Te Pito o Te Henua (The Navel of the World) explores the cultural identity and close connection to the land and water shared by the Rapa Nui People through a visceral, behind the scenes exploration of the island’s most important cultural festival – Tapāti Rapa Nui.
Vaitiare Flores Riroroco
Born in the town of Hanga Roa on Rapa Nui, Vaitiare “Vai” Riroroco is a member of the Riroroco and Teao ancestral families of the island, and a direct descendant of the last Rapa Nui King Riro Kāinga. Vai (which means “water” in Rapa Nui) is the “Uka” or candidate to become queen of the Tāpati Rapa Nui Festival, an important cultural position that comes with important responsibilities for safeguarding their land and culture. Since participating in the film, Vai has gone on to represent her people at cultural gatherings and diplomatic meetings across the island and throughout Pasifika.
Irene “Veri” Teave Tuki
A self-described ‘Daughter of the Land’, Veri has served in multiple positions in the Rapa Nui municipal government and cultural organizations. Queen of Tāpati in 2014, Veri went on to represent Rapa Nui in the Miss Chile competition, finishing as runner up and helping to increase visibility for her People. In 2022, she was named Director of the important Tāpati Rapa Nui Festival, an especially critical role as Rapa Nui prepared to open its borders following the Covid-19 pandemic. Continuing in this important role, Veri remains dedicated to improving the lives and increasing the autonomy of all Rapa Nui.
Lynn Rapu
Lynn Jaime Rapu Tuki (born 9 December 1969) is a practitioner and promoter of the arts and traditions of the Rapa Nui People, and head teacher and founder of the Ma'aranui Cultural Academy and the Cultural Ballet Kari Kari. He serves as Cultural Ambassador of Asia-Pacific and has been Head of the Liaison Office of the National Council of Culture and the Arts (CNCA). Rapu is also a veteran navigator having made many journeys throughout the Pacific using traditional navigation methods, and continues to train young Rapa Nui seafarers on these skills. He and his wife, Chinese born anthropologist Maima Tching Chi Yen, founded the Rapa Nui Ao Tupuna foundation in 2012, committed to connecting the youth with their ancestors. They have two children together, Hopumanu and Analola.
Gina Pakarati
Icha, daughter of the forest, has grown up with the trees, animals and waters that surround her Longhouse home. One of nearly 300 residents of the Sungai Utik village, she has been learning about the customary ways to harvest plants and animals, how to weave the baskets and colorful cloths that are central to the work of the community, and how to leverage modern tools like GPS and cutting edge camera equipment to study and preserve the forest. She has also been learning about the lessons and powers of the Omen Birds of the forest, whose wisdom has always guided the Iban Dayak Indigenous peoples of Central Borneo. This is Icha’s first time participating in a film project with her village.
Pedro Pablo Edmunds Paoa
Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa is one of the most important Indigenous leaders in Chile. The son of a prominent Rapa Nui politician, he has been a key figure in the life of the Island since 1990. With the social explosion, he became part of those who sought the creation of a new constitution. For the first time, he managed to unite Indigenous mayors in an association. Mayor Paoa’s most lasting government program has been the community-driven Plan A.M.O.R. (Autosustentabilidad (self-sustainability), Mejoras Continuas (continuous improvements), Optimización de Recursos (optimization of resources), and Respeto (Respect)), which was recognized as part of the 20/30 agenda of the United Nations. The plan was put into effect for the first time at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic when Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa made the bold decision to close Rapa Nui to tourism and invoke the TAPU (Taboo) which is an ancestral call to order, resulting in only three cases on the island, even as families were reunited. His direct style has placed him as one of the most credible politicians in Chile, as he prepares to serve another term as Mayor.
The Municipality of Rapa Nui is located in the southeast Pacific. It is an Indigenous territory on a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 3,800 kilometers from Chile and 4,000 kilometers from Tahiti. The island covers approximately 16,360 hectares and is home to 36 family clans. Rapa Nui boasts the largest Multiple Use Marine Protected Area in Chile, spanning 728,000 square kilometers.
The Rapa Nui people are working towards creating their own government with constitutional recognition, which will allow them to effectively exercise their rights to self-determination. Food, a healthy environment, a spiritual connection with the land, and life in society are essential for the Rapa Nui.
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