The 26th of January is a public holiday in Australia to celebrate the Nation. Unlikely Americans who have a thirst for the selection of their national day, those I’ve met in Australia just take it as a day off to have a party or break.

Sione Halasika, our youngest son, fourth in the tree, had his birthday on the 25th, just shy of the national holiday. But as we wanted to have some close friends over, we had the national holiday as an excuse to share his birthday with family and friends.

Of course, since we were a bit mamio in getting things planned we didn’t get to invite people until the week before hand. Some made it, others didn’t.

‘Ofa made some wonderful dishes, which I complemented with seriously paku BBQ (pa pa kiu.) Obviously the English phase/word BBQ derives from the Tongan papaku meaning seriously burnt from existence.

‘Ofa put her hands up and made some Lu Kapapulu, Sea-food salad, potatoe salad, while I managed to add on burnt lamb chops, and burnt beef sausages, burnt winglets, burnt drumsticks topped with burnt chicken kebabs. The onions were good though, but unfortunately we forgot it and didn’t put it out on the table.

Grandpa Sisi prayed for the young man’s well being while we gathered with family and friends to wish the old fella a happy birthday and best wishes for his life.

From your mum, dad, siblings, family and friends,

Happy Birthday Sione Halasika.

Thanks to David Harris we have the following valuable information for our youth in Sydney.

From: Majidi Warda [mailto:Majidi.Warda@blacktown.nsw.gov.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 March 2009 02:07 PM
To: Lisa Khodeir
Subject: Youth Scholarship $5000!

Youth Off The Streets is a charity that mostly works with homeless, drug addicted and abused young people in Australia.

Youth Off The Streets have a national Scholarship Program, targeted at young people from difficult backgrounds who wish to further their education or training.

The program offers scholarships of $5000 to young people who would otherwise find it difficult to achieve their vocational goals without some support.

The scholarships are to be used over a 2 year period and YOTS staff develop a scholarship pathway plan with the young person and assist them to follow it through.

If you are aware of any young people who access your service and may
benefit from a Youth Off The Streets Scholarship, we welcome your
nominations.
The nomination forms are also available on our website
http://www.youthoffthestreets.com.au/scholarship/index.html

Regards,
Chantal Harris

Chantal Harris
Youth Off the Streets
Scholarship Program
(02) 93303536
0406815409

Majidi Warda
Community Development (Youth & Early Life)
Blacktown City Council
PO Box 63, Blacktown 2148
Tel: 9839 6086
Fax: 9831 1961
Mobile: 0423 020 422
majidi.warda@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

We’ve identified someone in our youth who might qualify, so we’ll get ourselves working on that ground. Maybe there’s someone in your area that can be helped hear ?

When the past catches up with you, greet them with a smile.

Turn up, make some noise, show yourselves off.

THE TONGA CULTURAL HERITAGE EXHIBITION 2009

The Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs, & Culture in conjunction with The Tonga Traditions Committee present Au Mei Moana – Returning Tides: The Tonga Cultural Heritage Exhibition. This will be hosted at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from July 27 – August 1, 2009.

The Ministry and the Traditions Committee seek to help the public understand Tongan cultural experiences and in this instance are using objects and ideas to interpret the past, document the present, and explore the future of the Kingdom of Tonga. The goal is to strengthen ties between the local and overseas Tongan communities by presenting artistic examples of quality, diversity and spirit from our society for locals and visitors of all ages.

This exhibition will be a point of contact between the public, artists and museums. The stories shared through this exhibition and performances will highlight who we are as individuals within a local, national and global Tongan community.

Tongan artists are invited to submit artwork for consideration in the exhibition. The theme of the exhibition is ‘Au Mei Moana – Returning Tides’ seeking to forge between the island and the diaspora. It is a celebration of Tongan culture by Tongan artists through contemporary media including the visual arts, dance, and music.

My bro’s moving to Melbourne, and I was about to ask him about one of the long gone sisters when she blasts me an email message about some do their having back in Tonga (or of Tonga)

Sam,

Please if it is not a problem could you publish our press release …

'Ofa atu

Papa

If you’ve been tracking some of the goings on here, such as J. Havea et. al’s. Tasilisili and Talanoa, we’re all going in relative the same  direction to get the palangi lois together with the matu’a ?

On that note, another call out from the Talanoa crew that next year’s siesta has been directed and call for papers are out.

Yeah, their choice of conch caller seems a little white for the sun tanned islands, but hey …

Talanoa Oceania 2009 will provide opportunities for presentations on three significant island concepts: Lotu, Tabu, and Tikanga.  These concepts have multiple meanings in the various languages of the islands of Oceania:

• Lotu can mean 'religion, church, pray[er], worship' and so forth.  Presentations on this concept may address some significant aspects of our native belief systems and world-views, or issues that relate to religious diversity, religious intolerance, and the challenges of lotu to islanders in diaspora.
• Tabu (tapu, taboo) can mean 'to prohibit, forbid' or 'sacred, holy.'  Presentations may focus on the relevance (and irrelevance) of cultural tabu to diasporic and overseas-born islanders, and address issues that confront diasporic communities such as sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and so forth.
• Tikanga is Maori for 'correct, right, way, custom, code'; tikanga Pasifika can mean 'Pacific ways' which includes 'fakaTonga,' 'faaSamoa,' 'vakaViti,' and so forth.  Presentations may focus on the question of culture and identity amongst others.

