AMERICAN SĀMOAN LAND TENURE—APPORTIONMENT OF COMMUNAL LANDS AND THE ROAD TO INDIVIDUALLY OWNED LAND RIGHTS

Authors

Line-Noue Memea Kruse, Brigham Young University, Hawai’i

Abstract

When a village was established, the land in that village belonged to the people of that village. A mātai could claim land for his family or clan by clearing and then working it. Any land that was not under the direct “pule” of a mātai remained belonging to the people of the village. Paramount chiefs would have a more general control of larger areas. It is important to keep in mind that the power of a mātai was really defined not by title name, but by the land which he had control. Through this system, ownership of land from the mountain peak to the reef was defined among the various families, villages, and districts. Leuma v. Willis, LT 047-79, slip op. at 4 (Land and Titles Div. Dec. 16, 1980)

Recommended Citation

Kruse, Line-Noue Memea (2019) "AMERICAN SĀMOAN LAND TENURE—APPORTIONMENT OF COMMUNAL LANDS AND THE ROAD TO INDIVIDUALLY OWNED LAND RIGHTS," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 42: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol42/iss1/3