Culture of the Oan Isles

Marriage

Marriage (Oan: mārenatanga) is a fundamental right of all people guaranteed by the Kaupapa Ture Oa regardless of sexual orientation, gender or religion. Same-sex marriage is protected by law and same-sex couples do not face discrimination or barriers that heterosexual couples do not. Marital rites in the Oan Isles vary by religion and cultural background, however the law recognises marriages which are concluded in line with Oan marriage law, i.e., a marriage contract is signed by the couple in the presence of a lawfully appointed marriage officer and two witnesses. The marriage officer in turn registers them in the National Marriage Register and issues them with a valid marriage certificate. Marriages completed in foreign countries are recognised by Oan marriage law.

In the traditions of native Oan people, a variety of customs have emerged around marriage. Either of the people in the relationship make a proposal for engagement by asking their partner for marriage. If the partner accepts the proposal, they will notify their parents or guardians and/or closest relatives. In the past, when heterosexual marriages were dominant, males would pay a dowry to the female's family. This is a practice that remains to some degree among noble families. For instance, Rangitanga-a-te-Moana Oahoanu paid dowry for Aroha Putea. However this practice is not commonly practiced due to the end of patriarchy. Most people are not married in traditional or religious institutions. Instead they go through a civil ceremony and sometimes have a party with their relatives to celebrate the marriage. Usually family and friends will bring gifts for the couple concerned. Various games will be played anpeople will dance and sing.

In families that are adherents of Mauism, the couple will be introduced to the respective ancestors of their tribe. A ceremony is held at the family shrine where they light incense and announce to the dead that they are getting married and ask for good fortune. A married couple can also have a Mauist priest lay hands on their heads and pray to Thaer (Oan: Atea) and Maui on their behalf asking for them to bless and protect the couple.

Names

The Oan Public Registration Act governs the naming conventions of children and naturalised citizens. The act forbids the use of special characters, symbols and numerals as part of names. Furthermore all names written in non-Staynish scripts must be transliterated into Staynish script and the Staynish script name shall be the official name of the person within the Oan Isles. Other restrictions exists which forbid the use of vulgarity and profanity in a child's name. A list of forbidden words is kept by the Minister of Home Affairs. There have been challenges to some forbidden words in the courts largely due to arguments that Oan customary and Mauist religious stereotypes play a large and discriminatory role in the selection of forbidden words.

Totems

Oan people make use of symbols called totems to represent themselved personally or as part of a larger group such as a clan, sub-tribe or tribe. Most groups use a fictional creature or living animal to distinguish their group from another. A standard of symbols has emerged throughout the ages. Guidelines exist for marine, air and terrestrial creatures.

Various body parts are assigned specific meaning. These include talons, tails, quills, scales, claws, paws, fur, markings, fins, flippers, Jaws, eyes, ears, horns and tusks. Thus, a chimera of various bodily features is formed to indicate a person or groups relation to other groups of people. Thus, these totem animals while being superficially based on some real animal are often never found in nature due to ascribing unique features for the purposes of identification.

A special certificate called a Certification of Totemage is issued by the Department of Home Affairs with a full description of the totem and the relevant relations it represents upon application by a person (or their legal guardians) and groups. Although the certificate is a relatively new contrivance designed to prevent repetition of totems, the totems are ancient and have increased in sophistication and complexity with time.