Tied to the tide: What happens to our Pacific stories when land washes away?

A fishing rock underwater. A spiritual water hole inundated. An island slipping into the sea. Across our Pacific, rising seas are altering the landscape, taking the physical markers of our oral history with them. When our elders’ stories are tied directly to physical places, what happens to the language and culture rooted there when those landmarks are swallowed up? Papua New Guinean conservationist Yolarnie Amepou believes that “even with the loss of place, we are ancient people, who carry 50,000 years of memory”.  In Samoa, elder Oskar Stünzner shares how changing shorelines in Lotofaga have submerged the rocks once tied to local spirit lore. And Stewart Garae and Joseph Vanmelbu share how Vanuatu's national language policies are helping communities carry their heritage forward, even when they’re forced onto new ground.   Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.