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Tuvalu Language Week Archive

Talofa!

On this page you can explore content from previous years of Te Vaiaso o te ‘Gana Tuvalu, Tuvalu Language Week. Read fascinating stories about Tuvaluan history, watch about meaningful Tuvaluan collection items, and feast yours eyes on our beautiful gallery.

 

Kelesoma Saloa

Community Coordinator & Guest Kaiako Auckland Museum

Talofa!

This week is a time for all our Tuvaluan people in Aotearoa and the world over to celebrate and share our culture and language.

The Language Week theme for this year is: “Fakatili te kiloga fou / Navigating the changing environment”. The theme urges everyone to pay close attention to the environment and do the best that we can in order to be positive champions of our fragile environment.

I am excited to be working in partnership with Auckland Museum and the wider community online, and to be sharing more about Tuvalu collections and stories at the Museum. I am particularly excited about our Tuvalu language Zoom discussions based around plant materials and their cultural and customary use and environmental significance.

Ke manuia,
Kelesoma Saloa

 

A taste of Tuvalu

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A taste of Tuvalu

For Tuvalu Language Week, Te Vaiaso o te ‘Gana Tuvalu, Leone Samu (Associate Curator, Pacific) and Paula Legel (Associate Curator, Heritage Collections) take a closer look at a selection of books held in the Documentary Heritage collection of Tāmaki Paenga Hira that discuss food plants of Tuvalu — in particular, the giant atoll taro, pulaka; the taro, talo; and breadfruit, mei. 

These plants will be discussed in a Zoom panel discussion, hosted by the Museum, during Tuvalu Language Week.

Image: From Plants of Tuvalu: a guide to indigenous and introduced plants of Tuvalu = Lakau mo mouku o Tuvalu; AWMM QK473.T88 THA

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Fakatili te Kiloga fou
Navigating the Changing Environment


Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum held an online discussion session via Zoom on Wednesday 30th September 2020 at 7PM. The conversation highlights literature collection materials from our Documentary Heritage collection regarding three Tuvalu food plants, namely talo (Colocasia esculenta), pulaka (Cytosperma chamissonis) and mei/mai (Artocarpus altilis).

The three plant materials were discussed by a panel of Tuvalu knowledge-holders — Suamalie N T Iosefa Naisali, Vaito Keakea and Teuke Mapaga.

Background information about the literature was shared by Paula Legel and Leone Samu. The panellists and participants discussed exploring origins, oral traditions, planting and harvesting preparation & cooking as well as environmental issues around plant foods.

Panel of knowledge-holders

Reverend Elder Suamalie Naisali Tafaki Iosefa Naisali MBE

Reverend Elder Suamalie Naisali Tafaki Iosefa Naisali MBE

Currently the Chairman of the Reformed Christian Church of Tuvalu in New Zealand, Rev. Suamalie N T Iosefa Naisali has been a champion of particularly youth issues, politically and also religiously. In 2016 he was awarded an MBE for his services to the community. 

Vaito Keakea

Vaito Keakea

Vaito Keakea is from Niutao, Tuvalu. He became a tautai (a local Master Fisherman) in 1970, and, since coming to New Zealand, is a member of the Niutai Community Trust and the Tuvalu Community Trust. He is also a carver and in 2019 demonstrated his canoe-carving skills as part of the Creative New Zealand Tuvalu Arts Festival.

Teuke Malaga

Teuke Malaga

Teuke Malaga is from the island of Vaitupu, Tuvalu. Having worked as a teacher and a nurse, she is a lifelong community advocate, an executive committee member at several organisations including the Pacific Mamas at Corbans Estate and Arts Centre, and acts as the face and voice of Tuvaluan women in these organisations.

Our debt to Tuvalu

Our debt to Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a small Pacific Island nation, but this list of Tuvaluan service personnel who served New Zealand in the First World Wars is a testament to their service. If you have any information about a Tuvaluan individual who served, please contact the Online Cenotaph team.


Image: Funafuti. From the album: Views in the Pacific Islands, 1886, Funafuti, by Thomas Andrew. Te Papa (O.037834)

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Exploring the collection in Tuvaluan

In this video, Kelesoma Saloa discusses the importance of a selection of of objects from the Museum's collection with knowledge-holder Vaito Keakea in Tuvaluan.

Tuvalu through the collection


Here are a few objects from the Museum's collection, selected by staff for their particular significance to Tuvaluan culture.

Sika afi

Sika afi

AWMM 1951.204.3, 32520.1
Te kafaga

Te kafaga

AWMM 1987.78, 52441
Grater

Grater

AWMM 1935.196, 21877, D31.1765
Te lou palu

Te lou palu

AWMM 1938.16, 23701.2
Te puukao inu

Te puukao inu

AWMM 1954.11.42, 33713
A small sprig of Tuvalu

A small sprig of Tuvalu

This prosptia alata specimen, known commonly in English as the haresfoot fern, was collected from Tuvalu. 




 

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Prosaptia alata, AK112220, © Auckland Museum CC BY