Atama Zedkaia
Encyclopedia
Leroij Atama Zedkaia (1931 - November 19, 2010) was the Marshallese
paramount chief
, or Leroijlaplap, of Majuro
. Leroij Zedkaia spearheaded the movement to break the Marshall Islands
away from the rest of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
and form the independent Republic of the Marshall Islands. She was also the mother of Jurelang Zedkaia
, who has served as the President of the Marshall Islands
since 2009. Leroij is a title by a female paramount chief, or Leroijlaplap, in the Marshall Islands.
Zedkaia was considered a key figure in the Marshallese independence movement. She worked to break the Marshall Islands away from the rest of Micronesia, which was incorporated into the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time. According to journalist
Giff Johnson, "From a traditional leader point of view, she was very active in the background in supporting the move that was being led by the political leadership here that ultimately was successful in rejecting a Micronesia wide constitution
and then developing the Marshall Islands constitution in 1979 which is the foundation for government here ever since."
Atama Zedkaia died on Friday, November 19, 2010, at the age of 79. President Jurelang Zedkaia
's Minister in Assistance Ruben Zackhras
declared a week of national mourning
following her death. Marshallese flags
were ordered to be flown at half mast until Saturday, November 28, 2010.
She was accorded a state funeral
in Majuro
, which is customary for Marshallese traditional leaders. Zedkaia's state funeral ceremony was the largest in the Marshall Islands since the death of former President Amata Kabua
in 1996. Approximately 1,000 family and friends of Zedkaia, who were each dressed in black, took part in the state funeral procession. The participants marched behind a hearse
and a Marshallese police honor guard
. Zedkaia's remains were taken from Majuro Hospital to the Nitijela, or parliament building, for her state funeral, which was broadcast on national television.
The remains of Atama Zedkaia were taken to the Assembly of God Church in Majuro for the funeral services following the end of the official state funeral.
Her son, President Jurelang Zedkaia, assumed the title of paramount chief for all lands governed by Atama Zedkaia following her death. He had previously carried out chiefly duties for her during her life.
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
, or Leroijlaplap, of Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
. Leroij Zedkaia spearheaded the movement to break the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
away from the rest of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
and form the independent Republic of the Marshall Islands. She was also the mother of Jurelang Zedkaia
Jurelang Zedkaia
Jurelang Zedkaia is a Marshallese traditional chief and politician. Zedkaia was elected the 5th President of the Marshall Islands on October 26, 2009, following the ouster of his predecessor, Litokwa Tomeing, in the country's first successful vote of no confidence.-Biography:Zedkaia is the...
, who has served as the President of the Marshall Islands
President of the Marshall Islands
-List of Presidents of the Marshall Islands:...
since 2009. Leroij is a title by a female paramount chief, or Leroijlaplap, in the Marshall Islands.
Zedkaia was considered a key figure in the Marshallese independence movement. She worked to break the Marshall Islands away from the rest of Micronesia, which was incorporated into the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands at the time. According to journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Giff Johnson, "From a traditional leader point of view, she was very active in the background in supporting the move that was being led by the political leadership here that ultimately was successful in rejecting a Micronesia wide constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
and then developing the Marshall Islands constitution in 1979 which is the foundation for government here ever since."
Atama Zedkaia died on Friday, November 19, 2010, at the age of 79. President Jurelang Zedkaia
Jurelang Zedkaia
Jurelang Zedkaia is a Marshallese traditional chief and politician. Zedkaia was elected the 5th President of the Marshall Islands on October 26, 2009, following the ouster of his predecessor, Litokwa Tomeing, in the country's first successful vote of no confidence.-Biography:Zedkaia is the...
's Minister in Assistance Ruben Zackhras
Ruben Zackhras
Ruben R. Zackhras is a Marshallese politician and member of the United Democratic Party, was acting President of the Marshall Islands from 21 October 2009 to 26 October 2009...
declared a week of national mourning
National day of mourning
A national day of mourning is a day marked by mourning and memorial activities observed among the majority of a country's populace. They are designated by that nation's government...
following her death. Marshallese flags
Flag of the Marshall Islands
The flag of the Marshall Islands, an island nation in the Pacific, was adopted upon the start of self-governance, May 1, 1979.The Marshall Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the United States, from which the Marshall Islands and Micronesia split...
were ordered to be flown at half mast until Saturday, November 28, 2010.
She was accorded a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
in Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
, which is customary for Marshallese traditional leaders. Zedkaia's state funeral ceremony was the largest in the Marshall Islands since the death of former President Amata Kabua
Amata Kabua
Amata Kabua was the first President of the Marshall Islands from 1979 to 1996 ....
in 1996. Approximately 1,000 family and friends of Zedkaia, who were each dressed in black, took part in the state funeral procession. The participants marched behind a hearse
Hearse
A hearse is a funerary vehicle used to carry a coffin from a church or funeral home to a cemetery. In the funeral trade, hearses are often called funeral coaches.-History:...
and a Marshallese police honor guard
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
. Zedkaia's remains were taken from Majuro Hospital to the Nitijela, or parliament building, for her state funeral, which was broadcast on national television.
The remains of Atama Zedkaia were taken to the Assembly of God Church in Majuro for the funeral services following the end of the official state funeral.
Her son, President Jurelang Zedkaia, assumed the title of paramount chief for all lands governed by Atama Zedkaia following her death. He had previously carried out chiefly duties for her during her life.