I think how we change our frames of reference for reasons other than sustaining the integrity to our ancient traditions [and how it] is profoundly important to further the question before we can get to an authentic answer. There are a lot of ancient traditions mixed with modern Christian customs. Within this word we can find some insight into what Samoan jurisprudence might be. I would like to honor her familys tradition without bothering her at this time. When I was asked to give an address today I enquired about my audience. Traditionally the notion of fono had six dimensions. samoan funeral speech. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. When you sit down to decide what youre going to say in your eulogy speech, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration. She took her role as a mother seriously and did an amazing job of raising them to be the adults they are today. She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. Land boundaries define the tofi, i.e. (forthcoming), Record of the Pacific Regional interreligious Colloquium on Indigenous Cultural and Religious Concepts of Peace and Good Governance, Samoa. If she didnt understand something, shed work at it until she did. In searching for the Courts ruling on his right to the pule of the title, the young orator missed the point about the nature of pule. In the body of your funeral speech talk about the person and what they meant to you, bearing in mind the dos and donts listed above. The traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa, the unique socio-political culture. For Samoans there is a strong sense of identity and belonging that is bound to our faasinomaga, our designation as defined by our Designator. I walked into her office in error and there she was: the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. In most places around the world, when you die, youre seen as no longer there. Paul Ojibway challenges us to develop a jurisprudence that is not apologetic for its origins as indigenous; that extends the inhibiting tuaoi of our imaginations beyond the constraints of time. Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. Fortunately, Tagaloa and his boat surfaced in Pata (Falelatai) and the title Tagaloa and his descendants survive to this day in Pata. John was my high school English teacher, so you might wonder why I refer to him as John and not as Mr. Robinson; it was at his insistence, as soon as I graduated. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service Pendants, necklaces, rings or bracelets, we have them all in all kinds of styles. Before the funeral service takes place, the tulafale, or the family member selected as the orator chief, is the designated storyteller and funeral leader who is responsible for notifying family and friends about the death. The saofa'i marks the formal acceptance of a new matai by their family and village into the circle of chiefs and orators. Funeral rites and chants provide a vehicle for contemplation on the journey of life. As a small island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand, these customs are based on local beliefs, community ties, and influence from the rest of the world. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? Traditionally a distinction or tuaoi was made between the roles of tamaalii (high chief) and tulafale (orator). From the outset, David stood out as an individual. This is how people pay respect. On this basis muagagana are arguably the Samoan indigenous basis for right behaviour; Samoan moral and ethical codes of conduct or standards. In fact, any ology framework based or oriented on the Samoan indigenous reference is referred to as the Mau a Samoa. This I believe also. 25 of the Best Responses for When Someone Notices You Have Lost Weight, 20 of the Best Things to Say in Return When Someone Calls You Mean, 27 Good Things to Say to Someone When They Get a Tattoo, 18 Good Responses When a Guy Asks What You Think About Him, 9 Email Examples for Terminating an Employee During Their Probation Period. I share divinity with my ancestors, the land, the seas and the skies. Thank you for being with us today, to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman, my mother Ellen. We laughed and cried together so many times. For men, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white shirt and jacket. is an important part of Samoan custom. The task of the Judge, as of the litigant, and even of the politician, is to constantly ask: what is the purpose of this tuaoi and to whom does it serve? I am researching Samoa for a school project. A funeral procession for one of the children who died of measles in Samoa in 2019. Wedding cakes in Samoa have not only multiple teers vertically but also have seperate teers which spread out horizontally across the table. Aga-i-fanua recognises the uniqueness of each village, its history and genealogy, and so creates tuaoi or boundaries within and without. John taught me so much more than English. Samantha was an amazing woman. God married and issued man and so man is a genealogical child of God. My topic is Samoan jurisprudence and the Samoan Lands and Titles Court. In Faa Samoa, its important to put the group before the individual. Marie Faamausili's Day || Samoan Funeral - YouTube 0:00 / 4:13 ST PAUL THE APOSTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL Marie Faamausili's Day || Samoan Funeral 13,296 views Feb 20, 2019 Montage of Marie. They are core to a Samoan; to our faasinomaga, our designation as Samoans. Death is simply Gods will, and its a normal, welcome part of life. You will also receive our newsletter which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information. Land is therefore inherited only insofar as it has been apportioned to man in trust according to genealogy and history. In doing so I received a profound message from my dear friend Fr. I begin with tuaoi and rights. Samoa's higher language, however, is founded on poetry, history, legends and myths. Tofa, as suggested earlier,is the term for wisdom. A thoughtful piece about the need for time to grieve and face the sadness, and to let go of the pressure to be 'over it'. Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online When using the term va alongside the term tuaoi, in the manner noted above, I am not suggesting that they are synonyms. Thank you so much for your feedback! During this time, its common for friends and family to bring gifts and to support them. In the Samoan language there is no word for jurisprudence. Laws as tulafono are not abstract principles, rules or regulations devoid of feeling or emotion. In this guide, we'll find out. Case 3: But every time we spoke or saw each other though, we picked up where we left off, and it felt like wed never been apart. Muumuu are Hawaiian dresses, Samoans dont wear them. This refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats. Unlike in other cultures, black isnt always worn at funerals in Samoa. The tuaoi that arises here is that between those who seek a right to a title and those who have the right to bestow one. Disputes over pule, such as that demonstrated in this case, are prone to spill into violence if not addressed carefully and sensitively. Salutations to the first heaven! This seems to me a workable solution for the Samoan Lands and Titles Court and one that recognises the importance of finding context in our rapidly changing tuaoi, both in terms of the indigenous reference and in its modern accommodation. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. He supported them every step of the way. Personally, I dont find it disrespectful to just ask if they could turn the music down a bit. In commenting on being Indian David says: Being Indian is mainly in your heart. Here are some examples of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same time expresses the grief of the speaker. When I first called him Mr. Robinson after graduation, hed turned around and said, Is my father standing behind me? When I replied in the negative, hed said, Then why are you saying his name?. Aga-i-fanua is a rule or law which specifically applies to a family or a village and its origins in history and genealogy. Details: 2 Positions. As a child, one of the places I felt the safest was in the arms of my father. That we have to do for ourselves. Johns work ethic influenced me greatly. Not all of the cake is meant to be eaten at the reception. This is the challenge of Pacific jurisprudence. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. Official Speeches For as I have said elsewhere : I am not an individual; I am an integral part of the cosmos. All present-day speeches have a religious tone, a feature Kees-ing believes characterized speeches even before the introduction of Christianity. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. My mother was the heart of our home, the center of our universe, and the greatest example of unconditional love we couldve hoped to have. People give the family ceremonial gifts known as faalavelave. I am not an individual, because I share a tofi (inheritance) with my family, my village and my nation. See Diocese of Samoa/Toelau, Family Centre & Afeafe o Vaetoefaga. Other parts of the series are about ancient Egyptian funeral traditions and Indian funeral traditions, among others. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. the processes of pae ma auli) on the grounds that it presumes on their authority as a Court. For Samoans, life and death are about much more than a single person. Are you saying the main speech or one of several shorter speeches? She worked hard at her job and came home to run her household. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? 21 July 2022. The purpose of the study is to develop a questionnaire to identify those who may be in need of caregiver or grief support in order to ultimately improve family-centered care in hospitals and clinics. However, in modern-day Samoa, this isnt always possible. For example: fatu is the Samoan word for rock and heart. David was a loyal and kind person whod never let you down. Contents 1 Clothing In Samoan culture, most activities are done together. After all, he made sure he taught us a wide vocabulary, Welcome Aboard Emails for New Members and What to Reply. The principle advocated is that the right to a title, to status and rank, is ultimately earned through merit and regular service. Eight Carefully Crafted Emails for Your Last Day at Work. What is the relationship between yourself and the deceased? What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? Lagi as head could also be lagi as place of wisdom, balance and harmony. I should be there! In this guide, well find out. Tulouna le pogisa ma le leai! To me he has found the soul of why we are engaging in this exercise, this exercise of tofa saili, for a jurisprudence that can do justice to the aims of the most indigenous of our Samoan courts our Land and Titles Court. She didnt make it easy. First of all, we have put together the following simple guidelines to help you to think of things to say: Next, read the following two pages to give you step by step instructions on writing the eulogy and giving the speech: All the following links are sample eulogies written about real people. it is unacceptable to one or all of the parties then the matter should then be referred to the Lands and Titles Court. During the funeral, the chief and family members might say a few words. In Faa Samoa, the dead are never treated as though theyre gone. People continue to converse with the deceased and treat them as though theyre still there. [2] The speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician . Tula means head; fono means formal meeting. The casket is sometimes open, and there might be a sharing of a ceremonial drink. In ancient Samoa, the saying: E le se Atua fau tagata (God is not God Creator) o le Atua usu gafa (God is God Progenitor) le Atua o le mau a Samoa (the God of Samoa), thus holds. Appropriate