Chanel College uses culture to promote identity

By Anina Kazaz 22 September 2018, 12:00AM

The St. Peter Chanel College in Moamoa held their cultural day yesterday and used the occasion to promote identity and values through Samoan culture.

The performances were led by students comprising four groups, which each had 30 students from Years 9-13, and were marked by the colours yellow, blue, red and green. 

The students’ performances were grouped under four different categories and comprised of the ava ceremony, lauga, weaving handicraft and fiafia (Mauluulu, Sasa and Taualuga). The groups Salamasina (yellow), Nafanua (blue), Taema (red) and Tilafaiga (green) were named this year after famous females, compared to competitions in previous years where only male names were used.

According to the college’s principal, Father Brian Sigere, the names of the groups were deliberately chosen.

He reiterated the importance of identity through culture, especially for the young people of Samoa.

“I think it’s more important for the kids because culture is identity and I think they identified their Samoan being and that’s the beauty of it,” he said. 

Father Brian did not only highlight the important link between identity and culture, but touched on “pride” and how it is connected to cultural practices. 

“You can see the pride in their preparation and the customs it’s all made by themselves, they met all the expenses, which is because of the identity they have in culture, which is able to bring this effort out of them.

“To be proud to be Samoan apart from identity it’s many influences coming in that they have some kind of understanding of perceiving and knowledge of Samoan history as well,” he added. 

The cultural day is an annual event at the college and was well attended yesterday by family and friends.

By Anina Kazaz 22 September 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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