Siva afi is an important cultural practice for Sāmoan people, not just in Sāmoa but here in Aotearoa as well. The MCs of the event talked about how amazing it was to have young people participating and carrying on the practice of fire-knife dancing. I was very grateful to be able to watch and learn!
Kapa haka is also an important cultural practice of the Māori people here in Aotearoa. Just like with hula, kapa haka tell stories through songs, dances, and chants. It is a way for Māori people to express their cultural pride and to remember their genealogies and the deeds of their ancestors. What are the ways that you tell stories?
Siva afi is an important cultural practice of the Sāmoan people, who are indigenous to Sāmoa, and kapa haka is an important cultural practice of the Māori people, who are indigenous to Aotearoa. Even though I have never seen these arts practiced before, I know that the performers are telling moʻolelo/pūrākau (stories) with their dances and songs. Indigenous peoples throughout the world have always remained strongly connected to the ʻāina/whenua (land) and their environments through stories. Just like in Hawaiʻi, where we have Wākea and Papahānaumokuākea, the Māori people here and the Sāmoan people have their own versions of the Sky Father and the Earth Mother who are their ancestors. So, when we tell stories about our ancestors, we are telling stories about our environment too.
