David was a loyal and kind person whod never let you down. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. 2022-2023 School Year . However, with the breaking of the kava cup he attempted to assert his claim to divine power. Moving beyond tuaoi, challenging tuaoi, shifting tuaoi, fixing tuaoi, are all part and parcel of defining and living human life. I am researching Samoa for a school project. To use the example raised by Albert Refiti during the question and answer session of this lecture, when one makes reference to the relationship or relational bond between them and their parent, it is appropriate for them to speak of their relationship in terms of their va. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. K-12 caseload. Mother Earth is not a resource, she is an heirloom.. Knowing how to deal justly with these contextual shifts in tuaoi created by wider structural forces is part of the challenges that face Samoan jurists today. Thats not to say that you cannot show your emotions and grief. 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. Its that mutual love and respect that makes me know Jennifer was the best friend I could ever have had. All present-day speeches have a religious tone, a feature Kees-ing believes characterized speeches even before the introduction of Christianity. Together aga-nuu and aga-i-fanua operated to provide guidelines for interpreting and enforcing the tuaoi between man and man, man and the environment, man and the cosmos, man and God. Guests give the grieving family monetary gifts or hand-woven mats in a ceremonial exchange of gifts called faalavelave. What he says sums up what I would like to leave with you. And I am not a Judge; nor Jurist; nor Lawyer. , and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. It gave them a designation and identity, i.e. Tulouna le pogisa ma le leai! The 10 points are laid out like a poem on two pretty pages which you can pin on your fridge door to help you every day! This does not affect the price you are charged and we will only ever recommend services and products in which we have complete faith. Hi, Im Samoan and most of this is wrong. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Salutations to the eighth heaven! The third case illustrates the point about the need for solutions that can move beyond the restrictions of rigid legal interpretation and application towards a more flexible application of rule capable of meeting justice and human dignity concerns concerns often brought about because of the changes in peoples lived realities. When the tyrannical Tagaloa was rowed out to open sea by his disaffected constituents in Safune and left to fare against nature and the elements, the Safune people were not prepared to tempt fate by taking the life of the anointed; rather Tagaloa was thrown to the mercy of the God/s. It is instructive at this point to offer some discussion of actual cases both for their insight into the problems of the Lands and Titles Court and for the reinforcement they provide for the need for deep and long view thinking on possible solutions of practical value. The role of the orator (moe) is to exercise authority (pule) and to focus on complexity and context. The eastern group of islands is known as American Samoa, a U.S. territory with a population of 41,000. Before 1903 the judicial functions of the Lands and Titles Court were exercised through pule and through the process of pae ma auli (or mediation ). They should be mediated through the traditional mediation processes of pae ma auli. I had to ask her out several times before she agreed. That may make him sound like he was distant, but nothing could be further from the truth. You cannot afford to break down and cry in the moment. 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. However, in modern-day Samoa, this isnt always possible. The last thing I imagined myself doing today was delivering the eulogy at my mothers funeral. This final case involves the situation where an elderly chief was beginning to lose his faculties. He was so proud to be a father and a wonderfully hands-on partner. She had such an infectious zest for life that she could always find the humor or a silver lining of any situation, regardless of the gravity. Tulouna le iloa! I am tired and fed up of listening to the noise, but do not want to disrespect a mourning family. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. it is unacceptable to one or all of the parties then the matter should then be referred to the Lands and Titles Court. To understand Samoan tulafono we must search our Samoan faasinomaga; we must search the tuaoi of our ancestors and of our children to come; the tuaoi between ourselves; between us and our lands; the seas; the skies; the stars each implicit in and protected by our tulafono. It is useful at this point to look closer into what tuaoi might be exactly. Id like to start by offering Johns family my sincerest condolences. He taught me how to think critically, and not to take things at face value. We can customize your employment package precisely to fit your needs. The Samoa Minister of Justice in discussions with me acknowledged the serious backlog problem and