Reception

Reception at Oktipsenja

Location: Oknyoja Insenja

6/7/19

Observation by Michael Hamady

Noon

Description of Activities

Six Oknyo guards, wielding plasma staffs beyond our technology, escort the unexpected visitors on a trawler towards a small remote island. Quiet and stern, the tense journey lasted 20 minutes. Once on Oknyoja Insenja (Council Island), I observed nine trawlers approaching from various directions ferrying the Oknyoja to the island. Like the boat ride to Oknyoja Insenja, the guards remained stern and quiet.

            Once the Oknyo arrived, the guards ushered us and the Oknyo towards the sole structure (yit) on the island. Circular in shape, the yit resembled a pantheon-like structure with no walls or doors, solely columns with an open ceiling. The structure was entirely constructed with marble. The center of the yit had an intricate design depicting the nine islands of Insenja.

            All Oknyo remained stern and quiet until the conference proceeded. The one Oknyoja who broke the silence held a carved wooden staff with nine distinct points, representing each island of the Oktipsenja (country). The Oknyo wielding the staff was a female. She tapped her staff twice on the marble floor, and the procession began. The guards remained neither hostile nor friendly. First, the speaker spoke, presumably addressing the question regarding our fate. She spoke softly for roughly two minutes until she tapped her staff once. In a clockwise manner, each Oknyo spoke for two minutes while every other member listened intently. Each Oknyo nodded once they conveyed their point, and the speaker subsequently tapped her staff once notifying the next to speak. Once all spoke, the speaker tapped her staff three times. Thereupon, she distinctly looked at us in a seemingly kind gesture and said che (yes). She tapped her staff once. The subsequent Oknyo voted che with the exception for two who said “echi” (no). Once all Oknyo spoke, the speaker concluded the meeting, tallied the votes, and stated her final opinion. All Oknyo remained rather emotionless.

            The nine Oknyoja with the exception of the speaker formally parted exchanging minimal conversation. Their respective guards escorted them back onto the trawlers and departed into the thick mist which masked the island. The speaker motioned us towards her; the guards who accompanied us did not follow. She pointed to the center of the yit where a beautiful map depicted the nine islands. She spoke in her foreign language but we did not understand her. She was aware of the language barrier; however, we could deduce that her gesture was friendly, and therefore, we did not worry.

            She pointed to a small central island, minuscule compared to the nine prominent islands surrounding it. We deduced that the island she pointed at was our current location. She tapped repeatedly, saying “Oknyoja Insenja.” She then motioned towards herself and said, “Oknyo.” Once we indicated that we understood, she tapped each of the nine islands and spoke their respective names twice. Next, she motioned for us and the guards to follow onto the last remaining trawler where we presumed she would continue to act as our guide for Insenja.

Reflection

            The Oktip are notably formal, respectful, and efficient. We are unsure if every reception proceeds the way described as the Oktip are remotely removed from known civilization. Regardless, the Oknyoja conducted the session in a democratic fashion with clear speaking rules and formalities. Each Oknyo only had two minutes to state their opinion and only talked when prompted. The speaker seemed to hold the same power as the rest. Her vote did not outweigh the others. Her role beyond acting as one of the nine Oknyo was to direct the meeting formally.

            The meeting implied that the Oktip decide all matters democratically via representatives. We are unsure how frequent the Oktip meet, the duration of the meetings, and the method of election for representatives. However, all collective decisions seem to originate from this small central island. Hopefully the Oktip will grant us the ability to study additional governmental hearings, their method of election, and perhaps their law in the near future.