Traditional chiefs of Palau

{{Short description|Palauan leaders}} {{Redirect|Chiefs of Palau|chiefs or monarchs of Palau prior to independence|Spanish East Indies|and|German New Guinea|and|South Seas Mandate}} {{Redirect-multi|4|Beouch|Ngiraked|Ngiraikelau|Reklai|the sprinter|Beouch Ngirchongor|the politician|John Ngiraked|the jurist|Oldiais Ngiraikelau|the surname|Reklai (surname)}}

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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shuster|first=Donald R.|title=Custom versus a New Élite: Palau's 16 State Constitutions|journal= Journal of Pacific History|volume= 29|issue= 2|date=1994|page=188|jstor=25169227 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/25169227|access-date=January 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101092927/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25169227|archive-date=January 1, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==List of current chiefs== {{Dynamic list}} [[File:Sailors salute a guest aboard USS Higgins. (8455082967).jpg|thumb|Sailors salute reklai of Melekeok Raphael B. Ngirmang in 2013]] [[File:USS Higgins sailors salute Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons (cropped).jpg|thumb|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.]] [[File:Etpison Museum.JPG|thumb|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.]] {{Sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header" ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | State ! scope="col" | Incumbent ! scope="col" | Predecessor ! class=unsortable| Notes |- ! colspan=5 | {{vanchor|Council of Chiefs}} |- |Beouch |Ngardmau |''Demei Obakrairur''<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> |Sakaziro Demk<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mvariety.com/news/regional/ngardmau-joins-bwa/article_d30c1b3f-8450-5817-8794-ca0faa985fda.html|title=Ngardmau joins BWA|first=Variety News|last=Staff|date=September 24, 2008|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230203357/https://www.mvariety.com/news/regional/ngardmau-joins-bwa/article_d30c1b3f-8450-5817-8794-ca0faa985fda.html|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Marianas Variety News & Views}}</ref> | |- |Heimong |Hatohobei |''Vacant''<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | | |- |Ibedul |Koror |Alexander Merep<ref name="February 2022"/> |Yutaka Gibbons<ref name="New York Times"/> |See ibedul succession dispute. |- |Maderngebuked |Ngaraard |Thomas Remengesau Jr.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/feature-stories/palau-working-next-generation-and-next-and-next|title=In Palau, working for 'the next generation, and the next, and the next'|date=March 13, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230170940/https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/feature-stories/palau-working-next-generation-and-next-and-next|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Global Environment Facility}}</ref> |Thomas Remengesau Sr.<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- |Ngirakebou |Ngchesar |''Andres Madraisau''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://islandtimes.org/high-chief-ngchesar-ngirakebou-bedor-of-ngchesar-passes-away/|title=High Chief Ngchesar Ngirakebou Bedor of Ngchesar passes away|date=September 11, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230203248/https://islandtimes.org/high-chief-ngchesar-ngirakebou-bedor-of-ngchesar-passes-away/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |Roman Bedor<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- |Ngiraked |Airai |Yukiwo P. Dengokl<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> |Johnson Toribiong<ref>{{Cite web|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|url=https://islandtimes.org/if-your-titles-die-out-so-will-our-palauan-culture-toribiong/|title='If your titles die out, so will our Palauan culture': Toribiong|date=June 17, 2022|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230205902/https://islandtimes.org/if-your-titles-die-out-so-will-our-palauan-culture-toribiong/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> | |- |Ngirturong |Ngeremlengui |John Sugiyama<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://islandtimes.org/john-sugiyama-is-the-new-ngirturong-of-ngeremlengui/|title=John Sugiyama is the new Ngirturong of Ngeremlengui|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230201134/https://islandtimes.org/john-sugiyama-is-the-new-ngirturong-of-ngeremlengui/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |Yamakazaki Rengiil<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- |Nurap |Sonsorol |Nicholas Aquino<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | | |- |Obak |Peleliu |''Vacant''<ref>{{Cite web|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|url=https://islandtimes.org/late-chief-obakldelolk-isao-p-singeo-honored-with-a-presidential-proclamation/|title=Late Chief Obak'ldelolk Isao P. Singeo honored with a Presidential Proclamation|date=June 20, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230204755/https://islandtimes.org/late-chief-obakldelolk-isao-p-singeo-honored-with-a-presidential-proclamation/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |Isao Singeo<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- |Rdechor |Kayangel |Isimang Bandarii<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | | |- |Rekemesik |Ngatpang |Surangel S. Whipps<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> |Ngiratkel Etpison<ref name="August 1997">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/273940592/|title=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date= August 5, 1997| page= 2|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230184156/https://www.newspapers.com/image/273940592/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |Title disputed by Uchelsias Shallum Etpison, son of Ngiratkel Etpison.