the far-reaching impacts of this. The strife caused disharmony for twenty years. Eight Carefully Crafted Emails for Your Last Day at Work. Samoa is an island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand. He let me cry on his shoulder when I went through my first break-up. Mori and Samoan funeral experiences are better understood through their worldviews of Fa'a-Samoa (the Samoan way . Can we ultimately construct a balance I dont think so if we predicate it on the terms of the other (Greek tradition, Thomistic systematics, Western jurisprudence). In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. In this guide, well find out. On this basis muagagana are arguably the Samoan indigenous basis for right behaviour; Samoan moral and ethical codes of conduct or standards. Our children were the center of Samanthas world. of an actual attorney. Honour your loved one with their own memorial website. Faasinomaga is mans inheritance designated by the designator God. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. Shed always be knitting or sewing or making something that we needed. Salutations to the mountain! The literal meaning of tofi is a portion. 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. Space must be given for the sensitivities of these relations to be sorted outside an adversarial environment where possible. The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. Aga-i-fanua recognises the uniqueness of each village, its history and genealogy, and so creates tuaoi or boundaries within and without. The tula or head of a chief is tapu. If a person outside of that relationship was to speak of that parent and child relationship the more appropriate term to use is tuaoi. The best man's speech is followed by the cake. the sleep of the high chief. There were crushes and boyfriends that caused heartache and heartbreak. This article examines Samoan death and bereavement practices. Twitter. The lands of Samoa are believed to be the lands designated by God for the people of Samoa. Tulouna le lagi tuaono! Saili, means search. Something drew us to each other though. A theology of Samoa is found in what Samoans call the Mau. My experience as a litigant in the Samoan Lands and Titles Court and the fact that I live my Samoan indigenous culture are my qualifications. Fay Calkin's simple translation is 'trouble'. Salutations to the sense of smell! In fact, I know he would have preferred to spend his weekend resting and relaxing. The Fate of the Human Soul after Death., The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Seiuli, Byron Malaela Sotiata. Tulouna le lagi tuafa! regular service and merit. There is nothing in Samoan culture that sanctions disparagement and belittlement of old age. In doing so I received a profound message from my dear friend Fr. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. Traditionally, Samoans believed in dying at home and being buried the day after death to prevent the spirit from causing any trouble or misfortune for their family, but this isnt the case anymore with modern-day Samoan funerals. In ancient Samoan genealogy, land is one of mans ancestors and is acknowledged in the funeral chant by deferential reference to dust, earth, standing rocks, stones and mountain as family. 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. Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries. 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. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. There were three Samoan 'experts' there representing different organizations and they were having an argument as to what the proper cultural protocol was for atonement [i.e. This extension of the meaning of tautua to include tautua ai taumalele and osi aiga has qualitatively increased the numbers of those eligible to receive a title. These issues of belonging (of faasinomaga and va fealoaloai), of knowing boundaries (or tuaoi), and of knowing how to search for meaning in having these boundaries (for having tofa saili) are central to understanding the contours, substance and impact of tulafono or Samoan (custom) law, then and today. Earlier this year the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland invited me to speak on issues of Samoan custom and jurisprudence. But our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures. You can change counselor at any time if you wish. We seek a full-time SLP (Speech Pathologist ) to work with students in K-12. It is what gives them meaning and belonging. Historically, the land tuaoi or land connections and inheritance (tofi) of Samoa are recognized in national, district and village honorifics. Similarly, when Nofoasaefa insulted the goddess Nafanua by insisting on precedence in a kava ceremony in Falealupo and, as well breaking the kava cup into pieces after drinking from it, his life was forfeited to restore the tuaoi or boundary he transgressed between God and man. To me he has found the soul of why we are engaging in this exercise, this exercise of tofa saili, for a jurisprudence that can do justice to the aims of the most indigenous of our Samoan courts our Land and Titles Court. The practical reference suggested in this final