The Centre for Samoan Studies head has stressed the importance of archival material, saying failure to protect historical records could see foreign ideals overwhelm Samoans.

Delivering the keynote address at the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) on Monday morning, the National University of Samoa’s Centre for Samoan Studies Director, Ta'iao Dr. Matiu Matavai Tautunu told guests who gathered at the Ministry that it is important to store and protect information relating to Samoa’s history as they are important to the State.

"There is information in the national archives that dates back to 1722 and therein also lies information about the journey of Samoa through the years," he told the gathering. 

Important historical events such as the arrival of the first missionary in Samoa in 1830; the arrival of the foreign powers; and the struggle leading up to Samoa's independence in 1962 had records in the archives which Ta'iao said needed to be preserved.

"It is my hope that there is information inside the archives to tell us about our first fale fono a Samoa (parliament house), the old court house, the first Samoa Ne'i Galo building, the first Catholic church were Iosefo turned to for support from the church to help Samoans fight for their independence from foreign powers," he added.

The N.U.S. academic’s address at the M.E.S.C. was part of a program that the Ministry hosted to mark International Archives Day with the discussions revolving around the theme “Archives Are You.”

According to the Centre for Samoan Studies Director, without the preservation of archival material to maintain and protect the history of Samoa, “other people's thoughts and ideals will dominate those of the Samoans”. 

"There are challenges to what we know and what we are storing to pass onto the next generation, the first books written by the palagis are still part of our curriculum,” he said in his speech.

“Those books were first translated by the late Aiono Dr. Fanaafi Le Tagaloa and it is okay. “But I think we should also now write our own history in our language so that Samoan voices are telling Samoan significant stories.

"I realise also that a lot of historical books only as far back as the 1830s and then there is Kramer's book which was written in 1902. 

“We seem to have lost information before that as if to say that what our people did before the missionaries was not good or important.

"But if we go back further, we will recognise that we would have lived just as we do today, with more vitality of our cultures and our language.”

Ta'iao then asked whether the archives housed all the information for most of the historical buildings that were taken down. 

However, according to the A.C.E.O for Samoa’s National Archives, Fanuaea Amela Silipa only some information was obtained by their office on historical buildings that were demolished by the previous governments. 

"Not all the buildings that have been removed have information inside the archives,” the official said. 

“The old parliament house, the court house and the Samoa Ne'i Galo building are there but that is only a few compared to what was lost.”

The Minister for Education Sports and Culture, Seu'ula Ioane Tua'au gave the opening remarks for the occasion. 

He highlighted how Samoa has joined many countries in the world who are celebrating the importance of archival materials, stories about who and what each country fellow holds dear, as well as memories of the past. 

The Minister then made reference to the work of the staff led by the Ministry and in particular the A.C.E.O of the National Archives and her staff.