Family and Clan

This chapter examines Gabriela&s;s position within her family and locates her family within Belau&s;s ranked clan system to introduce historical and still-present clan structures. It identifies Gabriela&s;s "place" within clan relations for understanding her perceived right to speak out in opposition to the compact and in shaping boundaries of women&s;s political activities in constantly shifting and newly emerging political arenas. The chapter focuses on conversations with Gabriela and Cita to examine how they and others in Belau conceptualize how clans are constituted and how relationships within clans become reinforced or disengaged. It outlines the genealogy of Gabriela&s;s family, Olngebang, and retells stories of Olngebang&s;s ancestors as a way to gain a clearer understanding of discourse surrounding Belau&s;s system of ranked clans that shapes relations among people based on gender, rank, and age. The chapter explores how stories circulate within a family and community and how it is uncommon for people in Belau to talk openly about their family histories.