section relates to the practical concerns of litigants and the serious impacts that slow resolve of these concerns have. Despite the fact that she was ill, and we knew her passing was inevitable, it has still come as a shock to us as a family. Case 1: Further indications of genealogical connection are found in the naming of things. The thoughts of David Ipinia, a Native American Indian Yurok Artist, were shared with me by a dear friend, Fr. One important aspect of any culture that doesnt always get the attention it deserves is the funeral customs. The tuaoi between nuu (village councils), itumalo (district bodies) and Malo (Central Government) has evolved with the imperatives of changing economic times and political circumstances. The ones for a father were written by myself and my brother when my Dad died. Instagram. Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. The way she attacked the obstacles she encountered with such strength and determination was inspirational. The measure for tautua is therefore performance the performance of the chief and the performance of those who serve him. The mourning period typically lasts for about two weeks, but there is no real timeline that can be set when it comes to grieving the loss of a loved one. 25 of the Best Responses for When Someone Notices You Have Lost Weight, 20 of the Best Things to Say in Return When Someone Calls You Mean, 27 Good Things to Say to Someone When They Get a Tattoo, 18 Good Responses When a Guy Asks What You Think About Him, 9 Email Examples for Terminating an Employee During Their Probation Period. Required fields are marked *. This designation defines our sense of belonging to our nation and to the faaSamoa (i.e. In this setting the young person was in fact able to speak and speak on the familys behalf. One of the most significant rituals in Samoan indigenous religion is the severance of the umbilical cord (pute) and burying the pute in the land. I begin with a discussion of the Samoan theological reference. Try a gentle hypnotherapy track to relax the mind. But not all us Samoans are the same. Friends remember 7-Eleven store clerk killed in SoCal crime spree. He was like a father, an uncle, and a big brother all rolled into one. Tulouna le lagi tuatolu! Contents 1 Clothing In thinking about this I am reminded of a famous story about Robert Benchley while he was a student of International Law at Harvard University. 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. Talk with your funeral director or event planner to see what rituals they can adapt for a live stream. This is how people pay respect. Only by dying at home and being buried the day after death with the spirit avoid misfortune. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. samoan funeral speech. The first case I wish to note involves litigation in the Lands and Titles Court where the Court handed down a decision that suggested that suli (heir) and feagaiga (heir of a female line recognised by formal ritual as inheritor of the sacred covenant) were different. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. 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. But you must be able to get through the speech you have prepared. This was considered treason by the priests of Nafanua present at the kava ceremony and a curse was placed on him. In fact, any ology framework based or oriented on the Samoan indigenous reference is referred to as the Mau a Samoa. Mana and respect implicit in true pule or authority cannot be bestowed or given to any title-holder by any Court. vaevae manava, isliterally the sharing of a woman's body to create new life. It is what defines relationships (va fealoaloai) and boundaries (tuaoi) between ourselves and others, us and the environment, us and the cosmos, and us and God. In fact we tempt fate in showing so little respect for our elderly. Exclusive to GriefandSympathy readers. Case 3: Its open to the entire community. Because open caskets are common at the funeral, this is still the most common choice in Samoa today. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? The ones you find online don't do the song justice. Copyright Elizabeth Postle RN, HV, FWTand Lesley Postle - GriefandSympathy.com 2012-2022. Get Expert and Effective Help in the Comfort of Your Own Home. The tuaoi that arises here is that between those who seek a right to a title and those who have the right to bestow one. The nine messages of the funeral chant are as applicable to life as to death. To touch the head of a chief is a serious breach of tapu because the head, as suggested, is the residence of divine discernment and so should not be tampered with. An illustration of the kind of shifts that have occurred is found in the following story of a young Samoan New Zealand-based woman who in a formal meeting decided to voice her opinion in a way that would have traditionally been in breach of the tuaoi between herself and her grandmother, present at the same meeting. Tofa, as suggested earlier,is the term for wisdom. Still, death is a natural part of life and not something to be feared. We can customize your employment package precisely to fit your needs. This highlights the critical nature