Prompted by my colleague Manu Faaea-Semeatu, I put together the following list that should help educators to better understand Pasifika.
1. What “Pasifika” actually means
Pasifika is a term that is unique to Aotearoa and is a term coined by government agencies to describe migrants from the Pacific region and their descendants, who now call Aotearoa home.
2. Pasifika peoples are not a homogenous nation
Pasifika in Aotearoa refers to people who are descendants of the Polynesian nations of the Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau. This means we don’t all speak the same language.
3. Fiji is not considered part of Pasifika (Polynesia)
Fiji belongs to a group of nations referred to as Melanesians. Other nations in this group include Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia (part of France), West Papua, Indonesia and Papua. However we can still include them in the definition of Pasifika within the context of Aotearoa.
4. Not all people from Pasifika cultures can speak their heritage languages
Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa, especially if they are born here, may not necessarily have learned to speak their heritage languages. Usually this is because they have not had access to opportunities to learn their heritage language either in the home or at school. However, some Pasifika peoples may speak their heritage languages in church communities or in their homes if they have strong speakers to help teach them.
5. Not all Pasifika peoples come from one Pasifika nation
Intermarriage is, or interracial relationships are, quite common amongst Pasifika peoples or with Pasifika peoples and other cultures. So, it is not unusual to have students in classrooms who, for example, may be both Samoan and Tongan, or Māori and Cook Island. This means that students in schools will benefit from teachers getting to know the subtle differences and nuances of the cultures of their learners.
6. Pasifika peoples like to congregate in group settings
Pasifika peoples like to work in groups to collaborate better with one another, which is traditionally part of their village life before migrating to Aotearoa. Pasifika learners dislike being singled out as this shatters their confidence and potentially harms their self-esteem.
7. Pronunciation of names
If you learn how to correctly pronounce names of Pasifika peoples, this will earn you much respect. Even using phonetics to get the right sounds will take you a long way when working with Pasifika peoples. By making the effort to ensure you use correct pronunciation, it shows that you respect Pasifika peoples and their cultures.
8. Establishing positive relationships with Pasifika peoples
Communication is the key and will result in a better partnership and outcomes between school and the home. To establish positive relationships, you must work with families to improve parents’ participation and contribution, even if you encounter some reluctance on the part of families to engage.
9. Pasifika voice
It is important to respect Pasifika peoples’ voice regardless of their language barriers. For example, even though their tone of voice when speaking their heritage language, or in English, may sound argumentative, they should be empowered to be heard and valued.
10. Improve communication with Pasifika communities
Use accessible language in communications to homes and the workplace, and avoid professional jargon that might work to isolate or disempower Pasifika peoples.
Helpful links:
- Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017
- Pasifika Education Community
- LEAP: Language Enhancing the Achievement of Pasifika
- Coconet TV
Togi Lemanu
Latest posts by Togi Lemanu (see all)
- Talanoa tips with Pasifika learners - May 17, 2016
- The Tuakana-Teina model — Building the ‘Feagaiga’ between teachers and learners - October 22, 2015
- The Pasifika way of connecting and collaborating - April 9, 2015
[…] 10 things you need to know about Pasifika peoples – http://t.co/9raFkpL9II #1a pasifika originally a term of palagi statistical convenience. […]
Kia ora Togi – Thanks for sharing your 10 'Important things' Togi – Great read, great info!
[…] In a previous blog post, my colleague Togi Lemanu talked about the “10 things that you need to know about Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa”. I wanted to explore some of these ideas in more depth, in particular the notions of cultural identities. Seeing as it is Samoan language week on May 26th-30th, we will look at a cultural identity model I developed that focuses on the multiple identities of Samoan culture. […]
[…] includes being culturally responsive. For example, engaging with the Talanoa model and exploring posts from experts like Togi Lemanu about engaging with Pasifika learners and their families helps teachers to shape […]
Hi Togi, I’m really interested to know how the term “pasifika” is unique to Aotearoa and the association of only “Melanesian” with relation to Fiji.
I’m from Fiji and the translation of Pacific in our common tongue is Pasifika.
We have used this term in all formal and informal literature and communication since its use in our language.
I understand that it is probably shared from another country in the Pacific (probably Samoa) but I guess, that is the history of language in the Pacific.
Anyways, pasifika to us includes all the 3 main Island nation “groups” or the more commonly used English term “Oceania”.
In respect of that which ive provided above, I believe that the term “pasifika” is indeed not unique to Aotearoa. Of course, I understand that the common understanding of Pasifika in Aotearoa and that in the rest of the South Pacific mean different things.
Also, with relation to which “island group” Fiji is from – Fiji is not inherently just Melanesian. We can say that Fiji is at the crossroads or the edge of the Melanesian and Polynesian divide, with similar language and hierarchical structures to that of our Polynesian brothers than our Melanesian brothers. We have both Melanesian and Polynesian heritage (with relation to the groups of peoples who travelled to Fiji to populate the islands and that travelled from Fiji to other areas in the Pacific).
There are also 2 islands in Fiji that are inhabited by people that are not distinctly I-Taukei (indigenous). The island of Rotuma (annexed to Fiji by the British government) and is inhabited by people of distinctly Polynesian descent and Rabi (given to the peoples of distinctly Micronesian descent).
Hope to hear from you.
Vinaka,
Maibole.
I agree with this comment. As a 19 year old Fijian trying to learn more about her culture and where she stands in the Pacific community, this article confused me a lot as it contradicts a lot of what I’ve read so far; especially in terms of Fiji not being counted under the “Pasifika” umbrella. Hope to get clear answers soon.
[…] the most vibrant and exciting school we visited this week. The population of this school is largely Pasifika (people from the varied islands of Oceania). It is also a decile one school. In the New Zealand […]
I grew up bting told that Pasifika includes the entire Pacific island community including Melanesians and Micronesians. Did New Zealand really coin the term?
I have the same understanding of Pasifika as you and grew up in the U.S. Maybe NZ uses it differently?
[…] Cartwright S. (1988). The report of the committee of inquiry into allegations concerning the treatment of cervical cancer at National Women’s Hospital and into other related matters. Auckland, New Zealand: Government Printing Office. Retrieved from http://www.nsu.govt.nz/current-nsu-programmes/3233.asp Counties Manukau Health. (2016). Population Profile. Retrieved from http://www.countiesmanukau.health.nz/about-us/our-region/population-profile/ Lemanu, T. (2010). 10 things you need to know about Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa: Dispelling some common myths about the pacific. Core Education: T?tai Aho Rau. Retrieved from http://blog.core-ed.org/blog/2014/04/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-pasifika-peoples-in-aotearoa-d… […]