Languages and History
The people of Nui speak the Gilbertese language, the language of Kiribati, and Tuvaluan, the official language of Tuvalu. The ancestors of Nui came from the Gilbert Islands in what is now Kiribati. The island was sighted in January 1568 by Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra, who named it Isla de Jesús (Spanish for "Island of Jesus") but was unable to land.
The population of Nui from 1860-1900 is estimated to be between 250 and 300 people.
Read more about this topic: Nui (atoll)
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“People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
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