Punialavaa - Beautiful Samoan song...

 

This evening as my beloved was serenading me with various songs, he sang this song and I was reminded of this beautiful song that my parents would listen to on a cassette tape (1970s - 1980s) when I was quite young by the group called 'Punialavaa'. 

The lyrics and tune are quite lovely as a beautiful love song about offering oneself to another. There has been another reformed band from the same family who have re-recorded the song a few decades later but I still enjoy this original song.

As the original band had quite a distinct sound. Something to listen to on a quiet evening when everyone has gone to sleep and you are with your beloved. Much like what I enjoyed tonight. Listen and enjoy...

Intellectual Property and Copyright...

 

I've had some very interesting conversations in the last week and it's been around Intellectual Property otherwise known as I.P. and copyright.

What I'd like to say as a self-publisher to many indigenous peoples out there who want to get published is to be very careful of 'sharks' or people out there who will take your I.P. and copyright and make it their's.

What do I mean by that? (I'm glad you asked). When indigenous writers, artists, musicians etc. are wanting to share their stories, music, artwork with the world they really need to be careful of whom they are choosing to represent them be that a publisher, an agent, a representative of some sort.

One of the things that I would suggest would be to check if you are able to keep the copyright to your work if you are publishing be it manuscript or music score etc.

The reason why this is important is that many are so busy being happy that they are being published etc. but they don't realise that the big companies and even small ones will not only publish your book but they will also own the copyright to that work and can print as many copies as they want. 

So that if you don't already have a contract in place then they are able to make as many copies as they wish to sell and are supposed to give you the royalties on any extra copies that they might sell. The problem then becomes that when you don't own the copyright to your book then you have no say over what happens to it.

In effect, you have sold that copyright to the agent, or publisher and effectively may have even sold the Intellectual property in that it becomes theirs. That's why it's really important for indigenous writers, artists etc. to carefully consider for what is best for their works for the future.

I've learnt as a self-published author that when I work in collaboration with other writers that the best way of working with them for them to keep the copyright to their own books therefore in the credits, in the front of the book, I would ensure that it stipulates that the copyright belongs to the authors.

In doing so, that means that the credit is given to them and the Intellectual property belongs to them and not to me as the publisher. People beware! there are sharks out there who parade themselves as helpers to indigenous peoples but then take your works and own the copyright and the Intellectual property. 

Please be vigilant in your precious indigenous works...

Photo credits: "Tekoteko" carving by Naufahu Veehala (Tongan). Te Wananga o Aoteaoroa 'Toi' exhibition Nov. 2020 at Mangere Campus.

Birthday shout-outs and thanks...

 

A big shout out to my Dad (and Mum) who wanted to shout my sister and I on our birthdays last weekend (although I tried to dissuade him) then decided to enjoy the time together.

Here we are at a local favourite restaurant i.e. Mongolian BBQ with buffet salads, sushi, soups, mains and pancake and ice cream for dessert with my parents and my family on one side and my sister's on the other. 

What was funny was that I was again reminded that we were born one day apart as I'm born a day before her i.e. 25th November but she's older than me by a year born 26th November a year earlier and that I used to say that we were twins for a day.

What's even more interesting is that our elder daughters are born one day apart with my daughter born on 26th September and my niece is born on 27th September. Now, what's the probability of that within a statistic equation (don't ask me as I quit on maths decades ago, although once one of my fave subjects in high school).

It was a great time to be together and catch up. There were other family members who couldn't make it for various reasons but I certainly did enjoy each other's company and looking forward to another time that we could do this again...

THE FOOTPRINT OF MOSO retold and illustrated by Helen Tau'au Filisi...

It was a very busy week, last week, with Anniversary and birthday celebrations in my family as well as finishing lots of marking and end of year results as our year comes to a close as the Wananga (Indigenous Maori place of higher learning).

Whilst working on some digital media files, I came across this YouTube clip of two very talented Pasifika young females who are sharing their singing and music talents under the channel name "Loopy Tunes Preschool music" via social media.

In this particular clip, they are sharing one of my fave illustrated books in the story of Moso that was told to me when I was very young at around 7 years old when my parents first took our family to Samoa to visit.

The particular story has a sacred site in Falealupo, the village of my maternal great, great and great grandmother's that I visited as a 7-year-old and have had subsequent visits, including my Master's research fieldwork and in 2015, I took my children to visit the site. It has definitely changed within those 40 years.

I'm so glad to see the story being shared with many other children from around the world as it is a special story that I hold dear to my heart from the village that my namesake grandmother Eleni or "Helen" came from.

A big shout out and a big thank you or "Malo au pito" and "Faafetai tele lava" with many blessings and all the best for your future endeavours and well wishes coming your way. Keep up the neat action songs and the good Pasifika humour...

One day Maori & Indigenous arts exhibition...

