The Omaticayan Flute

[TheEternalPhoenix]

Oél ngáti kámeie ngengá tsmúktu

With the 'blue flute' and mother loom destroyed in the destruction of their hometree, have the Omaticaya permanently lost part of their tribal culture, or will they be able to 'forge' another blue flute?

In these regards the Omaticaya seem unique as they are a 'textile' producer and have a 'sacred instrument'.

Kìyevame ulte Eywa ngahu

P.S. a possible reference to digeridoo's and aborigine connection to nature?

[kintìomum]

Since the "blue flute" was said to be a gift from Eywa to the Omatikaya I think there might be a new one.
Only after reading the ASG I found what they all lost when the hometree fell.
Not only home and hearth to their families but also most of the posessions since they barely escaped with their lives at hand. They had several years of work in the things they lost and although everything can be replaced the Omatikaya are definitely facing a hard time.

[Sol Lupusnight]

Yes it will be hard for them but they will live on and rebuilder and become even bigger anbd better while still being the wonderful tribe that they are.

[kintìomum]

I don't know any numbers on the size of the Omatikaya before the Hometree was destroyed and have neither the sight nor the memory to be able to count their numbers when they gather around the Well of Souls.
But there's some simple math from the scene before the battle:
Jake states that he has 15 clans with more than 2000 warriors gathered, thus meaning an average of 130andsome warriors per clan.
Now, since the Omatikaya got nothing to loose they will surely throw every warrior into the fight and after all: Toruk Makto is one of them.
The other clans might keep some warriors in their homestead to protect them from everyday dangers (just speculation, since we don't know how important Toruk Makto is and if he's really ruthless enough to demand all warriors of a clan -but I don't think so).
Now, 130 warriors is quite a bunch of people and I'm not sure if there were so many Omatikaya at all gathered when Jake had his "birthday".
What I want to say: the Omatikaya will have a hell of a time to get back on their feet since their numbers seem to have been seriously reduced.

[Tutean-tìhawnu]

Kaltxi

well, while Quaritch is telling everyone that they are going to be attacked by the Na'vi, he says something about their numbers having increased from a few hundred, but then again, we don't know how many survived the battle.

[Technowraith]

We don't know how many Na'vi the Omaticaya had to begin with. Given the size of Hometree, i would speculate there could have been as many as 500, maybe even in the low thousand or so. Obviously we know how many were left, a figure around a couple hundred. But again, we don't have an accurate number of survivors. The area around the Tree of Souls was jammed packed for jake's ceremony at the end. Which may indicate that more Omaticaya could have reached the Tree of Souls area after the battle was done. Depending on how long it took to evacuate Hell's Gate, that time period could have allowed more survivors to show up at the end.

As for Toruk makto, it sounds like he is very important for uniting the clans for a common cause. It would be foolish for a clan to commit every available warrior to the cause, though. I would venture to guess that at least some percentage of a clan's warriors would stay behind. We may learn more about toruk makto in upcoming sequels.

[Kaltxì Palulukan!]

The area around the Tree of Souls was jammed packed for jake's ceremony at the end. Which may indicate that more Omaticaya could have reached the Tree of Souls area after the battle was done.

Great post (as usual, but I snipped everything but what i wanted to comment on).

With all due respect, how about instead of looking at Jake's ceremony, do a spot count on when he arrives with Toruk. THAT is a clan broken and huddling close to the great tree. That seems highly representational of "the Omaticaya not killed" (or say two-three dozen on patrol, gathering temporary/emergency supplies, et). Even in a crisis there will always be a few who rally to care for the needs of everyone who is completely overcome with hysteria or grief. I wasn't smart enough to look and count any of the times I have seen Avatar to date, but I would hazard a guess of about 100-150 "on screen" (more specifically: implied in the area by the numbers shown), and possibly 2-3 dozen Omaticaya either flying or out foraging/hunting.

