Man as a genealogical issue of God and the community as a family of God are reference points from which human rights, at least according to the Samoan indigenous reference of my ancestors, derive: i.e. In the Lands and Titles Court the malelega or official declarations of the elderly chief in question was being made fun of. Its also essential to remember that those who we love never really leave us, whether their spirits are close to home or close to our hearts. dies in Samoa. Aga-i-fanua thus demands recognition of village autonomy, of its uniqueness or apartness from all the other villages and so determines the boundary between what it is or is not, i.e. When she was about ten years old, she got into my makeup drawer and went completely overboard. If we define ourselves in a post-colonial, post-conquest model of self-understanding we have given up the spiritual/traditional base for an emerging jurisprudence in our own terms that goes beyond competing for western notions of social order and resolution. As for the loud music and drinking, I guess you could say its a form of celebration. Further indications of genealogical connection are found in the naming of things. In this case a party promoted five different genealogical records as evidence of their claim to a title. The ones for a father were written by myself and my brother when my Dad died. He was always interested in what was going on in our lives and was extraordinarily proud of our achievements. In fact we tempt fate in showing so little respect for our elderly. It is what gives them meaning and belonging. Thank you so much for your feedback! For men, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white shirt and jacket. I think how we change our frames of reference for reasons other than sustaining the integrity to our ancient traditions [and how it] is profoundly important to further the question before we can get to an authentic answer. This article looks at Samoan funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. Sales from links on this page result in a small commission to us, which enables us to continue to provide free content to help the grieving. Samoan culture and customs). In this sense, tulafono is arguably more about justice than law. In my current exploration of indigenous resources on peace and good governance I have found that these sentiments of belonging and sharing divinity with ancestors, lands, seas and skies are common throughout. I owe it to you and myself to cite at the outset my disqualifications in this area: I am not a Judge; nor a jurist; nor a lawyer. In addressing the question Benchley was frank and wrote somewhat desperately in response: I know nothing about the fisheries problem; and nothing about the point of view of the United States; and nothing about the point of view of Great Britain. Ua se moo le sosolo This phrase literally means 'he is a lizard crawling' however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person. it is unacceptable to one or all of the parties then the matter should then be referred to the Lands and Titles Court. Samoan Death Rituals in a New Zealand Context.. [2] The speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician . Facebook. Here I wish to point out that this is an aberration because feagaiga which is core to the Samoan cultural and philosophical reference is premised on the fact that feagaiga is an issue of the body. The common saying in Christian ritual: o le aiga o le Atua, i.e. Interpreting custom too narrowly or too rigidly in these cases can be more counterproductive than productive. They should be mediated through the traditional mediation processes of pae ma auli. Knowing. John taught me so much more than English. Hawaii God in the Samoan indigenous reference is God Progenitor. In ancient Samoa, the saying: E le se Atua fau tagata (God is not God Creator) o le Atua usu gafa (God is God Progenitor) le Atua o le mau a Samoa (the God of Samoa), thus holds. Whether it was scoring a home run in a Little League baseball game or getting a bursary for a university, he delighted in our successes. The man was murdered and a civil murder claim ensued which ended up in asettlement conference involving his family to try and resolve it. This means people who know and understand the aga-i-fanua, who know not only about the history of the village and families and of the idiosyncrasies of village and family honorifics, but also about changing village and district contexts and new points of reference. Nofoasaefas breach of tuaoi is his presumption of the Absolute. From the outset, David stood out as an individual. This is an important point to keep in mind when working through the practicalities of implementing jurisprudential ideals. Im proud to have called this incredibly special man my brother. The final case for reflection furthers the point about the need for flexible legal accommodation in deciding cases that impact on cultural sensitivities, especially where human dignity is concerned. Honorifics mark the tuaoi between land and people. The story goes: In New Zealand a Samoan man was confined in a facility managed by a Health Care Provider. Do you feel alone and sad with no support and no idea how to move forward? I begin with tuaoi and rights. In Samoa, mourning your deceased loved one is a way to honor their spirit. Aga-nuu is a rule or law of general application to Samoa/Samoans. 29 October 2007. Here are some examples of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same time expresses the grief of the speaker. We seek a full-time SLP (Speech Pathologist ) to work with students in K-12. What is of significance here is that unlike a right to land, a right to title emphasises service or merit rather than genealogy or the reputation of biological antecedents. The tenth heaven represents the absolute which is the preserve of God. For specific advice, please consult a medical practitioner or qualified psychologist or counselor. The Samoa Minister of Justice in discussions with me acknowledged the serious backlog problem and the far-reaching impacts of this. The historical reference provides context for understanding the current problems faced by Samoas Land and Titles Court. