Sokehs
Sokehs is a municipality in the Eastern Caroline Islands.
Alternative spellings and historic names include: Sokas, Sokos, Tsokes, Jokaj, Dschokadsch, Jekeits, Jokaj
Sokehs is located on the Island of Pohnpei within the eponymous Pohnpei State, itself part of Federated States of Micronesia.
Subunits
Villages within the municipality include: Omwara, Palikir, Likie, Sekere
Population, Language and Religion
The 2010 FSM Census reported a population of 6,647. Pohnpeian is the spoken language and religious affiliation is roughly evenly split between Roman Catholics and Protestants.
Governance
Spain laid claim to the Carolines from the time of initial discovery in the early 1500's but made no attempt to occupy or administer them. In 1885 a Governor for the Carolines was appointed by the Governor General of the Philippines and presence established in Pohnpei and Yap. In this Spanish Period (1521-1899), Sokehs fell within the Western District of the Spanish East Indies.
After the Spanish-American War, Spain sold the Palau, Caroline, and Marianas Islands to Germany in 1899. In this German Period (1899-1914), the Caroline, Palau and Mariana Islands (excluding Guam), along with the Marshalls, annexed in 1885, were titled Imperial German Pacific Protectorates. The Carolines become an administrative district of German New Guinea under direction of a vice-governor and Sokehsfell within the Eastern Caroline District.
The Carolines were seized from the Germans by the Japanese early in World War I. Despite protests from the United States, including the Yap Crisis, the Islands were in 1920 mandated to Japan by the League of Nations. In this Japanese Period (1914-1941), Sokehs fell within the Ponape District of the “Nan'yō Cho” or South Seas Government.
Following liberation of the islands in the War in the Pacific, the islands were administered by the US Navy. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was formalized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 21 in 1947. The Navy passed governing duties to the Department of the Interior in 1951. During the USN Period (1945-1947) and the TTPI Period (1947-1979) Sokehs fell within the East Carolines Administrative Unit and then the Pohnpei District.
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) was established with the end of the Trust Territory. The FSM is one of three “Freely Associated States,” or “FAS” nations that entered into a Compact of Free Association or “COFA” with the US. The treaty and agreements provide economic assistance to the countries, secured US defense rights and set defense responsibilities, and allow FAS citizens to migrate to the United States.
Traditional Culture
Pre-Contact
Sokehs was part of the Senyavin Grouping, comprised of Pohnpei, Ant and Pakin.
Sokehs was also part of the Chieftainship, and the principal elements determining rank and status among kin group, based on priority of settlement; hierarchy claims refer to legends of migration from islands to the east (Sudo Type 1).
Property rights were characterized by a land tenure system based on matrilineal ownership but extended patrilineal usage. Land inheritance is inherited mainly patrilineal (Sudo, Type 3). lands are nominally owned by the matrilineage, but are actually used by a small patri-extended family because of the custom of patrilocal residence. An individual living on his father's lineage land may choose to belong to either his mother's or his father's side. The systems of ambilateral inheritance choice and the flexibility in group affiliation are the other means of keeping a balance between group population and food resources.; a system of sea tenure in which a reef and lagoon is owned by all islanders or villages but is controlled by a chief (Sudo Type 1).
Evolution
The five traditional administrative districts on Pohnpei were retained as local political units by both the German and the Japanese administrations, a chief being placed in charge of each. Under the Japanese system, village headmen, corresponding to the old feudal lords or managers, were placed under the eight village chiefs. However, one very fundamental change in the native system was introduced by the German administration and continued by the Japanese government. This was the curtailment of the power of the chiefs by the distribution of land among the common people as private property. Under the Japanese administration, moreover, chiefs were often selected because of their willingness to conform to the Japanese notions of how the district should be administered, rather than because they were next in the line of succession. This led to a certain amount of dissension and conflict, which the Japanese partially alleviated by conferring informally with the aggrieved persons and asking their advice about administrative matters.
Present Day
Traditional chiefly authority is exercised by the Nahnmwarki System.
In Pohnpei, the state constitution does not make specific mention of a formal role for the traditional leaders but chiefs can play an informal role in public sector governance, including swaying election results in favor of a particular candidate.
Electoral Divisions
The legislative branch of the Federated States of Micronesia is unicameral. Two types of Senators are elected: at-large senators, one for each of the four states, who serve four-year terms, and population-based senators, representing specific constituencies, who serve two-year terms. The President of Micronesia is elected by the Congress from amongst the four at-large senators, after which a special election is held to (re)fill that seat.Sokehs is represented in the FSM Congress by the Pohnpei, At-Large Seat Senator, and the Pohnpei, District 1 Senator.
Education
The Local Education Agency, or “school district” for Sokehs is the Ponhpei State Deparment of Education and Sokehs falls within the Educational Division 1.
