Anokótan Culture

Anokótans

The history of my people is a mystical and sordid one, many hundreds of thousands of years ago water, fire, air and earth, our forefathers, cohabitated harmoniously on a planet on the outermost galaxy that was filled with dense lush vegetation and beautiful rainforests. However, after many years the elements' peace was destroyed when fire and water decided they were more powerful than earth and air and made plans to overthrow them. Before the devious plan could be carried out Amokana, the mother of all life, decided the elements were ungrateful of the beautiful planet she had given them and banished them to a far away planet known as Anokótan. Akena, the daughter of Amokana, pleaded with her mother to take mercy on the elements. Amokana agreed but only if Akena could end the war between them. To ensure her will be done she sent Akena to watch over them and make sure tranquility was restored. This brings us to the story of my people the Anok’s.

My name is Allena; I am descendent of the water god, I live on the wetlands of Anokótan where most of the water tribes survive. We are spread out on the coast so climate can vary from icy tundra to swamp plains. My family has been on the wetlands for many centuries thriving on fish and marine life for sustenance. We trade with small villages up and down the coast for goods and services but most of us have never been west of the watery plains of our village. This is not to say that they do not exists, the air tribes live high in the mountains and valleys on the west of Anokótan and in between the east and west live the fire and earth people. You see we all live together but not how Akena meant. Indeed they lived in peace, water, earth, air and fire were again happy. Amokana was so pleased with her daughter’s kindness and patience for the elements that she sent for her to return home. The elements begged Akena to stay and live in happiness with them. Akena took pity on them and decided to create beings in their honor that would populate Anokótan and keep them to busy to start war. Soon after she left the elements sorrow turned to anger as they blamed each other for her departure. It was not long after that each group broke off creating the four lineages of the Anok’s.

 We live in a divided world where our history is what still largely shapes our present. Each tribe thrives and survives in a self-contained environment but all four of us must obey certain cardinal rules known as institutions. Family institution consists of any member of your tribe. You must show hospitality to your family member whether you know them directly or not. This philosophy is what allows the tribes to thrive independently of each other. Marriage institution dictates union can only take place between family members. A water tribe member can only marry another water tribe member breaking this law is forbidden. The government institution controls military and village alliances. Each of the four tribes is run by monarchies so every element has a government that consists of birth right lineages. Everyone underneath these royal families takes menial jobs working for the elites, joins the army or hunts and gathers to make provide. One government starts where the other stops so a fire king would not be able to dictate his agenda to an air queen. The religious institution is integral part of our culture it is what gives us our power and how we educate ourselves. For us education and religion are one in the same. To master your element is religion and to teach your children is the process of educating.   

SYMBOLS

This symbol represents the government institution. Each level of the pyramid signifies one of the three caste in Anokótan society. From the elite royal family to the subsistant commoners. This symbol stands for the natural hierarchy, war, oppression and order.

This symbol represents the family institution. The three rings symbolize your  immediate family, the family you marry into and your extended family or tribe. This symbol stands for unity, kinship, ancestry and reciprocity. 

This symbol represents the marriage institution. The circle is used to show  the completness of  marriage and the lines are used to both tie together and divide the tribes disecting them into the four tribes. This symbol stands for tribe tradition,  union of love and coming of age.

This symbol represents the religious institution. It combines all of the tribes symbols and has a center signifying they all originated from the same place. Each element is the same size and distance from the circular middle which denotes equality. This symbol stands for power, spirituality, origins and education.