From 1974 (the creation of the British colony of Tuvalu) until independence, the legislative body of Tuvalu was called the ''House of the Assembly'' or ''Fale I Fono''. Following independence in October 1978, the House of the Assembly was renamed the Parliament of Tuvalu or ''Palamene o Tuvalu''. The place at which the parliament sits is call the ''Vaiaku maneapa''. The ''maneapa'' on each island is an open meeting place where the chiefs and elders deliberate and make decisions.