Abstract
Transforming practices in initial teacher education and school and early childhood education contexts to support the success of Pasifika students and children can be challenging. Palagi educators, in particular, may find their practices are constrained by bureaucratic systems, processes and professional norms in ways that limit thinking about and responses to different ways of being and doing. Drawing from the experiences of a diverse group of educators during an educational journey to Samoa led by an esteemed Samoan leader, colleague and mentor, this article argues culturally based pedagogy holds the key to thinking and moving beyond some of these constraints. The article suggests that understanding Pasifika cultural values and integrating these into pedagogy is a critical first step for educators, before concluding with several practice messages. While these messages focus on Pasifika communities, students and children, they can be adapted for other ethnic groups.
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Copyright 2017 L. T. T. Taleni. Reprinted with permission
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Notes
The title ‘Leali’ie’e’ is unique to Leali’ie’e Tufulasi Taleni and is used in place of his full name throughout the article. It represents his parents, aiga, and village birthplace.
We use the term ‘Pasifika’ in various contexts in this article consistent with Leali’ie’e’s advice, but acknowledge the term has been criticised on the basis it potentially homogenises diverse popuations (Reynolds, 2016).
Nicola and Benita are (respectively) senior lecturer and lecturer at UC. At the time of the malaga and subsequent writing of this article, Robyn was employed as a lecturer at UC, and Raesha as a senior tutor. Both Robyn and Raesha have since left UC.
Hereafter, use of ‘we’ and ‘our’ etc. in this article refers to we four women. Leali’ie’e’s presence however, is felt throughout the article.
As non-Samoan people, we acknowledge our understanding of these values is filtered through our own worldviews.
The state of emergency ended in late December 2019, after which Samoa entered a state of recovery. As of early January 2020, there were 83 deaths (World Health Organisation, 2020).
Pseudonym.
‘Tina’ is a title given to an honorable matriarch or respected elderly woman in Samoa.
While ‘Shaheed’, in Arabic, can be interpreted in different ways, we have chosen to interpret it here as one who dies for his faith. “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” is typically translated as “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” In Islam, this dua or prayer is often recited on learning of someone’s death (Abdulla, n.d.-b).
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Surtees, N., Taleni, L.T., Ismail, R. et al. Sailiga tomai ma malamalama’aga fa’a-Pasifika—Seeking Pasifika Knowledge to Support Student Learning: Reflections on Cultural Values Following an Educational Journey to Samoa. NZ J Educ Stud 56, 269–283 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00210-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-021-00210-7