The 1992 census shows a resident population of
2,770, an increase of 43.1% (834) of the 1982 figure. Perhaps a third of
this figure are temporary residents, being public servants and their
families, who are employed in the armed forces and various public
institutions. The remainder are native Rapanui and their spouses, some of
whom were born on Mainland Chile, called "El Conti", or
elsewhere. Several hundred Rapanui live off their island, mainly in other
parts of Chile, but also in North America, Europe and notably about one
hundred in Tahiti.
Since the 1982 census, there has been a 100% increase
in the number of houses on the island, from 530 to 1,065, due largely to
Chilean government subsidised housing programmes.
Spanish is the most
commonly spoken language, with Rapanui, an Eastern Polynesian tongue
related to Cook Islands Maori, being the mode of daily communication for
most Rapanui.
Owing to extensive contacts and the importance of tourism,
some Rapanui and their outsider born employees speak English, some French
and German.
Citizenship
Rapanui have Chilean
citizenship. Most Islanders over the age of 15 years have at least visited
the "Conti" and some have lived there for some time attending
school and university. There is some sensitivity locally about the
distinction between "Chileans" and Rapanui, those with family
and background on the island and those whose roots lie elsewhere in Chile.
Roman Catholicism is the prevailing religion, although apostolics and
Mormons have small congregations.
LIFESTYLE
Life is informal on the
island and dress casual, except for those in prominent role at state
occasions. Houses, clothing and public buildings are mainly in Chilean
style, with the occasional floral Tahitian pattern in shirts and dresses.
People shake hands upon meeting and departing, with those more familiar
with one another kissing (female to female and female to male) or giving a
strong hug (the "abrazo"). Food is Chilean in style, although
island foods such as crayfish, tuna (and other fish), sweet potato and
taro are common.
More than 400 vehicles, such as tour buses, Land
Rovers and other similar models, run over the few dozen kilometres of
mainly unpaved road. There are several hundred motorcycles and farm
vehicles. The first sealed road runs east to west from the Church to the
Fishermen's Wharf, past the school and post office. Early in 1993, there
are plans to cobble stone the main north to south commercial road.
Distinctive Rapanui customs include dancing,
string figure story telling and water sports. There are several Islanders
who are excellent stone and wood carvers, making replicas of famous
Rapanui figures. As well, there are artists working on cloth and some
graphic arts, exploring Polynesian themes, but with a contemporary eye.
EDUCATION
The Liceo Lorenzo Baeza
Vega, with about 800 students, now offers full child and adult education
facilities. There is a Kindergarten, Pre-basic and Basic education,
running nine years. Next follows "Middle Teaching" (Enseñanza
Media) for four years. From two years ago, the Liceo administers the
national examination ("Prueba de Aptitude") which serves,
amongst other things, for entry to post-secondary institutions, including
university. There are no absolute scores on the "Prueba", but
each course of study at each of Chile's universities has its own cut off
point for entry. All students are expected to attend basic education, with
some few going on to higher studies.
There are government scholarships for Rapanui
students for higher education on "the Conti" and university
study.
LABOUR
The size of the available
workforce is small, with all persons over the age of 30 years having some
sort of productive activity. Given that each Islander has a plot of land,
there is a certain amount of subsistence affluence, with many fishing for
additional protein. The most constant sources of employment are through
the Chilean public service and tourism. Some work in both areas. Public
projects of various sorts come up and the entire work force may be
absorbed. There are problems of unemployment for the most part. Domestic
service and working in shops is done often by persons brought from Chile
for the purpose.
Wages. Rates of pay in public employment,
the most constant source, are fixed officially in Chile. In 1992, a worker
in a government job might expect 60,000 pesos per month (about $A240),
while someone employed privately, say in construction or tourism might ask
for 140,000 pesos (about $A560). Local labour typically will balance
income against cost of living, which is not less than 50% higher on the
island than in Santiago. That, coupled with occasional labour shortages
and the availability of adequate subsistence through gardens and fishing,
means that the cost of labour is highly variable.
HEALTH
The standard of health on Rapanui is higher than in the rest of
Chile, with no infectious diseases of South America (eg cholera) nor of
the tropics (eg malaria, dengue). Some time ago, there was a well
controlled problem of leprosy and there are some older, disfigured
reminders of that previous condition.
As with many Pacific populations, there are the diseases of progress such
as diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular complaints. Anectdotally,
people report a high incidence of cancer amongst the dozen or so deaths per
annum. To care for this population, there is a small hospital inland from
the church at Hangaroa village, erected in 1976, with one medical doctor, a
dentist, a midwife and nursing and auxiliary staff. Equipment and medicines
are variable. There is an ambulance. Travellers should take with them any
specialist medical requirements as there is no chemist on the island, apart
from the hospital dispensary whose supplies depend upon shipments from
Chile.
