Falekaupule

See also: Tuvalu and Constitution of Tuvalu

The Falekaupule on each of the Islands of Tuvalu is the traditional assembly of elders or te sina o fenua (literally: "grey-hairs of the land" in the Tuvaluan language).[1] Under the Falekaupule Act (1997),[2] the powers and functions of the Falekaupule are now shared with the Kaupule on each island, which is the executive arm of the Falekaupule, whose members are elected. The Kaupule has an elected president - pule o kaupule; an appointed treasurer - ofisa ten tupe; and is managed by a committee appointed by the Kaupule.[2]

The Falekaupule Act (1997) defines the Falekaupule to mean "traditional assembly in each island ... composed in accordance with the Aganu of each island". Aganu means traditional customs and culture.[2] The Falekaupule on each island has existed from time immemorial and continues to act as the local government of each island.[3] Generally men aged 50 years, and on some islands men aged 60 years, do most of the talking and decision making at meetings of the community councils (Falekaupule), which are organised according to the law and custom of each island. Although women can vote in meetings of the Falekaupule on 7 of the 9 islands, most do not exercise their voting rights.[4]

The traditional island meeting hall where important matters are discussed and which is also used for wedding celebrations and community activities is also known as the falekaupule or maneapa.[1]

  1. ^ a b Peter Bennetts and Tony Wheeler (2001). Time & Tide: The Islands of Tuvalu. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-86450-342-4.
  2. ^ a b c "Falekaupule Act (1997)". PACLII. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Te Kakeega II – National Strategies for Sustainable Development 2005–2015" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Tuvalu: A Situational Analysis of Children, Women and Youth - Part 1: Background" (PDF). UNICEF Pacific Office, Fiji. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2017.