The Samoan Language Commission represented American Samoa at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, held from November 16 to 20 in New Zealand.
WIPCE is one of the most significant international gatherings focused on Indigenous education.
The delegation was led by Executive Director Elisapeta Alaimaleata, along with Project Manager John Falaniko Pātū, Don Maifala from the Office of the Governor, and Dr. Rosevonne Pato, President of the American Samoa Community College.
Several thousand abstracts were submitted for this year’s conference, and only an estimated 300 were selected for presentation. Both of the abstracts submitted by American Samoa were chosen.
Director Alaimaleata presented on the ongoing work of the Samoan Language Commission to stabilize and strengthen the Samoan language.
Project Manager John Pātū shared his research titled “Establishing the Ōfaga Leo for Samoan Language Revitalization in Stateside Samoan Communities,” which focuses on supporting diaspora families in their efforts to maintain the language at home.
While attending the conference, the delegation also met and networked with many Samoan educators and students from around the world. During one session, a Samoan student from Texas asked if more online resources could be developed to support members of the diaspora who want to continue learning the language
The delegation was also able to attend the Annual General Meeting of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) from November 13-14 held at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, one of New Zealand’s leading Indigenous providers of tertiary education.
The meeting was an opportunity for American Samoa to meet with Indigenous educators, researchers, advocates, and professionals from various educational and research institutions and government agencies across the globe to discuss the advancement of Indigenous education at all levels.
