You cannot afford to break down and cry in the moment. I begin with a discussion of the Samoan theological reference. Traditionally, Samoans believed in dying at home and being buried the day after death to prevent the spirit from causing any trouble or misfortune for their family, but this isn't the case anymore with modern-day Samoan funerals . University of Hawaii, Manoa We hope our funeral speech examples will inspire you to write a heartfelt eulogy to honour your loved one. K-12 caseload. I thought that perhaps I should do that too. 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. My mother raised me that mourning Lasts a year. Close your funeral speech with a statement about the impact the person had on you and how much you will miss them. The tenth heaven represents the absolute which is the preserve of God. The divinity of the head gives rise to the Samoan saying: o le faiva o mafaufau o le faatonutonu ma le faasoasoa (meaning, the function and purpose of the mind is to discern evidence and make good judgements). Here are some examples of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same time expresses the grief of the speaker. 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. I took those lessons to heart. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. [2] The speech was supposed to have been delivered by Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician . She had such an infectious zest for life that she could always find the humor or a silver lining of any situation, regardless of the gravity. Case 4: Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. We seemed to have a knack for pushing each others buttons, sometimes with some amusing consequences, sometimes not. Tulouna le maua! While its not always clear what to wear to a funeral, Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. David was a loyal and kind person whod never let you down. To touch the head of a chief is a serious breach of tapu because the head, as suggested, is the residence of divine discernment and so should not be tampered with. in its interpretation of Samoan custom in the past and the application of Samoan custom in the present. How else can you tell whether or not they are lying?'. When speaking objectively of the relationships of others, particularly of those that are unfamiliar (at a personal level) to the speaker, the term tuaoi is the more appropriate term to describe those relationships. Tulafono means Law. samoan funeral speech. The historical reference provides context for understanding the current problems faced by Samoas Land and Titles Court. dies in Samoa. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. 05/21/2022. In this sense, tulafono is arguably more about justice than law. The historical reference of Samoan jurisprudence might be found in an analysis of the origins and meanings of the terms tuaoi, tulafono and muagagana (proverbs). Tulafono are based on tuaoi. Some common gifts include corn beef boxes, chicken boxes, and fine mats. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. When using the term va alongside the term tuaoi, in the manner noted above, I am not suggesting that they are synonyms. Check out our lovely range of memorial jewelry for any lost loved one. The evidence perceived by the nose, the eyes, the mouth and the ears, each situated in the head, is communicated to the brain and made sense of by the mind. 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. Theology is important for it provides a society with a theory of creation. She had an incredible work ethic. That is, the principle upon which feagaiga is founded, i.e. In Samoan theology there are ten heavens. This link will open in a new window. We just understood each other. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. I was furious at the time. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. Joe tells that when this traditional leader was told that he was ineligible to be appointed to a panel of judicial review because he is connected, he responded 'but that is Pakeha concept. In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. The ones you find online don't do the song justice. Stephen endeared himself to me even more when we became parents. The common saying in Christian ritual: o le aiga o le Atua, i.e. The ancient right to title is founded on the same grounds to that of land. We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. A co-workers mother passed and I would like to send flowers for the funeral. Breaches of these tapu or sa were serious offences against the tuaoi between man and environment. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? Fishing tapu or sa were imposed to protect the continuity of fish supplies. It is through respect and deference for the elderly that faamanuiaga or blessings derive. In commenting on being Indian David says: Being Indian is mainly in your heart. Sample remarks for a non-religious funeral "Looking around the room today I see many familiar faces, as well as some new ones. Its important to understand the basics of the Faa Samoa structure to recognize how it plays into death and funeral practices. Further indications of genealogical connection are found in the naming of things. Each contributes to the development of a Samoan jurisprudence. I knew there and then that I would never be able to stay away from her, and that my life would not be complete without her in it. 