It's been neat to be blessed with the opportunity to read and share stories with the next generation and so far during Samoan language week was gifted with the opportunity to read to children at 'Rise Up Academy' with a sneak preview of our book "Mount Vaea and the tears of Apa'ula" which will be launched at the end of the week (with more details to come).
What was especially neat was that in sharing with a range of ages I was able to see what interested them as well as reading the story and 'ad libbing' (i.e. adding my own bits) to help connect the story with each audience. It was also neat to see how many children had visited Samoa but none had heard of this particular story as such stories have not often been seen as having any significance but I hope to begin to change that tide with our NZ born Pasifika children.
I think it a privilege that in sharing this story with future Pasifika leaders or any students of schools that I will attend and speak or read at, that they will consider heritage stories as being part and parcel of the identities that they partake in. Just as many children/adults consider Fairy tales or Disney Princess stories as being essential in the learning process.
It must say that it has been heartening to see that NUS the National University of Samoa now has a course of study in which undergraduate students go out into the field and like me (almost 30 years later) are now collecting ancient stories to document in different villages.
And for me I look forward to continuing to share many more stories to come.
Ia Manuia.
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