A short film exploring the debate surrounding the unique legal status of people born in American Samoa, will premiere on PBS Digital Studios on January 28.
Titled NOT A U.S. CITIZEN, the film is co-directed by Gabby Faaiuaso and John Niko Patu.
The film highlights the viewpoints of two individuals from American Samoa: Salaivai Seiuli Elinor McMoore-Lutu, a matai who wants to maintain the status quo, and Palaita Tusipasi Suiaunoa, a U.S. Marine veteran who believes in the right to citizenship for American Samoans.
Both explore what it means to be a “non-citizen national,” a legal status designated only for American Samoans.
Along with Tapaʻau Dr. Daniel Aga, former Director of American Samoa’s Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review, and Federal Relations, Salavai and Palaita discuss what it means to be “a part” of the United States, while simultaneously being “apart” from it.
Reflecting on the unique Indigenous institutions that are afforded to Samoans, such as their indigenous chiefly system, land ownership rights and traditional culture, they share views on the territory’s relationship with the United States and whether American Samoans should be automatic citizens at birth.
NOT A U.S. CITIZEN is a part of the Homegrown: A Part Of / A Part From series. co-produced by Firelight Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), Black Public Media (BPM), and Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), with funding provided by the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (CPB), in Association with PBS. The series is distributed by PBS Digital Studios.
NOT A U.S. CITIZEN can be viewed on PBS Digital Studios when it is released on January 28, 2025.
Watch it here: https://www.firelightmedia.tv/film-episodes/not-a-u-s-citizen
To kickoff the online premiere, PBS Utah is hosting an in-person premiere at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center (West Valley City, UT) on the same day, January 28, at 6-8pm, where guests will screen the 15-minute film and participate in a live videocast in collaboration with Everyday People Pasika Chapter.
92.5 The Beat’s Big Budah will host a conversation with co-director, Gabby Alafagamalulu Fa’ai’uaso.