This weekend has been another full-on weekend with classes, paperwork to mark and a Maori and Indigenous arts exhibition to attend that had some beautiful symbolic pieces on display that had me considering taking up the craft sometime soon in the not too distant future.

Above is one of the exhibits by one of the ladies whom I've known for several years, first as a Social worker student from which she graduated from a few years ago and currently as a weaving artist who's also a crocheter, like me.

She took up weaving as a way of gaining this amazing skill to pass onto her children and down the line which is something that I want to do. And now she has woven some amazing baskets each with a story behind it in relating to the patterns and also the very design.

That's what I like about Maori and Indigenous Arts in that it encourages the artist to look beyond the piece that they are creating and into what the importance or significance of the piece is and what it means to the creator but also to the person who will be receiving the gift.

It's one of those important skills that I think many of our youth and my generation have not been passed the knowledge or skill of how to do it. My mother and her generation were weavers but in not having pandanus readily available nor the knowledge of how to weave many of our generation have not learned this skilled gift.

But better late than never...

$5 + $5 movie special/s...

 

This has been one busy week with so much to do and catch up on with Christmas coming just around the corner.

Christmas parties and outings are being planned with the end of year family parties and entertainment being planned too.

Here's another $5 special for avid moviegoers who especially have children who are keen to get out of the house and to experience the fun of being in front of a big screen (especially if it's cold and rainy outside).

This new movie release looks like another Australian animated effort very much like the "100% Wolf" movie that I took mine to last week and which I would have gone to this week but instead am very busy at work with so much marking etc. to do.

But again maybe I'll catch it later and I might even be surprised by the storyline of the movie and its comment on contemporary society. You just never know...

NCEA External exams begin today...

 

NCEA National Certificate of Education Achievement exams starts today. This is a week later than anticipated earlier in the year as with the COVID-19 lockdowns it was to give an extra week for students to study before the exams.

So all the best to all our teenagers out there who are engaging in these external exams especially during this unprecedented year of breaks during the academic year.

Our middle child enters her first level on the National grid and we wish her the best for her first exam starting on Friday with Maths which happened to have been one of my favourite subjects growing up but not hers.

Art is another subject that three other members of my family have taken up and succeeded very well at it, having pioneered it myself those many years ago. 

The neat thing about Art is that you only need to produce art on boards which then gets assessed without an exam. Quite contrary to popular thinking, art can be taken by academic students as often it's seen for students who aren't academically inclined but I've encouraged those who can excel in this and other academic subjects to take and succeed in it. 

Our eldest who has just completed her first year in law school testifies to that too. It's another way of creatively thinking outside the window of academia whereby it's another language, much like Maths, that allows you to creatively consider solutions or resolutions from other perspectives - it's a gift that not everyone can understand.

However, there has been some leniency with students not having to gain the expected 80 credits in the first year nor 50 credits to achieve subject endorsements but I doubt that the marking will have any leniency as the standards that will be expected to be the same no matter what.

So all the best for our teens out there, welcome to the world of adulthood whereby you are often judged by your CV and the academic qualifications that you do or do not have. But not to worry as there are still many who look beyond those papers to see the real person inside - however, not matter what, give it your best!...

"100% Wolf" movie trailer...

 

This weekend, I decided to take our youngest to the movies for a treat because I missed out on taking her to a family Wedding reception that we had both been looking forward to. Note to self: Next time make sure that you check the actual date on the invitation instead of assuming it's on a Saturday but that's another story.

So we watched an Australian made movie called "100% Wolf" and it was quite interesting in being so used to watching animated movies with American voices or accents but hearing the Australia accent was neat.

It also had some quirky parts in it which I'm sure had to do with the quirky Australian sense of humour which is a little different from NZ humour but suffice to say that there was plenty of action and lots of dog jokes and plenty of laughter.

In fact, it's a treat because this week only it's $5 per session with a $5 drink and popcorn treat (although you can add ice cream for another $4 if you want). So we made it a day and had a laugh throughout the whole movie if you can understand Aussie humour...

Stay home from Auckland CBD today...

 

Just in case you missed the news, there's been a COVID-19 community transmission case confirmed as of yesterday with a note for everyone to stay away from Auckland CBD whilst an investigation is underway to trace how an individual who works and lives there became sick with the virus.

That means that those who work in the Auckland CBD have been encouraged to work from home, or to wear a face mask if they have to go in. To social distance and also stay home and/or get a test if symptomatic.

I'm so glad that our eldest has finished her exams and now at home and working out South whilst now during the Uni holidays are underway as she would have been in the Auckland CBD for Uni. That goes for most Auckland CBD Uni students.

Hopefully, they will be able to trace the origin as there is a possibility of considering Alert levels changing depending on the information that surfaces. So wearing masks, social distancing, staying away from Auckland CBD and using our the COVID-19 tracing App has been encouraged to continue.

Watch the space!

Mochi - Japanese rice cake...

