As one of the performers of FSM, never let that man have the mic again or if he wishes to speak let him speak on pohnpei state behalf only and not for all of FSM. At the very least prepare something ahead of time and not wait till the last minute. Hearing his speech live was bad but rewatching it now was worse. Obviously half assed presentation. A lot of details could have been said about the gifts that made them unique and special. Yap stone money has a lot more significance and meaning to it then just “it has stone money bank”. A lot of traditional leaders, governmental officials and public figures of the FSM who were not recognized such as the son of Mau Piailug, the man who revived open ocean voyaging and navigation. Thank you to chuuk speaker for obviously creating a funny and memorable speech that everyone will remember.
Taiwan is the true home of the Pacific peoples according to archeological finds and, similarity in cultures, and more importantly, the DNA. . If that's the case, Taiwan hosting the festival sometime would be something to look forward to.
kia ora korua ite raa nei ko au ko nua tavake he honui ote fenua o Rapa nui mo vaai atu ooku i tooku manao kite organización ote gñogñoro ote haka piri ote motu riki riki ote taina taatoa ote polinetia taaku mee hagña i roto ite orí ite ako ote himene kaigña tupuna e manau takoa te tatou haatere o te pae varua kite atua mo hahao o korua ite tau ena ka ai haka ou ena te haka puri ote polinetia mo mau takoa ite himene e ite pure a roto ite reo maohi mo haka ite kite más henua popaa ote mau fenua e oho atu ena mo matai tai e mo haka rogño ite ako ite riu tupuna e haka ai takoa te hio rare ote riu e ote himene kite atua maururu te taio mai i taaku rogño mote organización ote gñogñoro ena raa nui koe e hauwaie ko au ko nua tavake he tagñata pure e himene ite matou haatere tupuna kite atua.
Such a beautiful expression of, not just pride in one’s culture and heritage, but also the acknowledgement of cross-Oceanic kinfolk, many of whom, historically speaking, have encountered similar forces of colonialism and imperialism, the remnants of which have, among other things, put at risk the perpetuation of their respective cultures, fundamentally transformed society through “development” and settlement of land, the exploitation of Native resources, the bringing of disease and acculturation. There is political power to be harvested in these cultural moments/spaces, that could one day turn the tides of history moving forward. Such spaces allow these groups the opportunity to discover similarities, admire difference, find common ground in shared experience and most of all, organize for the future. There is knowledge, wisdom, and beauty in these island nations that run deeper than the Pacific (which Oceanic people have been doing for thousands of years). There is a history. Most of the time much of the World see nothing but specks on a map.
