Blog

Today we share our opinion on palagi (non-Samoans) and cultural appropriation. Why is this important? With the BLM more people became aware of the racism faced by Black people in the USA. This lead to more awareness of the racism faced by people of colour around the world. One way that we hope to help end racism is to point out things that could be changed. To make sure that our Samoan voices are heard directly from Samoans. Today we talk about cultural appropriation.  While it is not directly racist, it removes the meaning behind our culture and erases our...

We don't all know how to siva Samoa. We don't all have Siva classes in our area.  I know this because i didn't have anything Samoan when I grew up as a child in Australia. When I had my baby there were no books easily accessible to teach him Samoan. There were no Samoan playgroups, no Samoan videos, no Samoan schools. While today there are some.  There are not enough for everyone. This is why we created Tamaiti. A video resource that teaches our preschool aged children Samoan language and culture. It is a series of videos that teach our Samoan...

If you are a Siva Afi (fire knife dance) performer you are going to want to know how to tie a lavalava. A lavalava is known as a pareo or sarong in other places.  In Samoa it is called a lavalava, ie lavalava or just an ie.  It is the material that is used as clothing and wrapped around the waist or body. Siva Afi performers use them in their performances as it was traditionally used by our warriors when they went to war. For those of you who don't know siva afi is an adaptation of the ailao, a...

Today we are sharing 5 Samoan phrases if you don't speak Samoan. If I can go to school and learn German and Spanish then anyone can learn Samoan. Our Learn Samoan series will help you to continue your Samoan journey whatever stage you are at. Phrase 1 E te iloa tautala faaperetania? Do you speak English? Phrase 2 Oute le iloa tautala faasamoa. I don't know how to speak Samoan. Phrase 3 Ua e malamalama? Do you understand? Phrase 4 Ua ou malamalama. I understand.  Phrase 5 Oute le malamalama. I don't understand. To hear the audio and pronunciations of the...

I grew up in a Christian household and saw tattoos as defiling our bodies. Movies and television depicted villains and "bad people" with tattoos. Tattoos in my youth meant something negative. Then as a teenager the cool thing to do was get a taulima (tattoo around arm). Today the cool thing would equate to a sleeve. The thing is, even though it is cool, it doesn't give our people the actual connection that tatau (tattoo) has to our Samoan culture.  Each motif has a meaning. Placement in the pe'a and malu has a meaning. We lose the meaning of the...