Carolinian people

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Carolinians

Refaluwasch
Carolinian/Refaluwasch family in 1915
Total population
Over 8,500
Regions with significant populations
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Guam
Languages
Carolinian, Chamorro, English
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholic and Traditional religions
Related ethnic groups
Chuukese people, Panapeans, Kasrae

The Refaluwasch people are a Micronesian ethnic group who originated in Oceania, in the Caroline Islands, with a total population of over 8,500 people in the Northern Mariana Islands. They are also known as Remathau in the Yap's outer islands. The Carolinian word means "People of the Deep Sea." It is thought that their ancestors may have originally immigrated from Asia and Melanesia to Micronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language is Carolinian, called Refaluwasch by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. The Refaluwasch have a matriarchal society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward the matriarchs. Most Refaluwasch are of the Roman Catholic faith.

The immigration of Refaluwasch to Saipan began in the early 19th century, after the Spanish reduced the local population of Chamorro natives to just 3,700. They began to immigrate mostly sailing from small canoes from other islands, which a typhoon previously had devastated. The Refaluwasch have a much darker complexion than the native Chamorros.