In fact, my younger sister remembers assisting another cousin in Samoa in making a tuiga with more indigenous materials that were found on the land, in the sea i.e. in going to different locations to pick up shells and feathers etc.
The materials we are using are those that we can source locally such as mirrors instead of glistening clamshells and commercial feathers instead of the indigenous feathers that would have been used.
It's also been interesting in finding out about the origin story of the tuiga in that it was a male who first fashioned the tuiga in order to win the hand of a maiden as a suitor.
It was told that she was enamored by his tuiga and her favourite fish that he had caught to win her hand but then was no longer interested when he took off his tuiga and found that he was not as handsome without it and decided to no longer be married to him.
The story was shared from a village in Upolu, Puipa'a but very interesting in that early photos show men wearing it more so than women but then with the missionary influence women have since been encouraged to wear it moreso than men.
All in all, it's been an interesting journey in sharing and learning more about measina a Samoa and also about watching many have joy and growing in confidence in confirming the importance of this knowledge for generations to come...
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