OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – American Samoa
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Wednesday, September 12, 2007)
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Gov. Togiola speaks at Youth & Women conference,
‘you have the power’

(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today joined leaders of government, churches, community organizations, service providers and private citizens at the newly remodeled H. Rex Lee Auditorium in a conference that addressed social issues for women and youth of American Samoa.

Organized by Mrs. Leiataua Leuga Alaimoana Turner, director of the Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs, the conference entitled “Working Together is the Pride of Life” (Tiu i Latasi), brought together presenters from the American Samoa Coalition on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention, Crossroads Theatre for Youth and Mrs. Mary Ann Tulafono, chair of Ta’ita’itama (Underage Drinking Prevention Program).

In his speech [full speech text below] to an audience of 200, mostly women, Governor Togiola addressed the roles of mothers and women in Samoan life with encouragement to women to challenge (lu’i) and strike (tu’i).

“I do not mean it in a violent way. I am saying to you mothers to rise up and meet the challenge and strike, as in make it happen, and to make it happen for your family,” said Governor Togiola. “The word empower is just recent for us in Samoa because mothers and women have always been the boss.”

“In Samoan life, mothers and women offer great advice as well as carry both the pain and happiness of their husbands, children and the whole family,” said Governor Togiola. “It’s a difficult and demanding job that comes easy because of her true love in wanting the best for her family.”

Governor Togiola said the toughest job in the world is the role of a mother because mothers traditionally provide good counsel and comfort.

He said Samoan women have always had the power to be leaders within their families and communities and they should continue that role.

“Samoan social structure gives women in the village their salutation, the right to exist as part of that structure under what is called “Nu’u o Tama’ita’i” (Village of Women),” said Governor Togiola. “The Samoan social structure gives recognition to women, including women whose husbands have passed away and women who have not found husbands, yet. The role of women in society is nothing new; it has existed for centuries.”

Governor Togiola said these days there is discussion about empowerment as a modern concept. As in empowering women. He said Samoan women have always had the power.

“You don’t need any more power. You have the power. Use the power,” said Governor Togiola.

Governor Togiola said the First Lady sometimes corrects him on the pronunciation of words. He said this is one of the many duties of a wife.

“It’s the duty of my wife to correct my speech because if I don’t speak correctly, I will either be criticized or be ignored,” said Governor Togiola. “It may be minor to some, but to me it’s very significant in our house.”

Governor Togiola said women not only raise children and take care of their families, but they are also given the power to make rules that is beneficial to all women in the village and to create the foundation for advice given to the village council. He said that is the appropriate role of women in Samoan society.

“As American Samoa looks to the future, we ask ourselves what we can do as individuals for the community and for our home country. I often say this, and it’s the truth about Samoan culture. A child born in the Samoan culture is not born just to their parents. They are born to their whole family,” said Governor Togiola. “This is the reason why the matai calls everyone in his family, my son or my daughter because that’s the way the system looks at their children. That’s why the uncles call the brother's children ‘my children.’ That’s why the aunts call the brothers children ‘my children.’”

Governor Togiola said that is the way Samoan society used to operate in the village and family setting. They all look after each other. They don’t just look after their own children. They look after all the children of their brothers and sisters because they are, in their words “my children.”
 
“However, somewhere along the line, we lost touch of that. How wonderful it would be if we could go back and say to one another, ‘you’re my brother, you’re my sister, your children are my children,’” said Governor Togiola. “If we had stayed with that basic philosophy of Fa’asamoa, I doubt very much that we would see much problems with our children.” [Full text of the Governor’s speech is below.]

First Lady Mary Ann Tulafono also spoke on “Ta’ita’itama” and their efforts to raise the community awareness of the dangers of underage drinking and the success of her program depends on the community working together to fight it.

“Ta’ita’itama means lead your child. So, let’s Ta’ita’itama by example. Lead by Example. There is no better way to lead your child. Let’s be honest now. If they see their parents drink, they too will drink,” said Mrs. Tulafono. “So mothers, if you have beer in the fridge, throw them away. If you must have alcohol in the house for some acceptable reason, keep them away from your children. Keep the door locked.”

American Samoa Coalition on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention presenters included chairman – Rev. Viliamu Leilua of CCCAS Aua, Tali Peau and Mary Hunkin Time, a presentation that revealed alarming statistics of teen pregnancy in the Territory.

Crossroads Theatre for Youth performed the short play “Fumbled Future” - a teenage story where emotional demands affect future plans when a girlfriend gets pregnant.

The final half of the conference included discussions on teenage pregnancy, available services for youth and women through government, churches and community organizations.

FULL TEXT OF GOVERNOR’S SPEECH

Youth & Women’s Conference:
Working Together is the Pride of Life
(Tiu i Latasi) by Gov. Togiola Tulafono
September 12, 2007 – H. Rex Lee Auditorium
Utulei, American Samoa

In Samoan life, mothers and women offer great advice as well as carry both the pain and happiness of their husbands, children and the whole family. It’s a difficult and demanding job that comes easy because of her true love in wanting the best for her family. I want to encourage the roles of mothers and women in Samoan life to challenge (lu’i) and strike (tu’i).

I do not mean it in a violent way. I am saying to you mothers to rise up and meet the challenge and strike, as in make it happen, and to make it happen for your family. The word empower is just recent for us in Samoa because mothers and women have always been the boss.”

The toughest job in the world is the role of a mother because mothers traditionally provide good counsel and comfort.

Samoan women have always had the power to be leaders within their families and communities and they should continue that role.

Samoan social structure gives women in the village their salutation, the right to exist as part of that structure under what is called “Nu’u o tama’ita’i” (Village of women).

The Samoan social structure gives recognition to women, including women whose husbands have passed away and women who have not found husbands, yet.

The role of women in society is nothing new; it has existed for centuries.

We are talking about empowerment nowadays, as a modern concept, empowering women. But, Samoan women have always had the power. You don’t need any more power. You have the power. Use the power.

My wife sometimes corrects me on the pronunciations of words. This is one of the many duties of a wife.

It’s the duty of my wife to correct my speech because if I don’t speak correctly, I will either be criticized or be ignored. It may be minor to some, but to me it’s very significant in our house.

Women not only raise children and take care of their families they are also given the power to make rules that is beneficial to all women in the village and to create the foundation for advice given to the village council. That is the appropriate role of women in Samoan society.

As American Samoa looks to the future, we ask ourselves what we can do as individuals for the community and for our home country.

I often say this, and it’s the truth about Samoan culture. A child born in the Samoan culture is not born just to his or her parents. He or she is born to his or her family. This is the reason why the matai calls everyone in his family, my son or my daughter because that’s the way the system looks at their children. That’s why the uncles call the brother's children my children. That’s why the aunts calls the brothers children my children.

And that’s the way Samoan society used to operate in the village and family setting. They all look after each other. They don’t just look after their own children, they look after all the children of their brothers and sisters because they are, in their words “my children.”
 
However, he said somewhere along the line, we lost touch of that. How wonderful it would be if we could go back and say to one another, “you’re my brother, you’re my sister, your children are my children.” If we had stayed with that basic philosophy of Fa’asamoa, I doubt very much that we would see much problems with our children.

Soifua