of the problem and the need for urgent solutions, in particular solutions capable of encompassing the lessons of history and the indigenous reference. Even as a baby, she showed an exceptional amount of determination. Are you saying the main speech or one of several shorter speeches? This distinction between tamaalii and tulafale comes to nothing if in the deliberations of tofa and moe the alii encroaches on the role and function of the tulafale,and the tulafale encroaches on the role and function of the tamaalii. This leads me to the final section of my talk, what I have called the Practical reference. In Samoan tradition, its important for the body to be buried quickly. Tulouna le lagi tuaiva! is an important part of Samoan custom. The issues of the first two cases are easily resolved by the Lands and Titles Court, but only if the Court is willing to seriously address its judicial competencies and standards. Tulafono, can be literally interpreted to mean the head of a fono. Salutations to the second heaven! The reality of this theology of land is lost in the telling of the Samoan history of land today, the deciding of access to land and land ownership, and the resolving of land disputes. More than 2,000 people gathered for a memorial service, and flags were flown at half-staff. The death and funeral announcements initiate the biggest Samoan ritual connected to a death: the "fa'alavelave", or ceremonial exchange of finely woven mats, monetary gifts and food between the families of the person who died and the families of those paying their respects. Death is simply Gods will, and its a normal, welcome part of life. Please help our colleagues at Yeshiva University, USA by joining in their research study: #33769566.1 IRB Approved at the Study Level. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. Tuaoi may be broken down to mean: i tua atu o i, meaning beyond this point; which is a shorthand or abbreviation for the saying: i tua atu o e le au iai lau aia po o lau pule. Tulouna le papat! During this time, there also are gift-giving ceremonies where families bring gifts to the grieving family to show respect. Breaches of these tapu or sa were serious offences against the tuaoi between man and environment. 714-578-8720 ext. In this sense, tulafono is arguably more about justice than law. But our Funeral roses are some of the most common flowers to give and receive when a loved one dies. Aga-i-fanua is a rule or law which specifically applies to a family or a village and its origins in history and genealogy. Perhaps I should bring the Western reference into the Samoan indigenous reference. Samoa's higher language, however, is founded on poetry, history, legends and myths. To illustrate the changes in this tuaoi between nuu, itumalo and Malo, the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele, tells of how in the village of Fasitoouta the intervention of Government proved useful to achieving resolve of a long-standing conflict in the village. Shed open those beautiful big brown eyes and remind me that she was my flesh and blood. arrival of the party. Tired or not, hed help me with all my projects. It seems pertinent to share those thoughts with you also. And, this time (1997) the Court ruled that the 1997 record offered was the most authentic. 05/21/2022. So for those of you in the know, this is just a tester to see whether you know your way around with a ie toga (fine mat). The 'Do's and Don'ts' of a Funeral Speech He encouraged them to keep going. When you sit down to decide what youre going to say in your eulogy speech, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration. 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. tofa of a chief or moe of an orator) is known in Samoan as moe manatunatu, a sleep dialogue between chiefs or orators with God and/or ancestors. 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. faasinomaga. Salutations to the seventh heaven! The tulafale also leads a special ceremony called saofai, where the family discusses any important decisions to be made about the deceaseds passing, shared stories, and have a feast often using a Samoan umu, an Earth oven with heated rocks, to cook the food. We are scheduling interviews today. Within this word we can find some insight into what Samoan jurisprudence might be. , Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. If you want to relate a situation or event that occurred in the deceaseds life, do so tastefully. Fanua is also the word for placenta. But every time we spoke or saw each other though, we picked up where we left off, and it felt like wed never been apart. 