Kalaniar
Social Structure and Family Life
Families are typically large among the Kalaniar, who have a strong focus on communal lifestyles. The families typically consist of several generations living together, with the oldest woman being seen as the head of the household, though it rarely matters who the head is due to the communal living of the family. It is more important for them to take care of not just each other, but also of their community. Because of this, people tend to be regarded as equals among them, though with an adherence towards the elders.Relationship and marriage
Relationships are a complicated affair. For the Kalaniar, being together is to be in a partnership, which encompasses everything from dating to being married. This partnership is one they first enter, when the potential partners are certain and if everyone in a partnership agrees. More often than not these partnerships, or Valisti in the Kalaniar tongue, are polygamous in structure. While there is no upper limit to the number of partners one can have, it is uncommon to be more than 4, with anything more than 5 being almost unheard of. This is due to the necessity for all involved parties to be accepting of one another within the Valisti, making it is exceedingly rare for them to grow very large. Once a partnership is formed, there is a celebration. This celebration has one of two variants. If an entirely new partnership is formed between two who has not been in one before, the tribe will hold a lavish celebration with the whole tribe, or in the case of large cities, neighborhood, participating. The height of the celebration being the pair having their tattoos modified to include the new member as a part of their family. The other variant of the celebration is if a new member is joining an existing partnership. These celebrations tend to be smaller, with the families of each member participating instead. This can still become large in their own right, as even extended family is invited usually.Physical Intimacy
For the Kalaniar, the act of physical intimacy is considered a normal act and it is not unusual for close friends to do so with eachother, even if they are in different partnerships. It is considered a display of affection and enjoying the presence of a close friend. In contrast, with a partner it is far more as it is considered a sacred show of passion, love and intimacy and among the Dulinri, one shouldn't mistake it for the other. For love, especially to say that one loves another, is considered one of the most sacred declarations one can make and it is never taken lightly. However despite these acts being more open than in the neighboring nations, one should take the care that they do not result in a child, unless it is done within one's partnership. The only exception found to this, is a child born to the parents who both lack partnerships of their own.
Dulinri Partnership Bonding by Crow/CanineCrypt
Clothing
Clothing is often made of plant-fibers gathered from around the islands the Kalaniar reside on. Thin but tough, the clothes are designed with the heat of the islands in mind and are often open, with bare arms being the norm and the clothing often being loose. Skirts, loincloths and the like being among the most common, with a top for women. A lack of clothing when home is not uncommon and considered entirely natural, gathering no attention from other Kalaniar. If they are to go outside however, it is considered irresponsible to be undressed due to the jungle and scratches it may give, and the clothing is considered protection against such. Jewelry is not uncommon either. It is commonly made of gold and worn on arms, around the neck, tails and sometimes ears or as a headband with others places existing as well but less common. The jewelry tends to detail the history of the tribe as well as stories and legends.
Typical Kalaniar Clothing by CissLionLeaf
Arts and Crafts
Many Kalaniar practice arts and crafts as a part of their free time in some shape or form. Some of the more popular ones are to make woven mats, wooden carvings and the mahuna cloth. The woven mats are often designed from large leaves with intricate patterns to serve as both floor coverings and even ceremonial offerings, with the mats at times being passed down through generations. The wood carvings are often used to decorate the house, from ancestral figures to motifs of life and parts of the islands. It is also used to decorate their ships, or simply to make the tools they use in their daily life. The mahuna cloth is made from the bark of trees, with the cloth being beaten, dyed and decorated with patterns and natural motifs. Often it will be in shades of brown, black and red and it is typically used to decorate walls and rarely as ceremonial clothes, though it is rare. With the amount of work it takes, the creation of it is often a community wide event, with everyone working together to create a piece of art. Storytelling, music and dances are one of the bigger forms of entertainment among the Kalaniar. Many times, a community will have their own storyteller who have learned the history of that community to tell to future generations, and many ceremonies involve either stories, or music and dances. Some of these come with masks and headdresses made from wood, feathers, sells and sometimes bones with the belief that it can bring them closer to the spirits they worship.Tattoos
A common practice among the Kalaniar is the use of a variety of dyes to create intricate patterns and designs on their skin. Though it is rarely understood, or sometimes even seen with suspicion in other nations, the islands regard the practice well as long as there remains a meaning to it. Among the common practices for the dyed locations is the meaning attached to them.- As the arms are often uncovered due to the warmer climate, they tend to be covered with designs telling who one is. Island of origin, occupation and important family legacy are among the most common designs in this area.
- The chest is particularly important, as what is shown on it is what one is and wishes to become. The closer the design is to the hearts, the more importance is laid upon it as it flows out throughout the body.
- The back typically has the extended family history of an individual, often relating to close relatives as well as important parts of their history.
Education
Educating the young is considered a task for the whole community, who teach them most common things to know. Once they become teenagers, they have to pick an occupation within the community to learn, and from which point they will learn under a member of the community, often a family member or an elder if possible.Food
Kalaniar food has a strong emphasis on seafood, often served alongside fruits and root vegetables. Meals are communal in a household, with several members of the household helping each other with preparation.- Kainoa is a large fish that is often a staple of Kalaniar food. The most traditional preparation is for it to be marinated in a mixture of lime juice, coconut milk and mild spices and then wrapped in banana leaves as it is cooked or steamed. It is then served alongside roasted breadfruit.
Related Locations
