A collaboration between two divisions at the American Samoan Community College (ASCC) has resulted in a new educational resource that adds a dimension of fun to the learning process. The ASCC Samoan Studies Institute (SSI) and Teacher Education Department (TED) have pooled their resources to create "Samoa Anamua, Volume 1", a coloring book for youngsters which also tells the story of how the Samoans of olden days once thrived through their mastery of natural resources.

The 19 page book, intended as the first in a series, features illustrations by SSI cultural artist Patrick Mafoe, along with English text by archaeology instructor Dr. David Addison and Samoan text by SSI Director Okenaisa Fauolo-Manila. The images show how Samoans got their food, clothing, shelter and much more from nature's raw materials. "Our ancestors knew how to live in harmony with their environment," said Fauolo-Manila, "and they also developed highly advanced skills as farmers, builders, warriors, craftsmen and artists using nothing more than what grew around them. Younger generations may not be able to even imagine the kind of knowledge and abilities traditional Samoans possessed, and we feel that this publication celebrates these characteristics."

Fauolo-Manila, Addison and Mafoe developed the coloring book as a community outreach and education component of a highly competitive National Preservation Council Technology Training grant awarded to the SSI in March 2009. The TED provided funding for the printing of this first volume, and plans to use "Samoa Anamua" as a resource for its Social Studies practicum. TED instructor Sonny Leomiti has begun developing lesson plans so that the coloring book can fit into a broader curriculum.

"It touches several content areas such as Samoan language, English, geography, history, Samoan culture, and social studies, so our Teacher Education students can use the coloring book when they work with youngsters," said TED chairperson Dr. Lina Galea'i Scanlan. TED currently has a program in place with Pava'ia'i Elementary School to test the book and lesson plans in the 3rd grade classes next month. Fauolo-Manila added that, depending on the response to this first volume, the SSI hopes to produce further coloring books in the series. "T he subjects will change as we go along," she said, "and we would like to focus on other disciplines like fine arts, language, and science".

Besides funding the publication of "Samoa Anamua", the NPCTT project at ASCC takes students to farms for training on archaeological site recording and mapping. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of "Samoa Anamua" can inquire with the SSI, who have a limited number of copies available for purchase. To reach them, call the ASCC switchboard at 699-9155 and ask for the Samoan Studies Institute.