Council of Tamol

The Council of Tamol (COT) is a traditional leadership body in Yap State. The council is an important part of culture and governance and composed of chiefs from the various municipalities and villages of the Outer Islands of Yap.

COT is both part of a formalized fourth branch of government, as well as the contemporary manifestation of the Outer Island paramount chief system that itself formed a part of the traditional Sawei system between the Outer Islands and Yap Proper.

The Council serves as a guardian of tradition and culture by maintaining and promoting the rich heritage, customs, and traditional practices of the Outer Islands.

History and Evolution

Historically, the Council of Tamol functioned as a primary, or paramount, political authority in the Outer Islands. In terms of social stratification and leadership, prior to contact with the West, the Outer Islands were home to societies with a strong egalitarian ethic and a chief or chiefs with highly circumscribed powers. By contrast, Yap, with a larger singular population, had a society with stronger chiefs and where violence was used to seize and maintain power.

The Council still acts as a governing body that oversees and makes decisions on matters of cultural, social, and sometimes political importance. This can include resolving disputes, managing communal resources, and upholding customary laws and traditions. Through its leadership and guidance, the Council helps maintain social order and cohesion among the islands. The Council participates in and presides over various cultural and ceremonial events, reinforcing its status and the continuity of cultural traditions across generations.

As an extension of the village and island-level chiefly system, the Council is often involved in the management and allocation of natural resources, which are vital for the survival of island communities. It oversees practices related to land use, fishing rights, and agricultural activities.

In modern contexts, the Council of Tamol also acts in an advisory capacity to government bodies or international organizations engaging with the islands, providing insights and guidance that reflect the needs and perspectives of the local communities. Decisions within the Council of Tamol are often made through consensus.

Sawei

Historically, these chiefs were responsible for overseeing the exchanges and maintaining harmonious relations between Yap and its outer islands. This includes organizing and regulating the tribute rituals and ensuring that both parties fulfill their roles within the system.

In cases where disputes arise regarding exchanges or obligations within the Sawei system, the Council of Tamol would act as an arbitrator. They provided, in an many instances still provide. a platform for resolving conflicts, thus maintaining the stability and continuity of these traditional practices.

Both the Council of Tamol and the Sawei system are integral to the cultural identity of the Yapese people. The council ensures that the cultural norms and values associated with the Sawei system are upheld and passed down through generations, thereby reinforcing cultural continuity The functioning of the Sawei system under the guidance of the Council of Tamol reflected and reinforced the social hierarchy within the so-called Yap Empire. Through this traditional governance, the chiefs ensured a balanced power dynamic between the Yapese and the outer island communities, maintaining social control.

Contemporary Fourth Branch Status

In Yap State, traditional leaders have a role in governnance that enshrines them as a "Fourth Branch." As John Haglelgam, former President of the FSM observed in his "Traditional Leaders and Governance in Micronesia" (1998), “in Yap, the traditional leaders have formal roles in the government. The Yap state constitution created two councils of chiefs: one for the main islands of Yap and one for the outer island chiefs. These councils are empowered to review and disapprove an act of the state legislature if it violates custom and tradition… The legislature cannot override the veto of these councils but can incorporate their objection in the bill and return it for their review. So far. the councils have used their power sparingly. The councils have also expanded their power to review policy of the executive branch which has forced the governor and his cabinet to justify their policy to the councils… The two councils are in essence public watchdogs, making sure that elected officials and bureaucrats are doing their job."