Caption:ASCC students perform during this past Tuesday's "Samoa Education in Action" event at the College, organized by the Samoan Language and Culture Deparment. (Photo: J.Kneubuhl)

Even with its extensive history of events celebrating the culture of Samoa, this past Tuesday marked the first occasion when an academic division took sole responsibility for organizing a “Samoa Day” at the College. The Samoan Language and Culture Department took this opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills acquired by more than 400 students enrolled in its classes this semester with an event they titled, “Gagana ma Aga a Samoa/Fa’atinoga o A’oa’oga Samoa (Samoa Education in Action).” The event featured performances by every section of all seven classes in Samoan Language and Culture at the College, with presentations that covered a wide range of aspects of the Samoan experience. Some classes chose to stage elaborate ceremonies utilizing the proper protocol taught by their instructors, while others acted out traditional myths, legends, or even songs. Some groups brought their original ideas to the performance of familiar songs and dances, while others adapted not-so-familiar forms of expression such as “palagi” style drama performed in Samoan. With the endless variety of presentations during the afternoon-long event, the student performers made it clear they could express a Samoan perspective using any form at their disposal, traditional or otherwise.   

Tuesday’s triumphant event actually had its genesis in a frankly embarrassing incident recalled by ASCC President Dr. Adele Satele-Galea’i during her opening remarks. At an ava ceremony on campus some months previously, the students involved apparently neglected to observe the correct procedures and protocol, an omission noticed by many in audience, including Board of Higher Education Chairman HC Pemerika Tauiliili. “When his time came to speak at that ceremony, the Chairman made his disappointment very clear to the students involved, which embarrassed them a great deal,” said the ASCC President. “The students later apologized to the Chairman, and explained that they had had no choice but to organize the ceremony themselves on short notice, without the involvement of an advisor or teacher. Chairman Tauiliili has a great passion for the preservation of Samoan culture, and from the time of that incident, he and I started thinking of ways in which the College could more closely combine the academic side of Samoan studies with the performance side.”

Dr. Satele-Galea’i eventually conceived the idea of a “Samoa Day” featuring the students enrolled in the ASCC Samoan Language and Culture classes, and discussed the possibility with the chairman of that department, Seuamuli Mataio Fiamalua. With a late November target date in mind, the students in each of the department’s classes started planning and rehearsing their performances near the beginning of this semester, under the guidance of Fiamalua and his staff instructors Teleai Christian Ausage and Tamari Mulitalo-Cheung. As a result, the marathon presentation by the students this past Tuesday impressed not only a packed auditorium full of their peers, but also special guests Chairman Tauiliili, Board of Higher Education member HC Rev. Imo Tiapula, Dr. Satele-Galea’i, Vice President Dr. Seth Galea’i, and Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Irene Helsham. “I found the performances both educational and entertaining,” said the ASCC President, “and the students did an excellent job in preparing. We intend to make this an annual event.”

An ASCC student displays his expertise at the art of siapo during this past Tuesday's "Samoa Education in Action" event, organized by the College's Samoan Language and Culture Deparment. (Photo: J.Kneubuhl)

ASCC now offers an Associate of Arts degree in Samoan Language and Culture and now requires that each student complete at least six credits in Samoan studies for graduation. 

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