NEWSPAGE 25 March
2011

(Photos: Yvonne Brill / Pacific Media Centre)

NEW ZEALAND: Universities must make room for ‘Pasifika models’, says Tagaloatele

(Photo: Polynesian Cultural Center)

SAMOA: PCC shares the flavours of Samoa with hands-on umu making activity
Source: eTravel Blackboard

Have you ever wondered why Samoans are known as the “happy people”? Aside from the beautiful island weather, another reason may be the manaia (delicious) Samoan food! The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is offering guests the opportunity to learn how to build a traditional Samoan aboveground oven, or umu, and then sample traditional Samoan food that they’ve prepared and cooked with their own hands.

Hands-on umu making is one of eight new “Go Native!” activities that will be premiering throughout the year to entice guests to “do as natives do” and actively participate in traditional Polynesian aspects of daily life from Pacific island cultures like those of Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii. Other exciting “Go Native” activities to be introduced this year include coconut tree climbing, canoe paddling and spear throwing.

As part of Samoan umu making, guests participate in the process of pusaga o le umu (building the umu) and preparing and cooking traditional foods, including talo (taro), ulu (breadfruit), palusami (young taro leaves cooked in seasoned coconut cream) and faiai eleni (canned mackerel cooked in seasoned coconut milk).

“We are very excited to share these new interactive village activities with guests; not only are they tons of fun, but they also help to fully immerse guests in all aspects of Polynesian culture,” said Delsa Moe, Cultural Presentations Director for the PCC. “The umu making activity in particular provides a very unique opportunity for visiting families to actively participate in traditional Samoan cooking techniques. From the process of food and fire preparation to actually cooking and then tasting the food, guests get to participate in all aspects, from start to finish.”

Food and fire preparations start at noon daily in the tunoa (Samoan kitchen) at PCC’s Samoan village. Villagers first assist guests with fire building. To build the fire, large logs are placed in a square and then filled with tinder and river rocks that are stacked like a pyramid. The tinder is then lit to heat the rocks. While the rocks are heating, guests are invited to join the village men in skinning taro and breadfruit, peeling green bananas and scraping the coconut meat out of their shells. The coconut meat will eventually be squeezed into coconut cream to be used as the seasoning for palusami (young taro leaves cooked with coconut cream and onions) and faiai eleni (canned fish seasoned with coconut cream and onions) cooked in a coconut shell .

After the rocks have been heated completely, the large logs that framed the rocks are removed and guests are invited to sasae the umu (to flatten the pile of hot rocks with the use of long wooden poles). Guests and villagers then take the prepared foods and carefully place them onto the hot rocks with iofi (Samoan tongs). Large leaves are gently placed to cover the food, then other layers of leaves and burlap bags are added to seal in the heat.

Guests are invited back in an hour to open the umu and sample traditional Samoan food they helped to prepare and cook in an umu. Immediately following the Rainbows of Paradise canoe pageant at 3 p.m., the umu is opened for food sampling and guests enjoy the home-style cooking that they helped to prepare.

Photo Caption: Umu Making in the Polynesian Cultural Center, part of the new "Go Native!" activities, shows guests the secrets to the Samoan aboveground oven.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC Samoan Studies launches 2011 Lunar Calendar
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

At the recent Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council conference, some may have found it odd to encounter staff from the Samoan Studies Institute (SSI) of the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) participating. However, in this instance Samoan culture and fisheries management found common ground as the SSI took the opportunity to spread the word at the conference about the 2011 edition of the Lunar Calendar, funded by the Fisheries Council and researched and developed by the SSI. The new edition, which the SSI will provide for free to the public while supplies last, covers a twelve month period from March of this year to March 2012, following the regular 30-day cycles of the moon.

“At the SSI, we count research, publication and outreach projects with our community partners as part of our mission,” said Institute Director Okenaisa Fauolo-Manila. “We view this calendar as an important means of ensuring the continuity of Samoan culture and the preservation of traditional knowledge. Our people traditionally practiced their own form of fishery management based on the lunar cycle, which seems more environmentally conscious versus what we have today. Our ancestors had a different name for every day of the moon’s cycle, so this project also has a strong element of language retention and usage.”

