Week 5 Term 2 - Poupou le lotoifale. Ola manuia le anofale.

Poupou le lotoifale. Ola manuia le anofale. This is the theme for Samoan Language Week 2021. This theme means to strengthen the posts of your house, for all to thrive. The analogy of the house, the fale, the pouutu, the posts - reinforces the importance of having a solid structure not in just how we live in our physical homes but also socially, emotionally and spiritually. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples states "When you’re building a foundation for a fale (house) it can’t have a weak foundation or posts. This is the same for the foundations of our families, schools and churches that play an important role in strengthening Gagana Samoa (the Samoan Language). Language is important for the foundations of our overall wellbeing." The theme reinforces the important roles that the institutions (social, religious and educational institutions) play in sustaining, encouraging and nurturing language. 

"Before you set out to make and settle into your home, you first have to take a deep look at how the house is built; not only does it have to be strong and stable, safe and also aesthetically pleasing, it also needs to serve a purpose to the household, making it suitable to cater to whatever the needs of the family" (Anric Sitanile)

I love the analogy of the fale, what it is made of and what it needs in order to stand strong. Regardless of what type of home it is - whether it is a traditional Samoan house or a renovated villa in Ponsonby, all homes need strong a foundation and posts to hold it all together. The preservation of native languages in Aotearoa needs the encouragement and support of the posts (like families, schools and churches) in order for it to thrive. This concept and proverb is one that applies to everyone and to any work place or organization. We all have a home. We all understand where we live and what we live in. Our homes all serve a purpose. In light of Samoan Language Week, the traditional Samoan house is the Faletele. This is place where formal gatherings, meetings and all matters to do with the village happens. The purpose of the Faletele is to be an environment where the hierachy in the form the matai (chief) system to take place. Every village in Samoa has their own Faletele and each Faletele has it's own set of rules and boundaries. The posts in the Faletele represent the number of matai titles (chief names) and each post is assigned to the different matai for that particular village. The metaphorical beauty in the structural make up of a home and how each part is important in making the home structurally sound, is something that teachers in particular can use in the classroom. I wanted to explore what this theme means to me and how it applies to me both personally and professionally. 

Traditional Samoan Fale (Faletele) 

FA'AVAE (foundation) - the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

The foundation for all homes has to be strong in order for it to withstand. A house that is build on a weak foundation will not hold therefore losing it's purpose for holding and keeping people inside. The foundation needs to be strong, concrete and solid to hold not only people but all the amenities that a house has. 

Professionally in my teaching, my foundation is a combination of my values (spiritual and cultural) and my 'why'. The values that I bring into my teaching and the reason why I am teaching, is the foundational core of my practice. My 'why' is one that has evolved over the years. Initially my 'why' was to do something meaningful with my degree and to give back. Now my 'why' is to serve, use the gift I have been and to help create opportunities in the 'grey' areas for Pasefika achievement. 

My foundation in my personal life is my Faith, my marriage and my family. Everything that I do, everything I aspire to do, everything I have done is grounded in the blessings that I have received from my foundation. I carry this foundation in every relationship and situation that I face. It is something that grounds me. The Samoan culture is steeped in a history where God and Faith is the foundation for every aspect of life. Every village in Samoa uses this foundation as the core of their values system, prioritizing prayer every evening and where the whole country stops at 6pm for evening prayer and reflection. It is this type of foundation where we can learn the art of speaking (through prayer), the importance of respect, structure and unity. 

My family

The condition of a home's foundation is crucial. If it is in a poor state it will not hold the posts and this will impact the overall condition of the house. The foundation - in a home and in our lives - is an integral part in maintaining the integrity of the build. It determines how well every other part sits and it can make the build, the person - stronger. 

POUTU (posts) - a long, sturdy piece of timber or metal set upright in the ground and used as a support or marker.

Social media journalist Anric Sitanilei writes "when it comes to a traditional Samoan house, there are two main parts, the foundation and the roofing; but the connection between a stable foundation and a strong roofing, is the posts. Because of this, we can use a traditional 'Fale Samoa; as a metaphor to further emphasize observing the importance and significance of our culture, for the progression and development and happiness of a family." The poutu (posts) is a valuable and integral part of a home. It holds the ceiling, provides the framework of the home and also sets boundaries between the different spaces. The posts help to define the space in a home. The poutu in the faletele represents the matai in the village, it symbolizes the people who carry the heart of the village. 

In the spirit of Samoan Language Week, the post analogy refers to the preservation and nurturing of Gagana Samoa (language) in the home. As Sitanilei states "One important post for any Samoan family, is that of language." There is so much richness in native languages that cannot be replicated in English. The purpose of strengthening this post in our homes is to maintain the dignity and richness of the language. As we are living in a Western world, the language is at risk of dying out. I am learning to understand and speak my native language more now. I can see how important it is to try and communicate in my mother tongue. It was not a priority before but I am more passionate and determined to reclaim it now. Sitanilei concludes with "O le gagana, e a'oa'o ai, a o'ai ai, e faatonu ma faapoto ai' (language can teach discipline, guide and make on wise )"

The poutu at my school represents the people, the workers, the teachers (the au faigaluega). It is these people who not only hold the knowledge but also share their knowledge to the students, the village They are the key stakeholders in this house and their gift, their well-being, their time and effort is one that create spaces and opportunities for our students to thrive. 

Tamaki College staff for Pink Shirt Day

Tutorship team (former students) for the Tamaki College Samoan Group 

FA'AALO (roof) - the structure forming the upper covering of a building or vehicle.

The purpose of the roof of a home is protect and cover the building. The roof is an integral component of a build and it is needed to protect those inside from the elements. The fa'aalo of a faletele is large and it is held up by the poutu. 

For me, the fa'aalo in a school structure symbolizes the knowledge and the gifts shared. As a teacher we value our learning and our education. Our business is education. Our core job is to teach and share this with our students. This is our currency and one that we honor and value. Without this, our purpose and our direction is lost. The fa'aalo in this respect is something that we hold in high regard, much like the placement of the roof on a house. It is like a crown and we wear it, use it and honor it with pride. 

Strengthening the posts of a house is one that is reliant on the hands of many. I see my role in my family and in my job as that of a partner. A partnership that is used to foster the building of something greater and bigger. In order for language to thrive, students to excel and to meet the educational achievement goals - the efforts of all involved (parent, student, teacher and community) is integral. They say that many hands make light work and that I believe. I believe that if we all do our part and do it well, the outcome is always going to be positive. The return is always going to benefit those who have invested their time. I have really enjoyed exploring this theme and I really hope that I can strengthen and encourage the people I work with to help bring better and fulfilling outcomes for our students.