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Rapa Nui People Facts & Worksheets

The Rapa Nui are the indigenous Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island. They are fluent in both the traditional Rapa Nui language and Spanish, the primary language of Chile.

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The Rapa Nui are the indigenous Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island. They are fluent in both the traditional Rapa Nui language and Spanish, the primary language of Chile. The Rapa Nui people are thought to have established themselves on Easter Island between 300 and 1200 CE. Fresh radiocarbon dating evidence suggests a possible arrival as late as 1200 CE. Genetic research of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from prehistoric skeletons has confirmed that the Rapa Nui People are of Polynesian descent.

See the fact file below for more information about the Rapa Nui People, or you can download our 24-page Rapa Nui People worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

  • Jacob Roggeveen, a Dutch adventurer, was the first European to document interaction with the Rapa Nui people. Roggeveen purportedly embarked on a voyage to find the Juan Fernández Islands or David’s Island but reached Easter Island on April 5, 1722.
  • Roggeveen stayed on the island for approximately one week. In 1770, Spanish navigator Felipe González de Ahedo visited Rapa Nui and asserted Spain’s ownership of the island with a document inscribed in Rongorongo, the currently indecipherable script of the Rapa Nui people.

CULTURE

LANGUAGE

  • Rapa Nui, or Rapanui or Pascuense, is an Eastern Polynesian language belonging to the Austronesian language family and is spoken on Easter Island, also called Rapa Nui. The Rapa Nui language is categorized as an Eastern Polynesian language presently transcribed using the Latin alphabet.
  • Rapa Nui is a minority language among the Rapa Nui people, with the majority speaking Spanish as their primary language. Rapa Nui is classified as Severely Endangered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. The fluent speakers of this language belong to the grandparent age group. The older generation may have a basic understanding of it, but they usually do not speak it proficiently with each other or the younger generation.
  • Aside from speaking the traditional Rapa Nui language, they also speak Spanish, the predominant language in Easter Island and the primary language for education and administration. 
  • Chile has had control over the island since 1888, and currently houses some Chilean mainlanders. The present Rapa Nui speech shows evident influence from the Spanish language. 
  • As fewer children acquire Rapa Nui language skills in their early years, their proficiency in Spanish impacts their passive understanding of Rapa Nui.

SYMBOLIC SCRIPT

  • Rongorongo, a set of symbols found in the 1800s, is said to depict an ancient form of the Rapa Nui language. 
  • The decipherment of Rongorongo is still in progress, and it remains uncertain if Rongorongo constitutes a kind of writing or another type of cultural expression.

MOAI

  • Moai, also known as moʻai, are massive human figures made of a single stone block by the Rapa Nui people on Rapa Nui in eastern Polynesia from 1250 to 1500.
  • Almost half of the moai statues are still located in Rano Raraku, the primary quarry, while hundreds were moved from there and placed on stone platforms known as ahu around the island’s edge.
  • Most moai statues feature disproportionately large heads, making up three-eighths of the statue’s total size. The statues do not have legs. The moai mainly represent the live faces of deified ancestors.
  • The statues were still facing inland over their clan territories when Europeans arrived on the island in 1722, but all had collapsed by the late 19th century.
  • The moai statues were knocked down between the late 18th and early 19th centuries due to European interactions or internal tribal conflicts.

HOTU MATU’A

  • Hotu Matu’a was the renowned initial colonizer and supreme chief or king of Easter Island and the forebear of the Rapa Nui people. 
  • Hotu Matu’a and his colonization group, consisting of two canoes or one double-hulled canoe, were Polynesians originating from Hiva, which is believed to be the Marquesas Islands. 
  • They arrived at Anakena beach and distributed themselves over the island, dividing it among clans that believed they descended from his sons. They resided in their secluded island residence near the southeastern edge of the Polynesian Triangle for over a millennium.

MUSIC

  • Rapa Nui traditional music features choral singing and chanting with accompaniment from conch shell trumpets, percussive dancers, accordions, and kauaha, a percussion instrument made from a horse’s jaw bone. 
  • Today, Rapa Nui music shows Latin American influences, developing new genres like the Rapa Nui tango version. Matato’a, a renowned musical ensemble on the island, advocates for indigenous dance and song forms.

ART

  • Historically, the Rapa Nui people have crafted feather headdresses, bark fabric, wood carvings, and stone carvings. Adzes, blunt round stones, were used to finish stone sculptures and wood carvings. 
  • Rapa Nui statues use shells or coral inlaid with obsidian for the eyes.

TATTOOS

  • Like other Polynesian islands, Rapa Nui tattooing had a primarily spiritual meaning. Sometimes, tattoos were seen as a vessel for divine power or mana. They were embodiments of the Rapa Nui culture.
  • Members of the clergy, soldiers, and leaders displayed more tattoos than the general populace, representing their social rank. Both men and women were tattooed as a symbol of their social status.
  • Tattoos and other art forms in Rapa Nui combine human-like and animal-like images. 
  • The prevalent symbols shown were those of the Makemake god, Moais, Komari (representing female fertility), the manutara, and various representations of birds, fish, turtles, or images from the Rongorongo tablets.
  • Some designs were more prevalent than others. Women and men frequently had prominent wrinkles on their faces that ran across the forehead from one ear to another.

