FRENCH POLYNESIA

QU'EST CE QUE C'EST FRENCH POLYNESIA

• It is an island in the South Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by 117 other dispersed islands. One of these islands include Tahiti which is famous for its black sand beaches.
• These islands were formed by undersea volcanoes and include high islands, large lagoons and submerged volcanoes.
• The majority of the residents speak both French and Tahitian, the languages differ from island to island.
• It has a population of 282,703 people.

L'HISTOIRE

• In 1842 the French Invaded the islands and it became official French territory in 1946.
• The people on those islands were named Polynesians.
• Although they were part of France they had there own flag.
• There flag shows a canoe that rides the wave pattern, the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolise the five island groups. The red and white is the traditional Polynesian colours.

LA CUISINE

• They are known for there seafood as symbolised on there flag.They traditionally provide there own food through fishing, animal husbandry and gardening.
• In most rural households, only one meal is cooked each day and leftovers are eaten at the other meals.
• They have many tourists so this provides many hotels with restaurants which serve local Polynesian seafood and French inspired cuisine.

LES SPORTS

• Canoe racing is the most traditional Polynesian sport. This is an essential element of Polynesians life and without canoes, Polynesian islands wouldn't have been inhabited.
• The most important race is the "Hawaiki Nui Va'a" organised every year. It lasts 3 days and 50 teams that are involved start in Huahine and finish in Bora Bora.

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• Surfing is also very popular as it was invented in Polynesia a long time ago. It is always practiced by the local people to respect tradition.
• Other sports include stone lifting, javelin throwing, fruit carrier races and coconut tree climbing.

LA MUSIQUE

• Polynesians focus a lot on rhythm as it is seen as very important in their culture.
• Tahitian drum and dance is seen as a very popular and traditional way to entertain. There performances symbolises the past and present state of social hierarchies within the community and the islands.

LA FIN