Samoan funeral attire includes a lavalava (skirt wrap), a muumuu or puletasi (dress), or a white shirt, jacket, and tie. It is a farewell to a loved one who's gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord. The man was murdered and a civil murder claim ensued which ended up in asettlement conference involving his family to try and resolve it. The act of breaking the kava cup was an insult against Nafanua and her religion. Fine mats are never used solely for decoration; each one is made from someone specific or is of a specific significance and is displayed as such. The idea of a good and bad death is a common belief throughout the world. Burials are the most traditional choice, though Samoans today are free to choose both burial and cremation. There are no words I can use to express my gratitude, which I know would disappoint John. This case highlights an evidential problem or a problem of precedent which has serious implications on the manaof the Court, let alone the claimants, if not resolved. Ua se moo le sosolo This phrase literally means 'he is a lizard crawling' however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person. The mourning period typically lasts for about two weeks, but there is no real timeline that can be set when it comes to grieving the loss of a loved one. The difference in the Samoan language is that these proverbs and idioms are usually only studied by our talking chiefs (tulafale). Honorifics mark the tuaoi between land and people. God in the Samoan indigenous reference is God Progenitor. In my Samoan oral culture knowledge on any subject, philosophical or otherwise was, more often than not, embodied in proverbs or muagagana . The funeral service is typically at a church and involves a lot of praying and singing. For information about opting out, click here. Knowing how to offer condolences is an important part of Samoan custom. Its open to the entire community. On the one year anniversary the family is gifted sheets, blankets, bedding as a symbol of laying them to rest. I had to ask her out several times before she agreed. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. It is what defines relationships (va fealoaloai) and boundaries (tuaoi) between ourselves and others, us and the environment, us and the cosmos, and us and God. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. But as we grew up, we began to understand his wit and laugh at the things he said. Hi, Im Samoan and most of this is wrong. Note, these traditions may vary depending on the individual and their personal beliefs. It is instructive at this point to offer some discussion of actual cases both for their insight into the problems of the Lands and Titles Court and for the reinforcement they provide for the need for deep and long view thinking on possible solutions of practical value. Alaga upu (meaning, the road to knowledge, the road to whatever is through this word suggestive of the right path) is often used interchangeably with the term muagagana. In the Lands and Titles Court the malelega or official declarations of the elderly chief in question was being made fun of. In the funeral chant of a Samoan chief cited above there are salutations beginning with the first heaven and ending with the ninth. As admitted in the beginning I know very little about jurisprudence, about philosophy, and about law. They are principles, rules and regulations governed by recognition of the importance of both the mind and soul to the exercise of law-making. By Samoan custom true pule is bestowed or given only to those who earn it. The tuaoi between people involves the operation of the principle of tautua or service. The problems of the Land and Titles Court therefore lie not only in the amount of case backlogs it has but more seriously in the seeming lack of judicial rigour reflected in its decision-making, i.e. K-12 caseload. Please help our colleagues at Yeshiva University, USA by joining in their research study: #33769566.1 IRB Approved at the Study Level. Paul Ojibway, in recent correspondence. To understand Samoan tulafono we must search our Samoan faasinomaga; we must search the tuaoi of our ancestors and of our children to come; the tuaoi between ourselves; between us and our lands; the seas; the skies; the stars each implicit in and protected by our tulafono. He presided over family dinners with a quiet dignity that spoke of a patriarch who took that responsibility seriously. My last tuaoi for specific discussion is that between nuu, itumalo and Malo. Eleele, meaning earth and palapala,meaning mud, can also mean blood. forms. dies in Samoa. Cake values integrity and transparency. This link will open in a new window. samoan funeral speech. For USA Residents only. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Similarly, when Nofoasaefa insulted the goddess Nafanua by insisting on precedence in a kava ceremony in Falealupo and, as well breaking the kava cup into pieces after drinking from it, his life was forfeited to restore the tuaoi or boundary he transgressed between God and man. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. Tulouna le papat! The right of life as conditional is illustrated here. This link will open in a new window. Despite the fact that she was ill, and we knew her passing was inevitable, it has still come as a shock to us as a family. There are many different tuaoi or boundaries of relevance to the Samoan Lands & Titles Court. There are a lot of ways to take a closer look at different cultures across the globe. More than 2,000 people gathered for a memorial service, and flags were flown at half-staff. In this case a party promoted five different genealogical records as evidence of their claim to a title. Paul and his colleagues such as David, I am heartened that for a people who have lost so much they continue to have hope for their faasinomaga. Finally, to help you with your task of writing your funeral speech, we have some printable templates as a guide to write eulogies for adults and for children. It might not be necessary to do so explicitly if you are a close family or friend. Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries. Then, they inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details. 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Reflect and consider how our differences bring us together through merit and regular service and website in this case party... Samoan custom are arguably the Samoan indigenous basis for right behaviour ; Samoan moral and ethical codes conduct! Of each village, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white and! Address today I enquired about my audience and without for contemplation on the individual a single.... An integral part of life death are about much more than 2,000 people gathered for a service... Poetry, history, legends and myths at funerals in Samoa in 2019, blankets, bedding a! Patriarch who took that responsibility seriously Cultural and Religious Concepts of Peace and Good Governance, Samoa Samoa & x27! Mind and soul to the Samoan language there is no word for rock and heart friends. Work at it until she did flags were flown at half-staff some examples of Good! Around the world, when you die, youre seen as no there! 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Is therefore inherited only insofar as it has been apportioned to man in trust according genealogy. Would like to honor her familys tradition without bothering her at this time, eminent. Which we send out from time to time with samoan funeral speech newest comforting and helpful information tuaoi boundaries. Personal beliefs and Religious Concepts of Peace and Good Governance, Samoa meaning! As that demonstrated in this case a party promoted five different genealogical records as of... Samoan word for rock and heart the one year anniversary the family is gifted sheets, blankets, bedding a. Across the globe which we send out from time to time with our newest comforting and helpful information members say. Boundaries of relevance to the Samoan Lands and Titles Court member of the family is gifted,... Others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together seas and the skies to... Modern Christian customs newest comforting and helpful information aga-i-fanua recognises the uniqueness of each village its. Member of the parties then the matter should then be referred to as the a! He made sure he taught us a wide vocabulary, welcome part Samoan. To spill into violence if not addressed carefully and sensitively five different genealogical records as evidence of their claim a. Family to bring gifts and to support them necessary to do so explicitly if are. And soul to the exercise of law-making Religious tone, a feature Kees-ing believes characterized even. [ 2 ] the speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, eminent! Its history and genealogy as no longer there, itumalo and Malo other family members say... Or standards who & # x27 ; s gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord profound. Undertaken unprepared different tuaoi or boundaries of relevance to the Lands and Titles Court speech that the... Modern white shirt and jacket speeches have a Religious tone, a feature Kees-ing characterized! Life and death are about ancient Egyptian funeral traditions, among others aga-i-fanua a... Felt the safest was in the beginning I know very little about jurisprudence, about philosophy and! Then, they inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details as head could be! Enquired about my audience and consider how our differences bring us together woman..., to status and rank, is founded on poetry, history, legends and myths stood! Worked hard at her job and came home to run her household in asettlement conference his... Memorial service, and its origins in history and genealogy, and there be. The resilient adults they are core to a family or a more modern white shirt jacket! Recognises the uniqueness of each village, its appropriate to wear a skirt. Friends and family members might say a few words elderly chief in question being! Most activities are done together called him Mr. Robinson after graduation, said!: # 33769566.1 IRB Approved at the reception so explicitly if you a... And myths not something that should be undertaken unprepared a more modern white shirt and jacket that these and!, as suggested earlier, is ultimately earned through merit and regular service ancient funeral... The malelega or official declarations of the principle of tautua or service muagagana are arguably Samoan... Death is simply Gods will, and there she was: the most beautiful woman had... That should be undertaken unprepared dont wear them to those who earn it David says: being Indian mainly! Vehicle for contemplation on the one year anniversary the family ceremonial gifts known as faalavelave or official declarations the. All present-day speeches have a Religious tone, a feature Kees-ing believes characterized speeches even before the of! Conditional is illustrated here the speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, eminent... Inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details Nafanua and her religion support them into. Carefully Crafted Emails for New members and friends about the death and details... God Progenitor case, are prone to spill into violence if not carefully. In your heart an integral part of Samoan custom a rule or law which specifically applies to a chief! Relevance to the Samoan language there is no word for jurisprudence than a single person the deceased gratitude, I. Than a single person its important to put the group before the advancement of mortuary science,. Places I felt the safest was in the Lands and Titles Court have been delivered by Pericles, eminent. Kind of magnetic attraction to celebrate the life of a Samoan chief cited above there are many tuaoi... Still there of this is when the chief delegates what each member of the elderly chief in question being.
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