History

Recent History

Today Wallis & Futuna is the most isolated French Pacific colony, with an economy almost totally based on French economic assistance. Migration and the state of their economy are two of the key issues facing the island group in the new millennium. There are now more Wallisians in New Caledonia than on the island itself.

The king of Wallis has provided most of the interesting news of recent years. Two of his familiy members have recently claimed immunity from the law (for serious offences: rape and manslaughter). The king himself, aftr more than 40 years in power, has bolstered his own position, refusing calls among some ariki (cheifly) families for a replacement.

In 2002, the King's 'custom police' were ordered to close down the kingdom's only newspaper. In the last few years clashes between the present Wallisian king's supporters and supporters of rival claimants to the title have seen one man killed and gendarmes called in from France to help settle things down.

Modern Day History

France began to meddle increasingly in the running of the islands' affairs in the course of the 19th century, until they decided to drop the pretence and just take over, finally taking control of the islands' dealings between 1886 and 1888. The islands assumed the official status of a colony in 1924. During WWII, control passed over to the Americans, as the French were more or less preoccupied. The war in the Pacific arrived on the island group's doorstep. In May 1942 Wallis' 5000 inhabitants found themselves sharing their island with 2000 American troops. At its peak this number rose to 6000. This interaction with the United States led to a move after the war to cut ties with France and switch to being an American colony! The French would have none of it - the runway at Hihifo was something of a strategic motherlode in their eyes. It took more than a decade for the cultural tremors from this American 'invasion' to settle. Administration was in the hands of the French, but the king of Wallis still exercised some degree of authority, such as the responsibility of appointing the kivalu, the equivalent of a prime minister.

Pre 20th Century History

Wallis & Futuna were populated when the great wave of Lapita settlement swept eastwards across the Pacific between 1500 and 500 BC. Objects found on Futuna have been dated back to 800 BC, although it's probable that there are even older sites. These early settlers practised agriculture and fishing, and brought the first pigs to the islands. Later Futuna came under the influence of Samoa, while Wallis suffered repeated invasions by Tonga. Evidence of these bloody invasions can be seen at Wallis' two main archeological sites, Talietumu and Tonga Toto.

The islands have had a series of name changes, beginning with the renaming of Futuna to Hoorn by Dutch explorers in 1616. In 1767 English navigator Samuel Wallis, who had recently discovered Tahiti, renamed Uvea Wallis, and this name stuck.

By the first half of the 19th century the islands had become popular stops for whaling ships, traders and - inevitably - missionaries. Pierre Chanel, Futuna's first missionary, arrived in 1837. Four years later the priest was murdered by King Niuluki's warriors following his greater than expected success converting the local population to Christianity. He was declared venerable in 1857, beatified in 1889 and finally canonised as the patron saint of Oceania in 1954. The saint is also recognised as the first martyr to lay down his life for Oceania. Within a few years of Chanel's death, Wallis became fully Christian, as other Marist priests took up the challenge.