WAY OF LIFE

  • Agriculture on Easter Island exhibited evidence of intensification before European arrival due to the challenging climate characterized by high winds and poor rainfall. Archaeological discoveries reveal several composting pits and irrigation systems.
  • Large boulders acted as wind barriers, and lithic mulch used in the fields as an agricultural system. 
  • Farmers would strategically place pebbles in patterns in their fields to control vegetation growth. This approach successfully enhances soil moisture and reduces wind-induced erosion, mitigating climate conditions.
  • The original economy relied on sweet potato cultivation, poultry farming, and coastal fishing but has now transitioned to a cash economy driven by tourism. An airport was opened at Mataveri near Hanga Roa in the 1960s, leading to a rise in visitor numbers. Some modest hotels have been constructed in the town, where locals and settlers from mainland Chile offer accommodation in their homes. 
  • Connections to mainland Chile are evident in bi-weekly flights from Santiago and the construction of schools, hospitals, and a spacious community hall for sports and events. The Chilean national park system is well-structured, offering guided tours and security for the distinctive ancient remains. 
  • Reforestation projects have been effectively started, such as eucalyptus plantations at Vaitea and coconut groves in Anakena Bay.

POLITICAL ISSUES CONCERNING RAPA NUI PEOPLE

  • In 2013, just 2,553 individuals identified themselves as Rapa Nui, accounting for around 0.3% of Chile’s overall indigenous population. Most of the residents in this community reside in urban regions. In 1992, more than 20,000 individuals self-identified as Rapa Nui. 
  • The Rapa Nui people are represented in organizations like the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI). They have their own political powers, including the Consejo de Ancianos, established in the early 1990s but with roots dating back to the Salvador Allende era in the early 1970s.
  • Chile took over the island’s administration in 1888 under a treaty that required them to uphold Rapa Nui lands and culture. The guarantee was not honored, and the Rapa Nui people were essentially restricted to the Hanga Roa area of around 1,000 hectares and often compelled to work without fair compensation. Eduardo Frei Montalva’s administration from 1964 to 1970 aimed to enhance the status of the Rapa Nui people by enacting the Ley Pascua in 1966, granting them full citizenship in Chile with equal rights to other Chileans. 
  • The law recognized the uniqueness of Rapa Nui culture by modifying the punishments for specific crimes committed on the island. The ruling stated that theft should be punished less severely on the island of Rapa Nui because the inhabitants had a limited understanding of private property.
  • Augusto Pinochet’s military regime invested significant public expenditures in Rapa Nui to construct and upkeep public infrastructure. In 1985, the Rapa Nui resistance to extending the airfield for NASA’s use was disregarded by the Pinochet government, and the extension was completed in 1987.
  • In 1992, Mr. Hotu, an elder from Rapa Nui, was elected as the first mayor of Easter Island. Chile’s Indigenous Law of 1993 acknowledged the cultural and territorial rights of the Rapa Nui people and planned the establishment of a Commission for the Development of Easter Island. 
  • The installation took place in 1999. In 2001, the Council of Elders No. 2 established the Rapa Nui Parliament, distinct from the original Council of Elders that had consented to join the Commission. The self-proclaimed Parliament sought to reclaim all Rapa Nui territories. The restriction required governmental personnel on the island to minimize their involvement in economic and commercial operations. It also involved labor regulations that benefited the indigenous community. In 2003, the Historical Truth and New Deal Commission advocated granting Rapa Nui special autonomous status.

Rapa Nui People Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Rapa Nui People across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Rapa Nui People. The Rapa Nui people are thought to have established themselves on Easter Island between 300 and 1200 CE. Fresh radiocarbon dating evidence suggests a possible arrival as late as 1200 CE. Genetic research of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from prehistoric skeletons has confirmed that the Rapa Nui People are of Polynesian descent.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Rapa Nui People Facts
  2. Rapa Profile
  3. Building Vocabulary
  4. Rapa Nui Traits
  5. True or False?
  6. Rapa History
  7. Be Creative!
  8. Way of Life
  9. Addressing Issues
  10. Differences
  11. Significance

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Rapa Nui people?

The Rapa Nui people are the indigenous Polynesian inhabitants of Easter Island, known for their unique culture, language, and iconic monumental stone statues called moai.

What is the traditional lifestyle of the Rapa Nui people?

Traditionally, the Rapa Nui people were skilled navigators and fishermen who relied on the sea for sustenance. They practiced agriculture, primarily cultivating sweet potatoes, taro, and bananas. Their society was organized around clans led by chiefs, with an emphasis on oral tradition and ancestor worship.

What are some key aspects of Rapa Nui culture?

Rapa Nui culture is characterized by its distinctive language, music, dance, and art forms. The moai statues, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries, are a significant cultural symbol. Additionally, the annual Tapati Rapa Nui festival celebrates traditional customs through music, dance competitions, and sports.

What challenges do the Rapa Nui people face today?

Modern challenges facing the Rapa Nui people include issues related to environmental conservation, economic development, and cultural preservation. Concerns over sustainable tourism and the management of archaeological sites are particularly pressing. Additionally, efforts to revive the Rapa Nui language and preserve traditional practices are ongoing.

What is the relationship between the Rapa Nui people and the Chilean government?

Easter Island, the homeland of the Rapa Nui people, is a territory of Chile. Over the years, there have been tensions between the Rapa Nui community and the Chilean government regarding land rights, resource management, and cultural autonomy. Efforts have been made to address these issues through legal frameworks and dialogue, although challenges remain in achieving equitable solutions.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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