santiago, September 8, 1996

US$ 6.5 MILLION INVESTED IN EASTER ISLAND.

So announced the Regional Director of the Service of Housing and Urbanization, Alberto Ramirez Urzua who pointed out that in recent years a total of 120 basic houses have been constructed corresponding to a budget of US$ 1.6 million.

Likewise, another 64 progressive houses have been constructed to resolve the problem of related families, corresponding to US$ 260,000. On the other hand, for the first time in the Island's history, there was constructed a communal building, called the House of Music, with a value of US$ 50,000.

Ramirez Urzua said that the paving works "have permitted the total transformation of the commercial, tourist, and services areas, improving the life of the inhabitants of the Island."

Also, it will provide incentive for the development of tourism, an activity that continues to grow in importance for the Island.

-El Mercurio de Valparaiso, Oct. 2, 1996

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• In July, the Rapa Nui teachers hosted a small but significant presentation ceremony in the Rapa Nui language and Culture Department of the Easter Island school to recognize the completion of four manuals of the series Mo Håpï i te Vananga Rapa Nui ( For Learning the Rapa Nui language). The new pedagogical aids consist of four 8½ x 13 inch, flip-chart type, illustrated manuals (not textbooks) for teachers to use in the classroom. A list of vocabulary and model sentences are suggested for each drawing or set of drawings on a page. It is hoped these manuals will be useful tools for stimulating and guiding the learning of the beginning students of Rapanui as a second language.

  The programs are the result of years of work by Rapa Nui residents, Nancy and Bob Weber, under the aegis of the Universidad Católica de Valparaiso and the Summer Institute of Linguistics.

  Also officially presented at the ceremony was the manual Programas Para la Enseñanza de la Rapa Nui, prepared by the Rapa Nui teachers with the help of the Webers. This 88 page volume suggests learning objectives, teaching methods, and class planning for two types of language instruction: Rapanui as a first language and Rapanui as a second language.

• The 2700 residents of Hanga Roa now receive direct national (Chilean) TV from the mainland. The new antennae, which measures 13 meters (42.6') in diameter, was officially inaugurated in August. The ceremony took place at the site of the antennae, near the slopes of Rano Kau and close to the CONAF office.

• CONAF (National Parks of Chile) has been busy making upgrades at several of the island's archaeological sites. According to José Miguel Ramírez, Dir. Provincial CONAF, new signs and barriers are at Orongo; there are plans for clearing the forest around the petroglyph rocks in the crater of Rano Kau and building a high path around it to prevent visitors from walking on it; new ornamental trees are being planted along the main street in the village; trails have been constructed or upgraded around the statue quarry at Rano Raraku; a haere paenga at the quarry has been restored; and the picnic area at the nearby ranger's house has been improved with tables and a toilet. A ranger station is at the entrance to the site and an information booklet is in press. in their nursery at Mataveri, over 2000 mako'i seedlings have been grown for re planting on the island. In addition, more trees have been planted at Anakena plus a haere paenga ( the so-called "house of Hotu Matu'a") at Anakena is being restored.

  CONAF now has a publication for local distribution, Ka Unga te Rongo. These fliers describe various projects including the reintroduction of toromiro trees and such things as conservation of the archaeological sites. For the past three years, Conaf has given weekly classes on Easter Island prehistory, geology, and conservation for the upper grades at the local school. Lectures are also being given to the local tour guides.

  - Rapa Nui Journal Vol. 10 (3)

  
  

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