[ShadowedSin]

Just to ask, are we even sure the Omatikaya were all IN home tree. It's not uncommon for band/clannish peoples to have several holdings. All we know Hometree was the Omatikaya capital or main holding. There could be more throughout the forest in small camps and out on hunting expeditions.

[A. A. Aaron]

Just to ask, are we even sure the Omatikaya were all IN home tree. It's not uncommon for band/clannish peoples to have several holdings. All we know Hometree was the Omatikaya capital or main holding. There could be more throughout the forest in small camps and out on hunting expeditions.

You have a valid point. However I beleive that given the close-knit nature of their community, that they all did live within Hometree. I agree that some were probably out on hunting expeditions or even out trading with other clans but I'd guess a good 80% of them were 'home' at the time that the RDA attacked.

[kintìomum]

Having seen the film for the sixth time (and every time after the first I was paying attention to different details) there were roughly -very roughly- 30 to 40 Omaticaya leaving the burning tree behind. But that number is highly questionable since the scene evokes the feeling that we're only seeing the last few trodding behind and the treck is moving over a ridge into deeper forest.
I wasn't able to count the heads when Toruk arrived (hmm, might be I see the movie again this weekend, I doubt I can get accurate numbers but I'll try anyway) but that would surely be the scene to look out for.
As Kaltxì Palulukan said it's most likely that there are almost all Na'vi that are left of the Omaticaya gathered.

[Kaltxì Palulukan!]

Having seen the film for the sixth time (and every time after the first I was paying attention to different details) there were roughly -very roughly- 30 to 40 Omaticaya leaving the burning tree behind. But that number is highly questionable since the scene evokes the feeling that we're only seeing the last few trodding behind and the treck is moving over a ridge into deeper forest.
I wasn't able to count the heads when Toruk arrived (hmm, might be I see the movie again this weekend, I doubt I can get accurate numbers but I'll try anyway) but that would surely be the scene to look out for.
As Kaltxì Palulukan said it's most likely that there are almost all Na'vi that are left of the Omaticaya gathered.

Thank you. I will try to IMAX the movie this weekend and I will bring a notepad. I should get a list of things to take note on

[kintìomum]

Believe me, there's a ton of details...
Spoken Na'vi, firing rate of weapons, physics behind the equipment, archery, how many of whatever are there... to name some that kept me distracted from the storyline

[Kaltxì Palulukan!]

Believe me, there's a ton of details...
Spoken Na'vi, firing rate of weapons, physics behind the equipment, archery, how many of whatever are there... to name some that kept me distracted from the storyline

I say "bring it on." I need something to focus on to keep me from crying like a 13-year old girl when hometree gets blasted to splinters.



Bah! I am a complete weenie. I need to go do something manly, like fix a car, or start a revolution.

[Technowraith]

Believe me, there's a ton of details...
Spoken Na'vi, firing rate of weapons, physics behind the equipment, archery, how many of whatever are there... to name some that kept me distracted from the storyline

I say "bring it on." I need something to focus on to keep me from crying like a 13-year old girl when hometree gets blasted to splinters.



Bah! I am a complete weenie. I need to go do something manly, like fix a car, or start a revolution.

Start a revolution. iot's more fuin than fixing a car.  

When i see the movie again tonight, i'm going to try and see if i can estimate the headcount when Toruk shows with Jake. I think using that time may give a better count of survivors. But keep in mind: it's entirely possible that more survivors made their way from Hometree to the relocated clan during the battle. So the Omaticayas numbers could have changed from when Jake arrives on Toruk and his ceremony at the end of the movie. I'm not sure if inter-clan participation is permitted during such a ceremony. I will go out on a limb and say (at least to me) there were more Na'vi at the end of the movie than when Jake showed up with Toruk. During Grace's ceremony is also a good time to get an estimated head count as well. As I think that's right after when Jake shows up with Toruk. Again, not all is known just yet, so some of this is conjecture to a point.

