One of the things that I was keenly aware of when I was in Samoa was the lack of signage or information for tourists, or those interested, about significant landmarks on the landscape of several important Samoan historical events.This particular pic shows the fale (house) of the Mau movement which was significant landmark in pushing back the colonial powers of wanting to take over Samoa. The Mau were an organised movement of resistance against the colonial powers that ultimately brought Samoa into becoming the first independent nation of the Pacific from colonial forces, although Tonga acclaims that it has always been a sovereign nation and has never oppressed by colonial powers.
In driving past it, I thought about this new generation and how many would not have heard about the oppression and difficult fight that our forefathers would have gone through in order to ensure and safeguard the freedom of Samoa.
This house stood as a symbol of resistance, as I understand it as, in having viewed so many pics of our forefathers standing in front of it and being proud and mindful of the measures that were taken in order for Samoa to now enjoy freedom i.e. some Samoans were exiled, killed, hunted, treated as criminals in their own lands because they would not bow to the colonial powers.
This is definitely a story that I want to write about to encourage and remind our next generation that this stand alone house was symbolic of people who did not accept oppression but who fought back with intelligent strategies for which now we can enjoy the freedom that they fought for...
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