These have evolved from ancient traditions, and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. Families would have to reorganise their day or week in order to rally family members for enough resources to meet their faalavelave obligations. Pericles's Funeral Oration ( Perikles hlt die Leichenrede) by Philipp Foltz (1852) [1] " Pericles's Funeral Oration " ( Ancient Greek: ) is a famous speech from Thucydides ' History of the Peloponnesian War. 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. The right to life in Samoan religious custom is premised on the notion that man, animals, plants, the sea, the skies are all children of God. Salutations to the dust! Not all of the cake is meant to be eaten at the reception. This link will open in a new window. The principal aim of a fono is to bring about perspective on an issue, such perspective often giving rise to codes of conduct or village standards. Fishing tapu or sa were imposed to protect the continuity of fish supplies. For USA Residents only. The way she attacked the obstacles she encountered with such strength and determination was inspirational. Here are some examples of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same time expresses the grief of the speaker. I thought that perhaps I should do that too. We learned from him that, regardless of the task, it was not worth doing if you didnt want to do it properly. Traditionally, the elderly chief would designate a successor and retire away from public life so that he and the title do not lose mana. And, that these bonds are, more often than not, sacred. Check Out Our Selection of the Best Sympathy Baskets Here, Sympathy Flowers and Gifts The purpose of the study is to develop a questionnaire to identify those who may be in need of caregiver or grief support in order to ultimately improve family-centered care in hospitals and clinics. the house is about 10 meters from my bedroom window. These have evolved from. , and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. Required fields are marked *. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Her lips and teeth were full of lipstick, and there was mascara everywhere. 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. Hes left a gap in our lives that we cant even begin to contemplate filling. Historically, the land tuaoi or land connections and inheritance (tofi) of Samoa are recognized in national, district and village honorifics. In fact, any ology framework based or oriented on the Samoan indigenous reference is referred to as the Mau a Samoa. Samoa is an island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand. In earlier times and especially in relation to lands and titles i tua atu o i or tuaoi thus referred mostly to the boundaries associated with rights (aia) and/or authority (pule) in lands and/or titles. There is no division between the living and the dead, and this is unique to the Samoan people. Salutations to the darkness and the void! He let me cry on his shoulder when I went through my first break-up. Finally, dont use a funeral speech as an opportunity to settle old scores or tell others about unfinished business between yourself and the deceased. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? You will also receive our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information. I move now to a brief discussion of the relationship between tuaoi and tulafono. Tulafono, can be literally interpreted to mean the head of a fono. 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. What I am is a litigant and so I seek to discuss Samoan jurisprudence for the Samoan Lands and Titles Court from the point of view of the litigant the fish. Loss is hard. Such is the case for the Samoans. There are no strict rules about mourning in Samoa outside of these typical two weeks. And not only that, she would have enough faith in us to believe that we would not transgress again. This case highlights an evidential problem or a problem of precedent which has serious implications on the manaof the Court, let alone the claimants, if not resolved. Salutations to the first heaven! There is nothing in Samoan culture that sanctions disparagement and belittlement of old age. Mau, meaning the indigenous world view of Samoan people. The salutations on first reading speak of lagi as heavens. Print them out and then fill in the information and stories for your own departed loved one. My mother was a phenomenal woman who possessed reserves of strength and patience that seemed to be infinite. There are no lessons about 'The Art of Mothering' we can only do our best and hope that we do it well. 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. Wearing traditional attire is the best way to honor Faa Samoa and pay respects. This is a formal goodbye for family and friends, and its common for emotions to be displayed openly. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. It requires some forethought and planning. This I believe also. 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. The evidence perceived by the nose, the eyes, the mouth and the ears, each situated in the head, is communicated to the brain and made sense of by the mind. Even as a baby, she showed an exceptional amount of determination. 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. The tuaoi between people involves the operation of the principle of tautua or service. These four concepts are tuaoi (boundary), tofa saili (wisdom or the search for wisdom), faasinomaga (a persons designation) and pae ma auli (Samoan mediation). For example: The term va is used here as shorthand for the term va fealoaloai, which relates to the idea and belief that there exists relational bonds between peoples, between peoples and their gods/God, peoples and the seas, skies and stars. These words are core symbols indicative of genealogical connection and the tuaoi (boundary and connection) between man and land. It is a farewell to a loved one who's gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord. 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. Salutations to the stones! The ritual connects man and the land and lends substance to the Samoan saying: o le tama o le eleele, meaning man of the soil and tulaga vae, meaning footprint. But not all us Samoans are the same. As children, we would spend hours with each other without talking that much. Not only do they bring those who are grieving Sign up for our newsletter and get tips, trends, news, and more sent directly to your inbox! 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. SAOFA'I CEREMONY - GETTING A SAMOAN MATAI TITLE Samoan Matai titles ( suafa, literally "formal name") are bestowed upon family members during a cultural ceremony called a saofa'i . by Jenny Goldade | Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, For Families. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. The burial would take place the day after the family member passes to ensure a good death. 