Light at the Edge of the World: The Wayfinders Part 4

The Wayfinders of Polynesia inhabited the largest culturesphere in human history, spanning one fifth of the surface of the planet. Navigators of the sea, Wayfinders used wave pattern 'fingerprints' and the stars to travel to thousands of islands. However, this culture that once flourished over 25 million square kilometres of ocean, has seen much of its history and tradition die out. To preserve Wayfinding, one Hawaiian native learns this art form of navigation and designs a traditional Polynesian boat to sail across the islands. Wade Davis accompanies him on one of these journeys to learn and listen as he shares his emotional story of overcoming stereotypes and disillusionment to embrace the culture of his ancestors. Complemented with commentary from a Polynesian scholar, The Wayfinders offers an in-depth look into the life of this ancient culture.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Light
• at
• the
• Edge
• of
• The
• World
• Polynesia
• Wayfinders
• National
• Geographic
• Wade
• Davis
• History
• Channel
• Nainoa
• Thompson

[stperkin]

As a graduate student of anthropology I am so glad to finally see some good stuff on the internet. Most stuff listed as ancient history or archeology is pseudo science nonsense. Like the "end of the world 2012" or the like. Thanks for posting!

[jfreesprt]

I hope (and believe) that this "old man" navigator/wayfinder will someday be seen as a savior/hero of the culture of the Polynesians. We must preserve the culture and historic ways of all our peoples of the earth. Or we may suffer the return of the Dark Ages. Like stagnant water.

[TrueGreatness73]

Columbus was a fat murderous rapist pig

[hamogunjafarmer]

Hafa Adai my friend. That is true. Columbus aka 3D= Death, Disease and Destruction......... he he he.

Manuia

[GuamKomudo]

Everyone discovered America before Columbus LOL Native Americans, Chinese, we Polynesians probably did at some point. Columbus is just a loser, he came, and shot everyone with guns and changed culture, lanugage and everything... Now McDonalds rules the earth... =P

[hamogunjafarmer]

Another awesome program. Thanks for posting. With current research at hand in Chile, they may come to the conclusion that Polynesians discovered the Americas before Columbus. Manuia!

[shnazer1]

@jfreesprt purge the heathens.

[YinYangTzu]

there is actually a lot of great stuff for anthropology on the internet. youtube Mike Wesch to find some good presentations on the current state of the internet from an anthropologist's perspective.

i would actually blame a lot of the major tv networks for showing docudramas that display "traditional cultures" and "ancient history" in the light of pseudoscience and superstitions. i.e. the docudramas about mayan armageddon and the crystal skulls. the history channel sucks in particular today

[DragonToes13]

They were NOT CALLED MARQUESAS