Gloria Salii

Gloria Salii is the bilung of Koror which is the female counterpart of ibedul and highest ranking female chief title in Palau.

Life

She became the bilung in 1975. After the death of her older brother High Chief of Koror Yutaka Gibbons, there was a succession dispute between Salii, on behalf of her son James Lebuu Littler, and her brother Alexander Merep.

Personal life

Her family are of English, Chinese and royal Palauan descent. She is married to Michael Littler, an administrator in the Palauan educational system and their son was born in 1978. She is the sister of the former ibedul of Koror Yutaka Gibbons, Governor of Koror John C. Gibbons and the current ibedul Alexander Merep. Salii is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Salii accompanied Melissa DePaiva following the murder of her family in Palau in December 2003.