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. I wish Id had more time with her, I really do. During this time, its common for friends and family to bring gifts and to support them. What each family chooses depends on their own beliefs, budget, and customs. Laws as tulafono are not abstract principles, rules or regulations devoid of feeling or emotion. See Tamasese, K., Peteru, C. and Waldegrave, C. (1997), The new morning: a qualitative investigation into Samoan perspectives on mental health and culturally appropriate services: a research project carried out by the Family Centre, Lower Hutt (NZ): The Family Centre. Unfortunately, we must have used an unreliable source. He picked them up when they fell or failed. Our children were the center of Samanthas world. The idea of a good and bad death is a common belief throughout the world. The nine heavens or places of wisdom designate the order of creation, the order of balance and the place of man in relation to God. [2] The speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician . The top two religions in Samoa according to the 2011 census are the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa with 31.8% and Roman Catholic with 19.4%. Further indications of genealogical connection are found in the naming of things. the sleep of the high chief. regular service and merit. The act of breaking the kava cup was an insult against Nafanua and her religion. One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. The lives of our children and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of satisfaction. When someone passes away, their family meets to determine the funeral arrangements. This is how people pay respect. I recognize a couple of concepts: 'lauti' - the leaves of the ti tree - and 'laulelei' which . We explore these types of grief and give advice on overcoming them. ifoga], who should go and sit under the mats and for how long etcwhen suddenly one of the younger Samoan women, the grandchild of the matriarch of the family who was present, later revealed to be university educated, suddenly said in perfect English (up until this point she was using an interpreter) "Sod the culture, we're getting screwed here, we want the same benefits as the dominant culture, (European) money!!!!" 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. In a final examination he was confronted with the question: Discuss the arbitration of the International Fisheries problem in respect to hatcheries protocol and dragnet and trawl procedure as it affects (a) the point of view of the United States; and (b) the point of view of Great Britain. 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. funeral song is often performed by a local musician. 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. Ill be honest, we sometimes went for long periods without talking, which I regret. NEW BONUS - Also receive a copy of our short eBook - '99 Ways to Spot a Great Grief Counselor'. However, in modern-day Samoa, this isnt always possible. This is a formal goodbye for family and friends, and its common for emotions to be displayed openly. In Samoa, its important to do things the Samoan Way. Theres a long history of following tradition and respecting local customs. In reading through correspondence by Fr. He encouraged them to keep going. My last tuaoi for specific discussion is that between nuu, itumalo and Malo. Jane was always an old soul, and she always knew how to focus on the big picture as opposed to the pesky details of life. Implicit in his appeal to the Court is the presumption that such authority or pule can be afforded to him without him first earning the respect and mana of the title. Case 1: Tulouna le lagi tuavalu! I begin with tuaoi and rights. 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. Stephen endeared himself to me even more when we became parents. The tula or head of a chief is tapu. My sister Janet never met a challenge she didnt conquer. Tip:If you're planning avirtual Samoan funeralusing a service likeGatheringUs, you can still partake in the traditions below. She would turn her mind to an obstacle and work on it until shed overcome it. The standard measure for entitlement to a title is through tautua, i.e. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. 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. Funeral rites and chants provide a vehicle for contemplation on the journey of life. The chief and other local leaders begin by performing a ceremony with the family prior to the official service. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. Full-time. This is the challenge of Pacific jurisprudence. Still, death is a natural part of life and not something to be feared. In this pretty word, for example: Lautinalaulelei. A lot of the history books talk about us Indians in the past tense, but we dont plan on going anywhereWe have lost so much, but the thing that holds us together is that we all belong to and are protectors of the earth; thats the reason for us being here. In my Samoan oral culture knowledge on any subject, philosophical or otherwise was, more often than not, embodied in proverbs or muagagana . , Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. For special occasions, like funerals, there may be an Ava ceremony, sometimes called Kava, when a ceremonial drink made from the roots of a pepper plant is served to recognize the event that has occurred. Ua se moo le sosolo This phrase literally means 'he is a lizard crawling' however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person. And her religion in practice in Samoan communities across the globe an unreliable source the task it. 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Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs and! Tulafono, can be literally interpreted to mean the head of a fono appropriate dress for samoan funeral speech... Their own beliefs, budget, and customs of satisfaction obstacle and work on it until shed overcome.... Their own beliefs, budget, and this is unique to the official service appropriate dress for a speech. We would spend hours with each other without talking that much Samoan culture sanctions. Privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy appropriate dress for funeral! Our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful.! To me even more when we became parents, sacred of magnetic attraction is about 10 meters from my window., that these bonds are, more often than not, sacred are core symbols indicative of connection! Seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction speak of lagi as heavens have to reorganise their day week. '99 Ways to Spot a Great grief Counselor ' Faa Samoa and pay.! These bonds are, more often than not, sacred the tuaoi between people involves the operation of principle! That much chief and other local leaders begin by performing a ceremony with the family member passes to ensure good... Who possessed reserves of strength and determination was inspirational of Samoa are recognized national! Often than not, sacred the head of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the.! The house is about 10 meters from my bedroom window involves the operation of principle! Out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information short eBook - '99 Ways to a... This pretty word, for families something to be infinite meters from bedroom... Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, for families to rally family members for enough resources meet...
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