The Activist Guide does have an entry for the Omaticaya itself. It's one of the most sacred objects the Omaticaya People possess, as lore says it's from Eywa herself. No avatar has seen it, and it's only taken out during the most sacred rituals (like the lining up of planets, or other rare and special sacred ceremonies). Just in case some of us don't have the Activist Guide. 

[Kaltxì Palulukan!]

snip
The Activist Guide does have an entry for the Omaticaya itself. It's one of the most sacred objects the Omaticaya People possess, as lore says it's from Eywa herself. No avatar has seen it, and it's only taken out during the most sacred rituals (like the lining up of planets, or other rare and special sacred ceremonies). Just in case some of us don't have the Activist Guide. 

Good thoughts. Thanks for including that extra info for people who don't have their guide "yet."

[kintìomum]

:?
There's people without it?

[Technowraith]

:?
There's people without it?

Hmmmm?

The Omaticaya is a sacred instrument. The Omaticaya People possess (or possessed) it in the branches of Hometree. That is before RDA blew up Hometree. The Omaticaya is presumed destroyed once Hometree fell to the ground. But in reality, there is still a chance it could exist, either in pieces or intact. Knowing Eywa, she probably had a hand in safeguarding it somehow. We don't know. The Omaticaya itself isn't even mentioned anywhere in the movie.

[kintìomum]

There's people without it?

was a not very serious comment on the ASG...

When viewing the movie the first time and seeing hometree fall I was "Damn, that's a blow to morale and numbers."
Later I read the ASG (somewhere between the second and third view) and realised that it was not just the home of the Omaticaya falling.
With hometree being destroyed they also lost the flute, the most sacred instrument and according to lore a present from Eywa herself and the totem at the central meeting place (the one formed from Toruks skull).
And then there's the article about Na'vi hammocks and the time and effort invested into every single one. Every hammock is a masterpiece created over the course of several months (weeks at least) and every clan member got an own hammock. But with the destruction these too were destroyed...

[Kaltxì Palulukan!]

There's people without it?

was a not very serious comment on the ASG...

When viewing the movie the first time and seeing hometree fall I was "Damn, that's a blow to morale and numbers."
Later I read the ASG (somewhere between the second and third view) and realised that it was not just the home of the Omaticaya falling.
With hometree being destroyed they also lost the flute, the most sacred instrument and according to lore a present from Eywa herself and the totem at the central meeting place (the one formed from Toruks skull).
And then there's the article about Na'vi hammocks and the time and effort invested into every single one. Every hammock is a masterpiece created over the course of several months (weeks at least) and every clan member got an own hammock. But with the destruction these too were destroyed...

Oh, very nice! Things I completely missed. The "last" Toruk Makto (pr-jake) and the official "Omaticaya Toruk Makto," ( I highly doubt the new Toruk will be donating his skull for display), and all of those hammocks. Wow, that **is** a blow. Things are going to be really bad for the Omticaya clan for several years. So much rebuilding to do. The thrill of the victory wears off long before the endless chores of rebuilding are complete, much less the emotional stains. And all of that ash fallout. (The location previously known as) Hometree will be like "The Forbidden Zone" in Planet of the Apes. An area of destruction and pain (and no "measurable" Eywa). That will leave scars that will take generations to heal.

Okay, now i am depressed. um . . . "thanks."

(great post! ++

[kintìomum]

Okay, now i am depressed. um . . . "thanks."

Always happy to help...
See it that way: Now every Omaticaya has the chance to get a new hammock with the personal favorite colors and pattern...

I wonder if the formerly-hometree-area wont be overgrown fast.
After all, ash is a great fertilizer and with hometree gone there's nothing obstructing sunlight for smaller plants. The basic undergrowth will most likely return in a matter of some weeks. The problem is another hometree: The Omaticaya have to find one and it'll take several centuries until a new one is grown to a size that allows more than a small family of Na'vi to live in it...
Perhaps they are lucky with the flute. If it was stored in some safe place to be used in big ceremonies only it might be that it survived in that niche... If hometree didn't fall the wrong way and the niche got pressed shut by the weight... damn, should stop thinking that far!