Today, I had my first taste of a mochi which our youngest has been wanting to try for the longest time. It is a Japanese rice cake that is made from japonica glutinous rice.

It was an interesting taste in that it also came with a centre of your choice i.e. chocolate, strawberry, blueberry etc. to me it's an acquired taste because I didn't know what it would taste like but now having tried it, I think takes a little getting used to.

We found it at the Manukau Mall in a Sushi shop and thought to give the different flavours a go but when we all tried it, it was definitely a little different from what we are used to.

In fact, it's a little hard to describe and I'd even venture to say that you've got to give it a go to know what it's all about. Unless, of course, you are gluten-free, and then it wouldn't be a good idea.

Our youngest didn't want to continue eating hers and as she had an extra I suggested to her to check if any of her friends at school, (who is allowed and is not gluten-free) would like to give it a go or to even see what the inside looks like. As you never know until you try...

 

TWOA and Aoga collab on Monday 23rd November...

This week I'm promoting a collab that my work and our Aoga (Samoan Early childhood centre) in encouraging our communities to check out the various courses that Te Wānanga o Aotearoa have on offer for their consideration.

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns has hit many of our parishioners' jobs hard with some losing jobs, or being repatriated into other areas, with some now having to retrain or compete with many others to find jobs.

That's why we decided to bring TWOA to our church community to see what is on offer that might be helpful to consider for study options for the new year so that people can enrol online as individuals or as a group and ask questions or get clarification on any courses that they might be interested in.

It's definitely not easy to go back to studying if you have been out of it for so long but it can also offer new choices for the new year. What is quite exciting is that there are fees free courses that you can study from home with a kaiako (tutor) coming to visit to see that you're still on track.

There are fees free campus based courses that are at our Mangere campus (just down the road from the church) that many can join with the option of morning, evening and weekend classes much like the Indigenous Research (Rangahau) course that I run.

There are also the options of the Police Prep, Bachelor of Teaching and Social Work, the Masters in Applied Indigenous Knowledge (fees apply for those courses) as well as learning Te Reo Maori and Tikanga (Maori & Indigenous cultural protocols and customs), Admin & computing which are still fees free courses.

Never a dull moment...

 

Reflecting on students and their lives...

This weekend has been quite relaxing after a heavy last couple of weeks at the Samoan Early childhood Aoga (school) but that's a whole other story.

I slept over at the noho space in our Indigenous Maori Wānanga (place of higher learning) and caught up with quite a few past students whom I'd taught both at high school and at Wānanga level.

The saddest thing was to find out that one of the senior Elders whom I'd taught a couple of years ago had passed away during the COVID-19 period of lockdowns. 

I am so glad that I was able to encourage him to write in one of our community books as he had a military background and had gone on a couple of tours overseas whilst in the NZ army.

I also caught up with some of my students who were now completing or had completed their Master's journey. It's been such a privilege to have had the teaching experience to be able to support them on their journeys. I thank God for being there for them as they have so much to offer as Indigenous principled practitioners in what they have to say and do in their communities and wish them well.

I still can't believe how fast this year has flown past and I'm even looking ahead and forward to Christmas. So the relaxing has begun, even though there is still a lot of paperwork but still not a lot to fret about. 

Except of course for who wins the USA elections...

Guy Fawkes night...

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November." That was a chant that I learned as a child growing up around Guy Fawkes night. In fact, this year I decided to give it a rest as it had been raining overnight and throughout the day but our youngest still wanted to make a special day so our eldest decided to do a last minute dash to the shops to buy some.

However, when we went to The Warehouse, the family packs had already gone and only the singles or more expensive packs were left so we decided to go to the local gas station where a temporary shop sold family packs where we got this one pictured.

It was interesting to see lots of families also following suit as it pretty soon started getting busy with a longish queue. Our youngest walked out very happy and said "thank you" to our eldest.

We decided to wait for my beloved to return home before he and our youngest set off the fireworks with one of our neighbours and across the road letting off the really loud and brighter ones. 

I really don't believe in burning away a lot of money on fireworks but our eldest said to see it as a happy experience that they would remember looking back. It was so nice to see that she could see the benefits of giving that experience to our youngest as we had for her those many years ago growing up.

It was also neat that some of our youngest's neighbouring friends also came to visit and watch in the dark of night and my eldest and I sat at the back of our hatchback and enjoyed the screams and laughter as the children enjoy watching them light off the fireworks.

Pretty soon it was also finished and time to go home. We all said "goodbye" to the neighbours and I could see the happy smiles on my children's faces and realized that it was complete for another year, although some of the neighbours were still letting theirs' off. 

But I was glad to get back inside from the cold and the smoke as well as to have some steamed pudding and custard that my mum and passed to us for our dessert - yum. So happily our youngest went to sleep, still hearing the crackle of the fireworks in the night time sky but safe and sound in bed awaiting the year ahead...