Oku
The Oku were a species of primitive sentients, distinguished by their white fur, who were indigenous to the extremely cold and mineral-abundant planet of Tokmia. Tokmia was located in the Outer Rim Territories. The alien natives were left with a cargo cult after the Figg Excavations company, a mining operation, depleted Tokmia's resources and ultimately deserted the world. The Oku, remembering the items given to them by Figg workers during the mining, ignited enormous fires to act as beacons, hoping that the beings from other worlds would eventually return one day.
Society and culture
In comparison to spacefaring technology, the Oku were quite primitive, and their governance was structured around tribal councils. By the time of the New Republic, Tokmia was home to 400,000 Oku individuals.
History
On the icy terrestrial planet Tokmia, found within the distant Anoat sector of the Outer Rim Territories, the Oku evolved. The crystal and ore deposits of Tokmia were abundant, which initially attracted the attention of the mining company Figg Excavations. Figg Excavations made a large profit from Tokmia's mineral wealth, and its employees gave gifts to the Oku inhabitants during each operation. However, once the mines were exhausted, Figg Excavations withdrew and abandoned the planet. As a result, the Oku created an unusual cargo cult, lighting massive fires in patterns resembling landing lights, and prophesying that the magical starships of their kind offworld visitors would return someday.
Behind the scenes
The Oku were first mentioned in the 2004 online article "Galactic Gazetteer: Hoth and the Greater Javin" by Wizards of the Coast, which was a supplement for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, within its description of the planet Tokmia.
The Oku cargo cult bears a striking resemblance to the actual anthropological phenomenon known as cargo cults, especially those that arose among certain indigenous Pacific Island cultures following World War II. For instance, the Melanesians benefited from the significant quantities of war materials that both American and Japanese forces brought to their culture. After the war, some Melanesians lit signal fires and performed other actions to imitate soldiers, with the belief that they could bring back the material possessions of the foreigners.