The Lunar Calendar follows a format similar to the typical western calendar, only based on cycles of the moon rather than the sun. Although the calendar emphasizes an alternative means of marking time, the SSI has taken care to maintain a synchronicity between the moon-based and the western dates. Below a graphic of the moon phase of each day, the calendar lists the Samoan name for the particular day of the cycle, and below that the western calendar date and weekday. Each of the twelve cycles included comes with a colorful environmentally themed illustration courtesy of students in Tutuila’s elementary and high schools. As with the previous edition of the Lunar Calendar, for the 2011 version SSI researchers Fauolo-Manila, Teleai Ausage and Apisaloma Toleafoa worked with community partners, including the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, to address informational gaps as well as variations in the lunar month and phase names found throughout the Samoa archipelago.

“After our experience doing the previous calendar, we had an easier time with this one,” said Fauolo-Manila. “Many who received the previous edition expressed an interest in the Samoan cultural aspects, such as the proverbial expressions associated with fishing and the stories behind Samoan names for various things like fishing practices and phases of the moon. This time, we also planned more public workshops to give people the opportunity to learn about the Lunar Calendar and the way of thinking that informs it.” Through funding from the Fisheries Council, the SSI staff conducted research in Upolu and on the island of Manono, and also received feedback from Tutuila pulenuu and the Office of Samoan Affairs.

The SSI gave three presentations on the Lunar Calendar over the course of the Fisheries Council conference, and Fauolo-Manila said that on each occasion they received enthusiastic feedback. She expressed optimism on future collaborations between the SSI and the Fisheries Council. “We help them with their research and they help us with our mission of ensuring the continuity of the faasamoa,” she reflected, “and our institute will consider any projects that combine culture, education, and community service.”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - The staff of the Samoan Studies Institute at ASCC and friends display the recently completed 2011 Lunar Calendar, researched and developed by the Institute in collaboration with its community partners.

Photo 2 - ASCC Samoan Studies Institute staff members (l-r) Evile Feleti, Apisaloma Toleafoa and Patrick Mafoe.
 

(Photo: Adi Buli Nacola / Fiji Times)

FIJI: Fiji netball team records first win on tour 
Source: Fiji Times

The Fiji Netball team recorded its first Australian win over New South Wales Institue of Sport 38-37 during its Australian tour.

The Gabriel Qoro-coached side went down to former national coach Megan Simpson's coached Sydney University 40-48 in their first build-up match on Monday night. Fiji then lost 52-38 to Eastwood Ryde.

Netball Fiji president Wainikiti Bogidrau was happy with the resutls so far.

"The team management is satisfied with the results considering that they are trying out different combinations and ensuring game time for all our players," Bogidrau said.

"A lot of weaknesses have been identified which they hope to address as the tour progresses," she said.

"I would like to reiterate, that while a win would be a bonus, the purpose of this tour is to ensure that the squad is exposed to high-level competition, gain experience, build on their confidence and allow the management to try out different combinations to choose the best team for the WNC."

Former coach Megan Simpson assisted the team yesterday (March 23, 2011).

Meanwhile the final 15-member Fiji team to the World Netball Championship in Singapore will be named next month.

Bogidrau confirmed the 12 travelling players and three non-travelling players will be known before the national team goes for their second build-up tour to New Zealand in May.

Bogidrau said due to "logistic reasons and team bonding" the national selectors will be naming the final squad within a month's time.

"We have to order the uniforms for the team to the WNC by end of April. We also want to give the team enough time to build on their combination, gel together and bond well before the Pacific Series and WNC," she said.

"We want to cut the extra cost as well therefore we will be naming the final team before the NZ tour (schedule in May)."

The Gabrieli Qoro coached side is currently on a week-long tour to Australia where they face some elite teams playing top league competition in that country.

Lanky shooter Taraima Rara and mid-court player Bernadette Daurewa are not part of the Australian tour.

Rara is out for two weeks due to injuries and Daurewa's visa application to Australia was rejected due to her connection with the Fiji military.

However, Bogidrau has assured the duo would be considered in the final selection.

"Yes, they (Rara and Daurewa) will be considered in the final 15. They are seasoned players who have had a lot of exposure and experience to high level competition," she said.

"We will not be penalising either of them as their have genuine reasons for not being part of the tour to Australia."

Photo Caption: Netball Fiji's, Bernadette Ramafono-Daurewa runs through training drills last week as Yvonne Willering looks on.
 