The context for the 2008 Talanoa is ready to rumble and although a little heady for techno nerds, the ‘stuff’ is beginning to get some tasty flavouring.

Make the time and come on over. If you know any pakehas, palangi who must deal with the rabbles from Pasifika, forward them an invite it cannot but enlighten them to the context from which their pacific partners hailed.

If you’re from the Pacific and you’ve been in Australia for too long but still need to think about that Bigpond question:

What’s important about January 26th for Australians?

A day off to watch the cricket (eyebrow raised)

Then you’re just punching to turn up. You’re part of the ‘problem’

2008 Conference
Mana, Vanua, Talanoa
Abstracts received for some of the presentations

Welcome & opening event

The opening event will follow the expected structure of a traditional lotu ceremony, with negotiations to embody the complexities of PI migration. Participants are encouraged to flow the event (or go with the flow if you prefer!) and be respectful of the tapu of the land where we will gather, and the talanoa of the Barramatugal clan and Darug people who cared for it over many generations.

Roots and Routes: Who are we?!

This panel will explore the challenges that Pacific Islanders face when we move overseas, torn between commitments to the homes from where we came and the necessities of settling into new homes. This panel consists of first generation PI migrants, and will explore issues related to church, education, law, justice system, culture and so forth. Members of panel: Liva Tukutama, Filimone Olivetti, Vetinia Waqabaca, Alisa Peacock, Seini Afeaki, and others

If anyone's coming from Sydney to Tonga (and doesn't have the requisite ten bags of luggage) and you can accommodate carrying a back-pack for me.

That would be awesome.

Buzz me at samtaufa@gmail.com

Apparently this was/is a call during the preparation of Kava (ya know that nice warm brownish liquid that tastes like mud but has some socio/cultural value which means that to be politically correct you have to say something like … mmmm ‘needs salt.’) Oh and the cultural value … ?

View Full Album

I guess if you want to find out the cultural values of “Kava kuo Heka” you can rock on along to the above exhibition.

Where: Fa’onelua Convention Center (that’s the one across from the main Kauli Bakery in town?)

When: 28 ~ 30 July 2009

And it’s sponsored by all these people with pretty logos (go to the posters for more details.)

Whether we like to hear it or not, our children’s academic and athletic achievements are very much tied to our involvement (as parents or caregivers.)

Ka ‘iai ha ngaahi matu’a ‘i Sene ni ‘oku ‘iai ha’anau fanau ako, pea ke fakahoko atu mu’a kiate kinautolu ‘a e ki’i workshop ko ‘ena ‘i lalo ni. Ko e feinga aipe ha me’a ki ha kaha’u lelei ma’etau fanau.

Your involvement matters, the better informed and better involved you are, the better the results (pea mo e si’i fiefia ange ‘a e fanau ki he’enau ako etc.)

TCSS workshops in Auburn Schools

Partnership with Auburn Council and DET South West Region

Schools	Dates	Topics
Berala PS	9 March 2009 9:30 – 11:00am	Parenting: Reading with your Child
	16 March 9:30 - 11:00am	Parenting: Supporting your Child with Homework
	23 March 2009 9:30 – 11:00am	Parenting: Healthy Body & Healthy Mind
Lidcombe PS	20 March 9:30 – 11:00am	Parenting: Reading with your Child
	2 April 2009 9:30 – 11:00am	Parenting: Healthy Body & Healthy Mind

Get your parents involved.

From: Afeaki, Seini
Sent: Thursday, 5 March 2009 11:25 AM
Subject: Workshops in the Auburn LGA
Importance: High

Dear All,

Refer attachment.   These workshops will commence next week at Berala PS on Monday 9 March 2009.  Most appreciate if you promote these workshops to your friends and relatives in the Auburn LGA.

This is NOT confined to parents at these two schools only.   We are targeting Pacific parents and Tongan parents especially in the LGA as per funding guidelines.   If you have some useful infor that need to be distributed to the community this is a good avenue for that.

Further inquiries about these workshops contact Makeleta Felila Ph 9408 8916 (W)

Malo aupito

Seini

‘Ofa introduced Taufa #4 into the world this evening (January 25th circa 11:30 pm)

Mum and Baby are doing very well. Kid looks like he’s going to be a Titan. He’s pretty big (forget the measurement, things kinda went blurry for a while there.) He’ been kicking around in mum’s stomach pretty actively and he got out just as active.

WIthin minutes his mouth was moving seeking out food like a heat seeking missile in the sun, pointing everywhere at once.

Hope to see you two out of hospital real soon.