<ref name="December 2018"/> |- |Reklai |Melekeok |Raphael B. Ngirmang<ref name="Council of Chiefs">{{cite web | url=https://www.palaugov.pw/executive-branch/council-of-chiefs/ | title=Council of Chiefs – PalauGov.pw |access-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318234402/http://palaugov.pw/executive-branch/council-of-chiefs/ |archive-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |website=PalauGov.pw}}</ref> | | |- |Rengulbai |Aimeliik |Yukiwo Etpison<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | | |- |Ucherbelau |Angaur |Lorenso Edward<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | | |- |Uongerchetei |Ngerchelong |''Mathias Erbai''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://islandtimes.org/chief-uong-er-etei-victor-joseph-honored/|title=Chief Uong Er Etei Victor Joseph honored|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230203850/https://islandtimes.org/chief-uong-er-etei-victor-joseph-honored/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |Victor Joseph<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- |Uongruious |Ngiwal |''Vacant''<ref>{{Cite web|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|url=https://islandtimes.org/presidential-proclamation-honors-late-chief-uongruios-paulus-wong/|title=Presidential Proclamation honors late chief Uongruios Paulus Wong|date=November 16, 2021|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230204155/https://islandtimes.org/presidential-proclamation-honors-late-chief-uongruios-paulus-wong/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |Paulus Wong<ref name="Council of Chiefs"/> | |- ! colspan=5 | Other chiefs |- |Bilung |Koror |Gloria Salii<ref name="New York Times">{{Cite news|first=Robert|last=Trumbull|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/14/archives/a-former-us-army-cook-now-ruler-in-western-pacific-islands-leads.html|title=A Former U.S. Army Cook, Now Ruler in. Western Pacific Islands: Leads Foes of Military Bases There|work=The New York Times|date=14 January 1979 |access-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229143134/https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/14/archives/a-former-us-army-cook-now-ruler-in-western-pacific-islands-leads.html|archive-date=December 29, 2023|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> |Ngerdoko<ref name="resolution">{{cite web |title=Resolution No. 16-21: Relative to Recognizing Bilung Gloria G. Salii as a Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge |publisher=Board of Regents, University of Guam |date=2016-04-21 |url=https://www.uog.edu/_resources/files/administration/board-of-regents/board-resolutions/bor_resolution_no._16-21.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref> |Female counterpart of ibedul and highest ranking female chief.<ref name="December 2023">{{Cite web|url=http://islandtimes.org/bilung-assumes-ibedul-title-and-claims-compensation/|title=Bilung assumes Ibedul title and claims compensation|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|date=December 31, 2021|access-date=December 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231130607/https://islandtimes.org/bilung-assumes-ibedul-title-and-claims-compensation/|archive-date=December 31, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref><ref name="New York Times"/> |- |Ngiraikelau |Koror |Franco Gibbons<ref name="January 2022">{{Cite web|url=http://islandtimes.org/bilung-as-ibedul-takes-control-of-hotl/|title=Bilung as Ibedul takes control of HOTL|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|date=January 18, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231131737/https://islandtimes.org/bilung-as-ibedul-takes-control-of-hotl/|archive-date=December 31, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> | |2nd highest ranking chief in Koror.<ref name="January 2022"/> |- |Uchelsias |Peleliu |Shallum Etpison<ref name="December 2018"/> |Yukiwo Shmull<ref name="December 2018"/> |Specifically chief of Ngesias which is the central portion of Peleliu.<ref name="December 2018">{{Cite web|url=http://islandtimes.org/shallum-becomes-uchelsias-of-peleliu/|title=Shallum becomes Uchelsias of Peleliu|first=Island|last=Times|date=December 21, 2018|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230174041/https://islandtimes.org/shallum-becomes-uchelsias-of-peleliu/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> |}

