Thesis research on Samoa and it's close neighbours ...

I am currently writing up my first background chapter for my Doctoral thesis at AUT University and have been enjoying complementing my academic readings with attending weekly bilingual faamatai (Samoan chiefly titles) classes at PEC Pacific Education Centre. A learned colleague there has been teaching High school students for many years and holds community classes that have been also running for many years and is it an honour and privilege for me to attend.

So that in between writing up books, painting or organising the printing and launching of our various books, and a working fulltime mum, I make time to consider many things including the historical background of Samoa and the relationship that it had with various other close Pacific neighbours in the history of Samoa. In fact, Fiji features very predominantly in historical and mythical stories of old although Niue, Tuvalu and Tokelau feature highly in familial settings.

In fact, it is quite possible that there were many power plays between the 3 main Pacific powers of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa as is told in many stories of old. However, as each Pasifika group of islands continued to develop so did their similarities differ more markedly and even more so in recent history with the nations of Samoan, Tonga and Fiji differing greatly in their political structure in current years.

It makes me consider how Samoa became the first Pacific nation to become self governing and to pursue/seek it's independence in 1962 away from colonial political strongholds which differs from Tonga's monarchy and Fiji's coups who have sort to take back their indigenous rights to land and self governing although sometimes through a democratic process.

As a Samoa, I am greatly encouraged that our future is secure in terms of self governing but am unsure of the what lies ahead in the future for education as I see Western influences permeating Samoa's culture and the Samoan education system as it has in New Zealand for Samoan children. But more about this in future blogs as I seek to learn more about where we are, where we have come from and where we are going to.

Ia manuia and looking forward to the journey ahead...