Tapati 2017
Tribute to the Elders of Today and Yesterday
apati Rapa Nui, one of the most important festivals in Polynesia, which presents the living traditions of a people who survived a long ocean voyage and developed a unique culture, was held again during the first two weeks of February. From the beginnings of the event in the 1970s, the Island families have formed alliances behind the candidates for queen and their respective Aito (young warriors) to participate in a wide variety of cultural presentations, artistic competitions and sporting meets, all in order to obtain the greatest number of points for their candidate. It is all happiness, unity, effort and hard work for everyone and finally includes even the foreign visitors. This year the winners were Tahira Nahoe-Chaura and her Aito Cristopher Araki-Zamora. The festival culminated in a parade in which both locals and tourists participated with their bodies painted, dancing and singing around floats that recalled the history, the myths and legends and the ancient customs.
For 2017, the organizers took inspiration from the traditional Council of Elders Te Mau Hatu o te Rapa Nui which was reflected in the scenery installed at Hanga Vare Vare. The Council of Chiefs or Elders of Rapa Nui is a community organization that was formed in the 1970s to represent the wishes of the Rapanui people in their dealings with the government of Chile. One of their major achievements was the recognition of their rights as the true heirs of their land and their cultural heritage. It also recalls the 12 chiefs of Rapanui families who survived the slave raids from Peru in 1863/4 and who later signed the Agreement of Wills on September 9, 1888 with the Chilean representative, Policarpo Toro, delivering sovereignty of Rapa Nui Island to Chile.