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. in a speech given at the opening of the Crematorium, that cremation was a . Tulouna le lagi tuavalu! In an I raise four different cases for support on this point. My mother was the heart of our home, the center of our universe, and the greatest example of unconditional love we couldve hoped to have. During the funeral, the chief and family members might say a few words. Your aim is not to deliver a stand-up comedy routine, but rather, a poignant and potentially somewhat humorous view of who the deceased was and what they meant to you. Sales made via this site will result in a small commission to us which enables us to continue our work helping those who are grieving. However, in modern-day Samoa, this isnt always possible. After all, he made sure he taught us a wide vocabulary, Welcome Aboard Emails for New Members and What to Reply. Friends remember 7-Eleven store clerk killed in SoCal crime spree. It feels like half of me has vanished in an instant, and Im not sure Ill ever feel whole again. One important custom in the Samoan culture is the In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. But I will treasure the years I had with her in my heart for the rest of my life. A funeral speech is difficult to deliver if youre feeling over-emotional. While its hard to believe, nobody really dies in Samoa. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? But as we grew up, we began to understand his wit and laugh at the things he said. 21 July 2022. He let me cry on his shoulder when I went through my first break-up. Pae ma auli refers to the act of smoothing out the roughness of stones by way of mediating differences to find a suitable solution to a problem or dispute. Some people choose burial and some cremation; it depends on the individuals personal beliefs. We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. And I couldnt stay angry with her. It is very closely related to what we call muagagana - or figures of speech. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure. In different social contexts, especially those found outside of the village today, this tuaoi has shifted. The funeral service is typically at a church and involves a lot of praying and singing. This means that the Samoan Lands and Titles Court must become well familiar with the idiosyncrasies of Samoan life, its social, cultural and political imperatives, at the village, district, national and international levels, and know how to balance these. The eastern group of islands is known as American Samoa, a U.S. territory with a population of 41,000. The tapu on vao talutalu or broken land, whereby the principle of rotation operated, was to ensure or guarantee the ongoing quality of the earth and of yield. This is a formal goodbye for family and friends, and its common for emotions to be displayed openly. Tulafono when read alongside muagagana in this way can only be interpreted as products, not of and/or from a culture of rigid calculation and unfeeling application, but of a culture that privileges the dignity and sacredness of humans, their weaknesses and strengths, and their right to live in a manner and form, within their customs, rules and laws that do justice to them as living beings, as creations and children of God. My sister Marian has always been a gregarious and outgoing person. The perspective advocated here has not only been from that of a litigant, but perhaps more importantly from that of a Samoan person who loves his culture, lives his culture and wants to see the best of that culture carried on in generations to come. I belong to my village and my village belongs to me. He always made me laugh, even when all I wanted to do was cry. Before moving to my second way forward I note a point made by Chief Maori Court Judge Joe Williams, who tells the story about a traditional leader of a Maori community under judicial review. But when I look back on the life weve shared, it was more than worth it. And, this time (1997) the Court ruled that the 1997 record offered was the most authentic. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. To address some of the problems noted above, Justice Eddie Durie recommended in conversation with me in preparation for this paper, the process of arbitration. Where this kind of arbitration fails, i.e. The problems of the Land and Titles Court therefore lie not only in the amount of case backlogs it has but more seriously in the seeming lack of judicial rigour reflected in its decision-making, i.e. Speak from the heart and say how you feel about the person, Talk about their career, jobs, hobbies and passions, Talk about their relationships with family, friends and colleagues, Mention things that you inherited or learned from them, Perhaps mention some people who will be at the funeral, Mention a couple of funny stories if appropriate, Keep it real and don't be afraid of mentioning their less good points - you don't have to put them on a pedestal, Thank people for coming to the funeral and for their support. Get Expert and Effective Help in the Comfort of Your Own Home. Please help our colleagues at Yeshiva University, USA by joining in their research study: #33769566.1 IRB Approved at the Study Level. That is, in 1907, 1925, 1972, 1978 and 1997 five different genealogies were submitted by the same party in support of their respective claims. Tongan funerals - Wikipedia Tongan funerals Funerals in Tonga, despite the large Christian influence they have received over the last 150 years or so, are still very much a traditional affair and an important part of the culture of Tonga, especially if it concerns the death of a member of the royal family or a high chief. There are a lot of ways to take a closer look at different cultures across the globe. In this guide, well find out. the right of life, the right to land and titles, the right to share in a community, the right to citizenship, the right to belong. When I caught her, she had rainbow-colored eyelids, forehead and cheeks. Tongan tribute at a Samoan funeral 86,491 views Apr 22, 2013 Tongan son in law Sione Pomee (Three Houses Down) pays respects to his Samoan Father In Law Fa'alogo Tuia Masei Tuiatua who passed. Again, this is a nod to the importance of family and community life. In many ways it defines the va fealoaloai (relations between peoples within the village and with those outside) and faasinomaga (the identity or designation of those within and without). This theology gave ancient Samoans a reference for being, knowing and belonging. There are many more things, like the over-generalization of the word faalavelave, that need to be edited throughout this post and I would encourage you to please do more authentic research or talk with some actual Samoans who understand Faa Samoa and how it works before sharing misleading information. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. The common Samoan saying: o le ala i le pule o le tautua recognises the discourse of rights to Samoan custom and the implicit location of these rights in traditional notions of authority or pule. 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