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. John was my high school English teacher, so you might wonder why I refer to him as John and not as Mr. Robinson; it was at his insistence, as soon as I graduated. the house is about 10 meters from my bedroom window. My siblings and I gave her a lot of gray hairs along the way. Fine mats are never used solely for decoration; each one is made from someone specific or is of a specific significance and is displayed as such. Tuaoi between nuu, itumalo and malo What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? Especially where delay in the determination of appointments to important titles impacts on use and enjoyment of lands and other titles, and as well on the role and function of that title holder on village and district hierarchy. For our purposes I raise brief discussion only on the tuaoi between people namely between matai and au aiga, tamaalii (high chief) and tulafale (orator), parent and child; the tuaoi between nuu (village), itumalo (district) and Malo (central government); and between the Lands and Titles Court bench and pae ma auli (Samoan mediators). When disaster struck Samoa in 2009, a national day of mourning was declared to honor and remember those who had died in the devastating tsunami that took the lives of 143 people and destroyed villages. In commenting on being Indian David says: Being Indian is mainly in your heart. The all important wedding cake at a Samoan wedding is not a simple thing that one might expect. These have evolved from. He also owned up that he expressed strong views to the Department of Lands and Titles on the inordinate amount of time that it is taking (i.e. Thediscussions lasted for several hours and finally got to the point where everyone was talking about atonement. 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. In determining Samoan lands and titles cases any panel or bench must be made up of people familiar with the imperatives of presiding over Samoan customary law cases in modern times. Some villages have special roles afforded to particular families, names or positions specific to their village history. Order Here. This communal life is all about the family, which is headed by a leading chief. What our family lacked in money, my mother more than made up for with love. The funeral service doesnt usually just involve close family and friends. Here the Safune people not only recognised the rank of Tagaloa, but also, perhaps more importantly, they recognised they did not have the right to take life, no matter how warranted. Starting a eulogy for a family member Saying goodbye to a family member is particularly hard. You will also receive our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information. My mother was a phenomenal woman who possessed reserves of strength and patience that seemed to be infinite. This is the essence of my sense of belonging. Before moving into Samoan customary law proper we must gain an historical appreciation for the changing tuaoi. Moreover, they can operate simultaneously. The tenth heaven represents the absolute which is the preserve of God. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. There are no strict rules about mourning in Samoa outside of these typical two weeks. We hope our funeral speech examples will inspire you to write a heartfelt eulogy to honour your loved one. For confidentiality reasons these four cases are kept anonymous. Tofi in relation to land is more designation, in that land is designated to man. She would go through the things in my room and leave a mess. The principle of tapu is a prime example of the existence of tuaoi. This link will open in a new window. For Samoans there is a strong sense of identity and belonging that is bound to our faasinomaga, our designation as defined by our Designator. Rather, I am noting that they are interchangeable depending on who the speaker is. Mau, meaning the indigenous world view of Samoan people. All you have to do to receive this free document is fill in your email address below. In preparing for this talk I thought of St Thomas Aquinas and thought about doing what he did in bringing the Greeks into the Christian reference. ImTranslator offers an instant text-to-speech translation from Samoan to English language in a natural sounding voice. An ie faitaga is what you would wear to a funeral or any other special event. Funeral rites and chants provide a vehicle for contemplation on the journey of life. Anytime shed open those beautiful big brown eyes of hers, silently reminding me that she was my flesh and blood, I couldnt stay angry with her. Thank you for being with us today, to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, my mother Ellen. I am happy to report that the second way forward comes from the Samoan Chief Justice and the President of the Lands and Titles Court who are committed to supporting the following: (a) regular review of Land and Titles Court decisions through internal seminars; (b) litigant access to lawyers; (c) free access to information in Land and Titles Court records; (d) publication in official Samoan law reports of decisions of the Land and Titles Court; and (e) the establishment of a Law School in Samoa to provide academic support for the judicial and administrative work necessary to progress towards a Lands and Titles Court that can do justice to the aspirations of the very peoples it seeks to serve. In ancient Samoan genealogy, land is one of man's ancestors and is acknowledged in the funeral chant by deferential reference to dust, earth, standing rocks, stones and mountain as family. Ua le sei seu faaalo Salutations to the dust! I belong to my family and my family belongs to me. Thanks to him, I developed analytical skills that I continue to use today.