(Photo: Electricité de Tahiti (EDT))

TAHITI: Special packages offered for Tahiti Nui Va'a 2011 race
Source: Electricité de Tahiti (EDT) Press Release

From Thursday May 26th through Saturday May 28th, 2011, the 8th edition of the Tahiti Nui Va’a, is a sport event not to be missed. This race lets you also admire from the sea the impressive coastline of Tahiti, the main island of French Polynesia.

Ever since its creation, Tahiti Nui Va’a has been bringing together the elite of va’a, the Tahitian name of the outrigger canoe and also the name of the traditional sport that uses this traditional watercraft equipped with a single outrigger. During this race ran by six-man crews - called va’a ono - the participants compete over a distance of 166 Km (104 miles), which is the complete
tour around Tahiti.

Three days of efforts are thus necessary for the some sixty crews to complete this performance and consecrate the winners. Organized under the sponsorship of AS EDT Va’a, by an
organizing committee made up of personnel of EDT, and affiliate of GDF SUEZ, and first electric power supplier in French Polynesia, in partnership with the Tahitian Va’a Federation, this race has become an international size event. This year, emphasis has been especially placed to attract athletes from all over the world, among which our close neighbours from Hawaii and New Zealand, anxious to challenge the Tahitian athletes who have been leading this sport in the past ten years. This exceptional competition lets you discover a sport closely linked to the Oceanian and Polynesian history and culture, the Tahiti Nui Va’a is also the friendly gathering of thousands of spectators and of hundreds of following boats.

To reinforce this event’s notoriety and to let you discover this sport more closely, deals including transportation and lodging in Tahiti and following the race under privileged conditions are offered this year with exceptional conditions.

Do not miss this opportunity to discover a great show and Polynesia at its best!

For more information on the special packages available, visit: www.tahitinuivaa.com

Photo Caption: TAHITI NUI VA'A - 8th edition: A 104 mile canoe race, from May 26th to May 28th 2011, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
 

WORLDWIDE: Fifth round of PICTA trade in services negotiations
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The fifth round of Pacific Islands Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) trade in services negotiations was held in Koror, Palau on 16 - 18 March 2011 to negotiate further the provisions of a trade in services agreement amongst the PICTA member countries.

The objective of the fifth round of the PICTA trade in services negotiations was to advance the negotiations among the Countries involved in PICTA, taking into account discussions at the previous rounds of negotiations and the Ministerial decisions relating to the PICTA trade in services.

“Increased sustainable trade in goods and services is one of the key strategic objective of the Pacific Plan endorsed by the Leaders. Integration of trade in services, including temporary movement of labour, into the PICTA is an important step to achieve the above objective,” Tuiloma Neroni Slade, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat said.

The key focus of the negotiations at the fifth round was for the Countries to engage in bilateral negotiations, and exchange new and revised PICTA trade in services offers and requests.

Countries reviewed the overall state of progress of the PICTA trade in services negotiations, and engaged in technical discussions on the Countries’ schedule of commitments under the PICTA trade in services arrangement.

Secretary General Mr Slade stated that the progress made by the Countries to advance the PICTA trade in services negotiations is commendable, and further work is needed at the national level, before the Countries can consider concluding the PICTA trade in services negotiations.

Countries considered the way forward on completing the PICTA trade in services negotiations aligned to Trade Ministers’ decision for the conclusion of the negotiations by end of 2011. Members at the Meeting agreed on a framework for progressing their PICTA trade in services negotiations.

Discussion on the inclusion of the Temporary Movement of Natural Persons (TMNP) arrangement under the PICTA was also held at the negotiations.

The commitments under the PICTA trade in services arrangement include priorities for liberalisation within key sectors that are of importance to all the island countries in the Pacific. Member countries have agreed to intensify their bilateral negotiations to progress the PICTA trade in services negotiations.

National consultations and consultations with relevant agencies for revising the PICTA trade in services offers and the development of the TMNP offers will be the key focus of the Countries for the coming months. The sixth round of PICTA trade in services negotiations is planned to be held in August 2011.

“The Trade Ministers have instructed trade officials to work towards the conclusion of the negotiations of the PICTA TIS arrangement by end of 2011. The Forum Secretariat will be providing necessary technical assistance to the Countries to assist them in progressing the conclusion of the PICTA trade in services negotiations,” Mr Slade said.