I am Tongan and Fijian, brought up in Tongatapu by my grandma who is Fijian Tongan. Although I was born on Vavaʻu Island (fluent in Tongan) I am determined to learn Fijian language because I want to, and to honor my grandma and our Fijian family line
Would like to embrace my pacificness but it's buried under multiple jumpers, scarves, hats and gloves. I'm peering through the steady English drizzle, and this is August. I'd love to learn the language; the roundness of it feels natural in my mouth. Easiest to connect through the music - incredible harmonies. You can feel the pacific breeze lifting your hair. I'm grateful to my Tongan heavyweight boxer father for a great set of genes. Inspired by this doc to learn more.
This is an awesome show, I just found out that I was Fijian also when I was in high school, and it sucks how little I know about my fijian side that's why I work hard to keep my Tongan language but hope to one day learn Fijian also. But I also I remember being mocked for my Tongan ethnicity and having long hair it sucked, people putting us down for being who we are
I so Love this Segment of Tagata Pasefika.. It was teary watching this though, I could relate to all stories that were screened in one way or another. I am also a Kiwi Born Pacific Islander from two different Islands. My Father is Tongan and My Mother is Cook Islands. I am on a journey at the moment with my Son in taking steps in learning my Fathers Culture and Language. I was raised by Mother and I didn't have the chance in knowing my Father until I was 6 years old. I've always resented my Father for not being around not only as a Father but also as a Teacher in teaching me his culture and language. Now that I am a Mother myself I am making it my mission to learn my Fathers culture and language, whilst at the same time teaching my Son his Grandparents Culture and Language, to be frank my Son is more fluent in speaking my Mothers Mother tongue than I am lol. Today I am proud that I am Cook Islands Tongan. And when I say that I am half Tongan most Tongans don't believe me and ask me where my Father is from and his Family and I laugh because I know they are expecting me not to know this and not only that I wouldn't know how to pronounce it too.. #KiaOrana e Kia Manuia #Malo Aupito
I absolutely enjoyed this episode of Tagata Pasifika! well documented and special thanks to those that participated in this documentary to share with us all their stories...makes those of us that of diverse pacific background more proud of our heritage regardless of where we live today :-)
This episode was a good one. I also struggled with my identity growing up. As a NZ born Samoan In another land I guess it's hard for you to embrace your culture especially when society at the time tells you otherwise. I'm proud of my Samoan culture and traditions and thankful to my parents for instilling the fa'a Samoa in us growing up, I am forever grateful.
Fijians in Aotearoa are classified as Fijian Race. This is how we know who we are. The re-classification forced onto The Indigenous Fijians in Fiji by current Fiji Regime has created much confusion. The Indigenous Fijians have been trampled on, deconstructed and faced Cultural Genocide by foreign extracts trying to control Fiji. Fiji post 2006 coup has brought with it discrimination against Indigenous Fijians at home and abroad. Race Classifications in Aotearoa differs with Nationality. Too many people who have Fiji connections are confused about his/her real Identity.
This has been my story as well, though mine takes place in the United States rather than New Zealand. As a Hawaiian growing up away from my island home I had been largely disconnected from my culture (indeed this is the case for a great many Hawaiians). I moved to Hawai`i nei in a quest to relearn and reclaim my roots here. I've since learned that not only do most Hawaiians not consider themselves Americans, but Hawai`i is not even legally part of the U.S.A. Today I'm confident in my ethnic identity as Kanaka Maoli and my national identity as a citizen of the Hawaiian Nation. My hope is that one day Hawai`i will be de-occupied and that all of our lāhui can finally return to the lands of their ancestors.
Mark Stoleson - I know exactly where you're coming from. I am also a Hawaiian but most importantly, I'm a Polynesian. I love this program because I get to learn more about Polynesia and Polynesian cultures.
heera rodriguez What does anything you are saying got to do with anything? What does diluted with asian got to do with the hawaiian kingdom? What does adopting western values got to do with any of this? What language is everyone speaking is it not....English?
Damn that story on Tafua hit home with me, I know exactly the feeling being raised up in a place where it was mixed and their we're only a couple of Tongans in my age group growing up in primary back in the early 90s. People couldn't say my name but luckily I had an English name to my Tongan one, so I got picked on my alot by some Maori and Whites (Also remember this was a very volatile time in Auckland for Tongans and Samoans) not to mention being raised by a widowed mother of 5 who worked two jobs just so we could live. With all the pressures around me and the situation we we're in I made it a mission to loose my language and culture so I could fit in with everyone. I wish things could have been different but I don't regret a thing, now days I'm so passionate about my culture and Polynesian culture as a whole I plan to get the Tavaka (Tongan Pe'a) along side my Samoan uso as he gets he's (Pe'a) in 5 years time which was hugely inspired my Three Houses Downs very own Rob Pome'e. I also plan to take lesson on my Tongan language and would love to expand to maybe the Samoan language or Te Reo Maori or both. Thanks for posting this video guys... Ofa atu ❤
When the Tongan mother said her children will learn the language being at church despite her children not understanding what's being said, it reminds me of growing up going to a Samoan Methodist Church. I couldn't understand a single word being said. I still wouldn't understand anything. I've tried learning the language but it's hard and embarrassing when everyone laughs at your attempts and efforts lol.
..my parents never pushed the Samoan agenda, my father having arrived in New Zealand shortly after the Second World War, by himself. The current resurgence of a Pasifika identity is a recent phenomenon, encouraged by an increasingly idealist generation, more aligned to identity politics, than accepting a range of cultural options that are legitimized by one's own view of what being born in New Zealand entails. The burgeoning Samoan middle class in Auckland, would seem to have less in common than what could be considered a 'normalized' Samoan identity, but their story is being relegated to 'selling out' to a papalagi culture, by a Pasifika academic and media forum, more concerned with establishing a colonially disadvantaged mentality, than examining the real issues of what Samoan identity means to individuals per se.
This is a really good video. However just to clarify, the celebration of Eid is not necessarily a cultural festival. It has more to do with religion, but not culture.
This presentation seems to be about mixed ancestry people who push back any ancestry that could be associated with European culture and embrace any culture that is associated with any one who has brown skin. Whether that be Maori, Pacific Island or even Indian. Participants in this narrative are anyone who denies their European ancestry and has skin darker than a European. It's strange how some people with darker skin somehow associate with indigenousness and push away any European ancestors. I think it has something to do with the New Zealand education system that is geared towards identity politics and worse, it focuses on racial separatism. These are the conditions required for war, watch out New Zealand.
I see where you're coming from, but have to disagree. Finding out about your cultural heritage includes whatever culture you come from. This programme is specifically about 'Pasifika' people, so it naturally won't focus on European cultures, which are also prolific in New Zealand. Given New Zealand's conflicting colonial history, we have unique stories of cultural identity. Every story is valuable.
This episode was a good one. I also struggled with my identity growing up. As a NZ born Samoan In another land I guess it's hard for you to embrace your culture especially when society at the time tells you otherwise. I'm proud of my Samoan culture and traditions and thankful to my parents for instilling the fa'a Samoa in us growing up, I am forever grateful.
