It also reminded me of the stories that my mother told me of the weaving that my namesake, Eleni, my paternal great grandmother would demonstrate for my mother and how she learned to weave from her grandmother.
It was such a privilege to feel that now that that knowledge has now been passed on and I'm looking forward to learning more.
I first started to learn weaving, in my adult years, through learning by watching Maori teachers demonstrate and teach by using harakeke or native NZ flax fronds that are easily found around local parks, schools and planted on some family properties.
It's a real blessing with so much more to still learn. We also learned new vocabulary and about the origin story of how Samoa's important fine mat came from Tonga and has now become a very important part of Samoan custom and still retains the name "Ie Toga".
It's also seen as being the very first measina or the most important measina of all the treasures of Samoa due to it's important use in many faaSamoa rituals. From weddings and birthdays to funerals and blessing ceremonies.
It's also important in the ceremony of the 'ifoga' whereby one or a family is able to use the Ie Toga to ask for forgiveness for transgressions if the offended party accepts it. So that the Ie Toga can preserve life too. Something that I've since learned from my studies with more to learn as well...
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