Four members of the faculty of the Samoan Studies Institute (SSI) at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) joined distinguished guests from across the United States and the Pacific region at the 2018 International Samoan Language Symposium held ilast month at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Attending the symposium, only the third of its kind since Samoan language study came into prominence, were SSI Director Okenaisa Fauolo-Manila; Evile Feleti, Samoan Studies Department Chair; Tamari Mulitalo Cheung, Language Translator; and Maseuli Faleosalafai Tipa, Researcher.
The symposium followed the theme “E pala le ma’a, ae le pala le upu ma le tala (Even stones erode, but words and stories never fade away),” and highlighted the unique worldview, universal cultural values, and poetical qualities of the Samoan language.
Acording to a release from ASCC, the group collaborated to give a multi-part presentation
“We shared a timeline on the history of SSI as a handout,” said Fauolo-Manila. “We also shared publications from SSI. Then each one of us shared personal stories highlighting what we are currently doing at the institute.”
Among the many respected figures in Samoan language scholarship present at the symposium, the most widely-recognized were His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taʻisi Tufuga Tupuola Efi, former Prime Minister and Head of State of Samoa, and Professor Galumalemana Hunkin, renowned author of the Gagana Samoa textbook.
Fauolo-Manila said she found inspiration in both speakers.
“Afioga Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese delivered a powerful paper on the depth of language found in “solo o le va” (Samoans story of creation, Manua version), and Professor Hunkin gave a heartfelt presentation on the challenge Samoans in New Zealand went through to have their language taught from childhood to university-level.”