==Ibedul== {{Redirect|Idid|the group|Idid (group)}} Ibedul is a title given to the high chief of Koror, in Palau, who is also the head of the Idid clan.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|access-date=2022-12-19|date=1996|first1=Arnold H.|isbn=978-0-275-95390-4|language=en|last1=Leibowitz|page=103|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|title=Embattled Island: Palau's Struggle for Independence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uBcp1CguyeMC&pg=PA103}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.palausupremecourt.net/doc/NeutralCitations/2016/2016%20Palau%2027.pdf|date=December 5, 2016|title=Ngaremeketii/Rubekul Kldeu, Terekieu Clan and Jonathan Ngiremekur Sked, represented by Miriam Kual ''Appellants'' vs. Koror State Public Lands Authority, ''Appellee''|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230122318/http://www.palausupremecourt.net/doc/NeutralCitations/2016/2016%20Palau%2027.pdf|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=www.palausupremecourt.net}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/Narratives/Overview/1f589dfe-e49b-48f7-8890-567fb7a6d71b|title=Palau – 2020 – III.B. Overview of the State|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230111538/https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/Narratives/Overview/1f589dfe-e49b-48f7-8890-567fb7a6d71b|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b32617|title=Abba Thulle, King of Pelew|date=December 30, 1788|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230112247/https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b32617/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=www.loc.gov}}</ref>

===List of known ibeduls=== {{Sticky header}} {{Nobility table header }} | '''Abba Thulle'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Capt Henry Wilson|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG129711|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230094736/https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG129711|archive-date=December 30, 2023|access-date=December 30, 2023|website=The British Museum}}</ref> {{floruit|1783}} | 100px | | | |- | '''Ilengelekei'''<ref name="Nero">{{Cite book|last=Nero|first=Karen Louise|date=1987|url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/d2dcd29e594a69a5d0c3aa79d456c6ad |title=A cherechar a lokelii: Beads of history of Koror, Palau, 1783–1983 |id={{ProQuest|}} }}</ref> 1871 – 1911 ''({{Age in years|1871|1911|duration=yes}})'' | 100px | | | 1911 |- | '''Louch'''<ref name="Nero"/> 1911 – 1917 ''({{Age in years|1911|1917|duration=yes}})'' | 100px | | | 1917 |- | '''Tem'''<ref name="Nero"/> 1917 – 1943 ''({{Age in years|1917|1943|duration=yes}})'' | | | | 1943 |- | '''Mariur'''<ref name="Nero"/> 1943 – 1958 ''({{Age in years|1943|1958|duration=yes}})'' | | | | 1958 |- | '''Ngoriakl'''<ref name="Nero"/> 1958 – 1972 ''({{Age in years|1958|1972|duration=yes}})'' | | | | 1972 |- | '''Yutaka Gibbons'''<ref name="Nero"/> 1973 – {{nowrap|4 November 2021}} ({{Age in years|1973|4 November 2021|duration=yes}}) | 100px | {{nowrap|17 January 1944}} | | {{nowrap|4 November 2021}} Aged 77 |- | '''Alexander Merep'''<ref name="February 2022">{{Cite web|url=http://islandtimes.org/ngarameketii-accepts-merep-as-ibedul/|title=Ngarameketii accepts Merep as Ibedul|first=Leilani|last=Reklai|date=February 25, 2022|access-date=December 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230094301/https://islandtimes.org/ngarameketii-accepts-merep-as-ibedul/|archive-date=December 30, 2023|url-status=live|website=Island Times}}</ref> {{nowrap|February 22, 2022}} – present ''({{Age in years and days|February 22, 2022|duration=yes}})'' | | | |''Living'' |}

== References == {{commons}} {{reflist}}

Category:Traditional chiefs of Palau