Thanks for the well wishes and be catching up with you all soon.

Talanoa Oceania is getting closer and here’s an early reminder from organisers, to get ready and book the days away so you can be there to listen and contribute.

If you haven’t been there before, click on the map below and see if you can’t get seriously lost trying to get there.

More information over at: Talanoa Online Home where you can also get your pretty print registration form.

Key Dates: Monday September 29th ~ Wednesday October 1st

There should be some interesting characters, so maybe you should do a theme thing where you come in as eskimoes or something interesting.

Talanoa Oceania - Be There or be rocked!

Talanoa Oceania are gatherings for people from the South Seas (or Pacific Islanders, abbreviated as PIs), who currently live in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Several reasons make these gatherings necessary, including the following:

1. PIs are torn between where we live and our home islands, partly because we have not been welcomed (to our new locations) and released (from our island homes)

2. PIs continue to look for direction from our home islands partly because a sea of talanoa[1] has not been gathered to root us in our current locations

3. PIs are searching for creative and meaningful ways of continuing to be connected to our island cultures, churches and homes

4. PIs often misunderstand other cultures partly because we are confused about who we are, in our current locations, and we are consequently easily misunderstood

5. PIs are not homogenous, and we need to name and come to terms with our differences

Talanoa Oceania 2008: Mana, Vanua, Talanoa

Under the shadows of those needs, the Talanoa Oceania 2008 gathering will provide opportunities for presentations on three significant PI concepts: Mana, Vanua, Talanoa. These concepts have multiple meanings in the various language and island groups:

· Mana can mean sacred, magic, courage, power, transformation, creativity, healing, imagination, and so forth

· Vanua (fonua, fenua, whenua, etc) can mean land, womb, home, identity, roots, tradition, and so forth

· Talanoa can mean story, storytelling, conversation, orality, empty-talk, and so forth

Call for presentations:

Persons who are related (by birth and/or migration) to the South Seas are invited to propose presentations for the 2008 gathering. The presentations should address at least one of the five needs and at least one of the three concepts outlined above, and they may be offered from and/or address any of the areas of interest to PIs, such as:

§ art, handicraft & body-art

§ poetry, lyrics & rhythms

§ performance, dance & storytelling

§ Pacific, oceanic & indigenous studies

§ academic, theological & island disciplines

§ ministerial, cultural & ethnic praxis

§ and so forth

Presentations by Women and Second Gens are especially encouraged; all presenters are also urged to help PI communities respond to:

§ the challenges of global warming and our drifting generations

§ the realities of dispersion, diaspora and cultural confusions

To propose a presentation for the Talanoa Oceania 2008: Mana, Vanua, Talanoa gathering, please send the following information to Jione Havea {email: jhavea@csu.edu.au; Postal address: United Theological College, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta, NSW 2151, Australia; Fax: (+612) 9683-6617}:

1. Your full name, and the island group(s) to which you relate

2. Current email and mailing addresses (tin-can-mail is possible!)

3. Descriptive title of presentation (no more than 20 words)

4. Short description of presentation (no more than 300 words)

Deadline for proposals:

Jan 31, 2008 (pālangi time!)

Unsure of what to do:

If you are interested in participating in the 2008 gathering but are unsure with how you might make a contribution, please contact one of the persons listed below and we will talk with you about how you might present and participate at this event.

Date & venue:

September 29 – October 01, 2008

Centre for Ministry, 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta, NSW 2151, Australia

Next Talanoa Oceania: Aotearoa/New Zealand (date to be determined)

Contacts in the Southern Sea of Islands:

Fe‘iloakitau Tevi (fkt@wcc-coe.org)

Koila Olsson (arietakoilaolsson@yahoo.com)

Tevita K. Havea (tkhavea@ptc.ac.fj)

Samiuela L.V. Taufa (samtaufa@gmail.com)

Contacts in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Tevita Finau (tfinau@gmail.com)

Aso Saleupolu (asos@methodist.org.nz)

Fei Taule‘ale‘ausumai (fei_taulealea@xtra.co.nz)

Nasili Vaka‘uta (nvakauta@gmail.com)

Contacts in Australia

Seforosa Carroll (sefc@bigpond.com)

Vinnie Ravetali (vravetali62@yahoo.com)

Salesi Faupula (salesif@nsw.uca.org.au)

Filimone Oliveti (filimone7@optisnet.com.au)

Jione Havea (jhavea@csu.edu.au)

Katalina Tahaafe-Williams (katalinatw@nsw.uca.org.au)

Liva Tukutama (livasoffice@netspeed.com.au)

[1] When someone from the South Seas shares a talanoa (story), it is not just about sharing information and entertaining listeners. A talanoa also has to do with locating identity (in space and in relationships), with offering instructions (to listeners), with explaining struggles and journeys, with customs and rituals, with hope and more. Sharing of talanoa can also make storytellers and their people vulnerable, as if they have become telenoa (Samoan: naked), so it is a sharing that needs to be offered and received responsibly.