Dr. Tobias (Toby) Sperlich is a cultural anthropologist who specializes in the arts, cultures, and histories of the islands of Polynesia. He studied for his BA in Archaeology & Anthropology at the University of Oxford, and continued with an MA in the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the University of East Anglia. He returned to Oxford to earn his doctorate in cultural anthropology with a thesis on museum collections from colonial Samoa. Toby was born and raised in Germany and moved to the UK for university at age 20. Fully bilingual, he can deliver his presentations in English and German, and is able to converse comfortably in French.

Toby has carried out research in museums in the Pacific, North America, and Europe, and has conducted ethnographic fieldwork on the Samoan island of ‘Upolu. He has participated in archaeological excavations in the Mediterranean and in Britain, and has visited and studied historical, archaeological, and other culturally-significant sites across Europe and the Pacific Ocean.

An Associate Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina, Toby teaches courses on Cultural Anthropology, World Archaeology, Polynesian Ethnography, Art, and Museum Studies. He is an experienced public speaker engaging both academic and general audiences, and loves to share his experiences, stories, and knowledge.

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South Pacific – Destination-specific presentations

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Tonga: A modern kingdom at the cradle of Polynesia
An overview of the history and archaeology of the first islands in Polynesia to be settled by humans.

Samoa: Two countries, one history – the birth of Polynesia
What do we know about the pre-history and culture of the islands from where Central Polynesia was settled?

Hawai’i: The archaeology and early history of the islands
Gods, chiefs and temples – we will explore Hawai’i before European contact.

Rarotonga: Of gods, temples and an ancient road
Rarotonga boasts fascinating historical remains, many of which associated with an ancient road encircling the island.

The Society Islands and Tahiti: An ancient chiefdom at the crossroads of Polynesia
Perhaps the most famous of Polynesia’s tourist destinations, Tahiti also has an intriguing and important indigenous history and culture.

Henderson and Pitcairn: Polynesia’s “Mystery Islands”
An overview of the archaeology and history of some of the most remote and enigmatic islands of Polynesia

The Tuamotu Archipelago: An overview of the group’s archaeology, art, and culture
What do we know about the archaeology and history of the tiny islands and atolls that make up the Tuamotu Archipelago?

The Marquesas Islands: Carving stone, carving wood, carving bodies
Known for tattooing as well as stone and wood carving, the Marquesas also played a major part in in the prehistoric settlement of Polynesia.

Easter Island: Enigmas of an isolated place
Famous for its giant stone statues and mysterious birdman cult, what else is known of Rapa Nui? [1 or 2 talks]

Aotearoa: Land of the long white cloud
New Zealand was the last large landmass discovered and settled by humans. What do we know of the early Polynesians who made it their home?

New Caledonia: Lapita and Kanak
Rich in archaeology and history, modern New Caledonia is known for its cultural diversity and exciting art scene.

Fiji: A Poly-Melanesian melting pot
Located at the intersection of Polynesia and Melanesia, Fiji showcases characteristics of both regions.

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South Pacific – History, Art, Culture

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The prehistoric settlement of Polynesia
Where did the first inhabitants of Polynesia come from? And when did they get there?

Polynesian cultures: Similarities and differences
What do the traditions of Samoa, Hawai’i, Tahiti, and New Zealand have in common? And how do they differ?

Gender roles in Polynesia: More than meets the eye
There isn’t just male and female in Polynesia. How can we make sense of this different gender system?

Vintage Polynesia: Colonial photography
Photographs from the colonial period in Samoa offer intriguing insight into the lives of early 20th century Polynesians.

Polynesian art and Western museums
Polynesian art and material culture do not always serve decorative or utilitarian purposes. They also connect people across time and space.

Traditional Polynesian religions: an overview
Traditional Polynesian religions explain how the world was made and how we are to live our lives.

The Arts of Polynesia 1: Women’s arts
A survey of the genius of Polynesian women: mats, bark cloth, quilts and more.

The Arts of Polynesia 2: Men’s arts
A survey of the most famous of male artistic production in Polynesia: wood and stone carvings.

The Arts of Polynesia 3: Tattooing
An overview of an iconic Polynesian art: styles, meanings, and significance.

The Arts of Island Melanesia
The arts of Island Melanesia are famous for their creative genius and deep symbolism. We will explore some of these objects and the contexts in which they are made and used.

Kula: More than just exchanging things
The islands off the SE coast of New Guinea are famous for a long-distance trade network. What is known of this important part of the region’s living heritage?

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Seafarers and Explorers

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Vasco da Gama: Around the Cape and back again
Famous for being the first European to sail the Cape of Good Hope, Vasco da Gama also left a mark on India.

James Cook: The enlightenment on a ship
A look at Captain Cook, who made his name and found his demise in the Pacific Ocean.

Von Kotzebue and von Krusenstern: Russian naval exploration
Often overlooked, Russian navigators explored much of the globe’s oceans.

La Perouse: To the Pacific and never to be seen again
Having explored much of the Indian Ocean, La Perouse disappeared in the Pacific in 1788. His legacy lives on.

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Ancient Navigation

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The Polynesians: Sailing the Pacific
How did ancient Polynesians discover and settle nearly the entire Pacific Ocean?

The Phoenicians: From the Levant to the Atlantic
Before the Romans ruled Europe, the Phoenicians ruled the Mediterranean. What do we know about them?

Ancient Arabia: Across the Indian Ocean
Well before Europeans reached the Indian Ocean, Arabs sailed along the coasts of Arabia, Africa and India, using their own unique water craft, the dhow.

The Norse: To Greenland and America
During the Middle Ages, the Norse commanded the North Sea. How did they navigate the dangerous waters of the North Atlantic?

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North Atlantic –History, Art, Culture

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Nordic Scandinavia
An overview of the lands of the Vikings, their religion, their culture, their arts

Viking Britain and Ireland
For much of the early Middle Ages, the Norse influenced much of the British Isles. What do we know of this history?

Greenland: Of Inuit, Norse and Danes
A survey of the history and people of Greenland, from earliest human settlement to self-rule.

The Norse in North America
What traces did the first Europeans leave in the New World and what do we know about their lives there?

Iceland: Prehistory and culture
An illustrated survey of Iceland’s more distant past, including Irish monks, an early parliament, and Norse mythology.

The Hanseatic League
An economic behemoth during its heyday, the Hanseatic League dominated the North and Baltic Seas in the late Middle Ages.

Inuit Art, past and present
Principally known for its figurative carving, Inuit art has a long and important history. We will survey contemporary and historic creations from Alaska, Canada and Greenland.

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.