The Agreements with Native Governments are the only original documents that are evidence of when each of the Ellis Islands submitted to the British Empire.
The documents are of significance as they provide evidence of a major cultural change that occurred with the impact of Western countries in the region. The Tuvaluan (Ellice Islands) people had their own way of life, however the effectiveness of these agreements gave power and authority to the British Empire over the Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) Islands people. Under the rule of the British Empire the people were also introduced to new rules, regulations and punishment which they never had encountered in their traditional way of life.
The documents are very rare, and are one of the few ways that the people of Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) can identify who were the Chiefs and Councillors in their island at the time the Agreements were made. The islands face a threat from climate change and are vulnerable to the disaster.