Traditional chiefs of Palau

Louch, future Ibedul of Koror, standing in the centre with other Palauan chiefs.

Palau has several traditional chiefs of its 16 states. A factor that resulted in the decline of chiefly authority in Palau was the introduction of elected governors, called upon in the Constitution of Palau which came into effect on 1 January 1981.

List of current chiefs

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.
Sailors salute reklai of Melekeok Raphael B. Ngirmang in 2013
Former Ibedul of Koror Yutaka Gibbons in 2013. His sister is bilung Gloria Salii and his brother is the current ibedul of Koror Alexander Merep.
The Etpison Museum named for former President and rekemesik of Ngatpang Ngiratkel Etpison. His brother Yukiwo is the rengulbai of Aimeliik and his son Shallum is the uchelsias of Ngesias in Peleliu.
Office of the Council of Chiefs in Koror

Ibedul

Ibedul is a title given to the high chief of Koror, in Palau, who is also the head of the Idid clan. Koror is the most populated state with approximately 64% of Palauans living there as of 2020. Historically, bearers of the title were sometimes erroneously referred to as "Kings of Pelew" despite them not having authority over all of modern-day Palau.

List of known ibeduls

References

  1. ↑ Shuster, Donald R. (1994). "Custom versus a New Élite: Palau's 16 State Constitutions". Journal of Pacific History. 29 (2): 188. JSTOR 25169227. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Council of Chiefs – PalauGov.pw". PalauGov.pw. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Staff, Variety News (September 24, 2008). "Ngardmau joins BWA". Marianas Variety News & Views. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Reklai, Leilani (February 25, 2022). "Ngarameketii accepts Merep as Ibedul". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Trumbull, Robert (14 January 1979). "A Former U.S. Army Cook, Now Ruler in. Western Pacific Islands: Leads Foes of Military Bases There". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "In Palau, working for 'the next generation, and the next, and the next'". Global Environment Facility. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ "High Chief Ngchesar Ngirakebou Bedor of Ngchesar passes away". Island Times. September 11, 2018. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ Reklai, Leilani (June 17, 2022). "'If your titles die out, so will our Palauan culture': Toribiong". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ "John Sugiyama is the new Ngirturong of Ngeremlengui". Island Times. June 6, 2017. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ Reklai, Leilani (June 20, 2023). "Late Chief Obak'ldelolk Isao P. Singeo honored with a Presidential Proclamation". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin". Newspapers.com. August 5, 1997. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Times, Island (December 21, 2018). "Shallum becomes Uchelsias of Peleliu". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Chief Uong Er Etei Victor Joseph honored". Island Times. December 24, 2019. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  14. ↑ Reklai, Leilani (November 16, 2021). "Presidential Proclamation honors late chief Uongruios Paulus Wong". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Resolution No. 16-21: Relative to Recognizing Bilung Gloria G. Salii as a Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge" (PDF). Board of Regents, University of Guam. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  16. ↑ Reklai, Leilani (December 31, 2021). "Bilung assumes Ibedul title and claims compensation". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Reklai, Leilani (January 18, 2022). "Bilung as Ibedul takes control of HOTL". Island Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  18. ↑ Leibowitz, Arnold H. (1996). Embattled Island: Palau's Struggle for Independence. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-275-95390-4. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  19. ↑ "Ngaremeketii/Rubekul Kldeu, Terekieu Clan and Jonathan Ngiremekur Sked, represented by Miriam Kual Appellants vs. Koror State Public Lands Authority, Appellee" (PDF). www.palausupremecourt.net. December 5, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Palau – 2020 – III.B. Overview of the State". mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Abba Thulle, King of Pelew". www.loc.gov. December 30, 1788. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Capt Henry Wilson". The British Museum. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nero, Karen Louise (1987). A cherechar a lokelii: Beads of history of Koror, Palau, 1783–1983.