Overview
In pre-European times, spirituality was a fundamental part of life in Oceania. Pacific peoples traced ancestral connections to various gods. These connections influenced their relationships and everyday activities, from fishing and voyaging to planting and gathering.
Pacific spirituality also manifested in the ways in which island peoples organised their societies. Chiefs and spiritual leaders held the important role of mediating between the sacred and earthly realms. They often used carved or woven figures to communicate with or represent the gods, as you’ll discover.
Many forms of indigenous spirituality continue in Oceania today. Pacific peoples have found ways to maintain the beliefs and customs of the past, often in parallel to Christianity.