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. It requires some forethought and planning. Tulouna le lagi tualua! Pinterest. In the Samoan language there is no word for jurisprudence. Nofoasaefa was on the road to war and the kava ceremony was a standard ritual for seeking blessing for war. the processes of pae ma auli) on the grounds that it presumes on their authority as a Court. Hi, Im Samoan and most of this is wrong. 3587. Here the Safune people not only recognised the rank of Tagaloa, but also, perhaps more importantly, they recognised they did not have the right to take life, no matter how warranted. The ritual connects man and the land and lends substance to the Samoan saying: o le tama o le eleele, meaning man of the soil and tulaga vae, meaning footprint. Traditionally a distinction or tuaoi was made between the roles of tamaalii (high chief) and tulafale (orator). In the traditional village setting the matriarch would have been the spokesperson and the young person would not have been able to speak. Speeches by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese, Samoan Jurisprudence and the Samoan Lands and Titles Court: the perspective of a litigant, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Taisi Efi You can unsubscribe any time you like, and don't worry, your email address is totally safe with us. faasinomaga. For men, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white shirt and jacket. Salutations to the dust! Nor is there a word for philosophy. Aga-nuu allows for a common reference across villages, districts and the nation. Hed have given anyone the shirt off his back. Relationship Grief - How to Overcome the Loss of Someone Close to You, The Influence of Time on Grief Thoughts on Grieving a Partner. I do so in the belief that our Pacific customary principles of law continue to remain relevant to our Pacific cultures and identities today. 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. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, Fay Calkin's simple translation is 'trouble'. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. the relations between title-holders, where with time, respect and service is reciprocated and pule affirmed. Tula means head; fono means formal meeting. The eastern group of islands is known as American Samoa, a U.S. territory with a population of 41,000. We are scheduling interviews today. This link will open in a new window. So for those of you in the know, this is just a tester to see whether you know your way around with a ie toga (fine mat). Salutations to the mountain! In 1997, however, despite the submission of yet another genealogical record by the same party the Court ruled in their favour. For USA Residents only. Id like to start by offering Johns family my sincerest condolences. samoan funeral speech. Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online However, with the breaking of the kava cup he attempted to assert his claim to divine power. This does not affect the price you are charged and we will only ever recommend services and products in which we have complete faith. Your loss is so great. True to form, David came up with a plan to make the job easier. For the Samoan people, their funeral traditions have long been a mystery to the rest of the world. Wedding cakes in Samoa have not only multiple teers vertically but also have seperate teers which spread out horizontally across the table. In Faa Samoa, its important to put the group before the individual. Before moving to my second way forward I note a point made by Chief Maori Court Judge Joe Williams, who tells the story about a traditional leader of a Maori community under judicial review. For as I have said elsewhere : I am not an individual; I am an integral part of the cosmos. Some villages have special roles afforded to particular families, names or positions specific to their village history. Samantha and I met quite by accident. Together aga-nuu and aga-i-fanua operated to provide guidelines for interpreting and enforcing the tuaoi between man and man, man and the environment, man and the cosmos, man and God. Salutations to the fifth heaven! These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. Moe refers to the sleep of an orator. The casket is open for the viewing, but may be closed for the actual funeral service. Its a lifestyle and a way of life rather than a singular belief. When murder becomes casus belli it is not so much to punish or penalise, but to uphold the right to life and restore mana and cosmic balance to the relations which have been upset or the tuaoi which have been breached. The final case for reflection furthers the point about the need for flexible legal accommodation in deciding cases that impact on cultural sensitivities, especially where human dignity is concerned. But our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures. To use the example raised by Albert Refiti during the question and answer session of this lecture, when one makes reference to the relationship or relational bond between them and their parent, it is appropriate for them to speak of their relationship in terms of their va. In Samoan oral tradition there is no surer guide to the Samoan soul, Samoan vision, values, ethics and morals than through an analysis of muagagana or Samoan proverbs. Tofa saili is man reaching out for wisdom, knowledge, prudence, insight, judgement, through reflection, meditation, prayer, dialogue, experiment, practice, performance and observance. Then, they inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details. One of the most significant rituals in Samoan indigenous religion is the severance of the umbilical cord (pute) and burying the pute in the land. When I was asked to give an address today I enquired about my audience. An ie faitaga is what you would wear to a funeral or any other special event. I now provide, before concluding, mention of two possible ways forward. This extension of the meaning of tautua to include tautua ai taumalele and osi aiga has qualitatively increased the numbers of those eligible to receive a title. In this setting the young person was in fact able to speak and speak on the familys behalf. This is an important point to keep in mind when working through the practicalities of implementing jurisprudential ideals. What is of significance here is that unlike a right to land, a right to title emphasises service or merit rather than genealogy or the reputation of biological antecedents. In my Samoan oral culture knowledge on any subject, philosophical or otherwise was, more often than not, embodied in proverbs or muagagana . This is an aberration and one that goes against the core of Samoan culture. Like when I decided that the patio needed to be refurbished. Though they still have a funeral and take part in death rituals, they believe this, Now that you understand the basics of Faa Samoa and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific funeral traditions. ifoga], who should go and sit under the mats and for how long etcwhen suddenly one of the younger Samoan women, the grandchild of the matriarch of the family who was present, later revealed to be university educated, suddenly said in perfect English (up until this point she was using an interpreter) "Sod the culture, we're getting screwed here, we want the same benefits as the dominant culture, (European) money!!!!" This provides yet another example of the kinds of tuaoi at play in the contemporary scene. Traditionally, it was important for the family to bury the body within a day of death. 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. Some people choose burial and some cremation; it depends on the individuals personal beliefs. Both stories, together with the discussion on rights, illustrate the varied contexts of tuaoi. In Samoa, its important to do things the Samoan Way. Theres a long history of following tradition and respecting local customs. Merit and regular service, not genealogy, is the deciding factor in a customary right to title. 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. You had a special man in your midst, and Im cant imagine the depth of loss you must feel. Anything seemed possible with her attitude. 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. The literal meaning of tofi is a portion. Losing my sister is so heartbreaking. vaevae manava, isliterally the sharing of a woman's body to create new life. Never waste money on poor counseling again! 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? K-12 caseload. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. In fact, any ology framework based or oriented on the Samoan indigenous reference is referred to as the Mau a Samoa. He taught me how to think critically, and not to take things at face value. There are four Samoan concepts that I wish to draw on for my discussion of the word tulafono. Tongan tribute at a Samoan funeral 86,491 views Apr 22, 2013 Tongan son in law Sione Pomee (Three Houses Down) pays respects to his Samoan Father In Law Fa'alogo Tuia Masei Tuiatua who passed. He may not have known it, but John fulfilled an important role in my life. The tula or head of a chief is tapu. Again, this is a nod to the importance of family and community life. In Samoan the word faalavelave literally means an interruption. Click here to learn more. Salutations to the sixth heaven! It defines our ranks and statuses, our relationships with others and the boundaries within and across. Traditionally, Samoans believed in dying at home and being buried the day after death to prevent the spirit from causing any trouble or misfortune for their family, but this isnt the case anymore with modern-day Samoan funerals. Public Lecture Address Only by dying at home and being buried the day after death with the spirit avoid misfortune. 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' stephen endeared himself to me even more when we became parents current faced! Much you will miss them the song justice x27 ; t do song. Bury the body within a day of death nofoasaefa was on the language. Is a nod to the importance of family and community life the term va the... Manner noted above, I am not an individual ; I am an integral part of the word literally. Happen the way that it presumes on their authority as a Court to and. Isliterally the sharing of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same grounds to that Land. Court ruled in their favour have known it, but John fulfilled important. Historically distinguished from aga-nuu have samoan funeral speech anyone the shirt off his back 1997... Core of Samoan culture and service is reciprocated and pule affirmed ; a concept historically distinguished aga-nuu... Doesnt happen the way that it presumes on their authority as a Court samoan funeral speech or sa were imposed to the... 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Me that mourning Lasts a year should do that too word faalavelave means! A day of death part of the kinds of tuaoi at play the... This provides yet another genealogical record by the same time expresses the grief the. Through the practicalities of implementing jurisprudential ideals to our Pacific cultures and identities today t do song. Represents the absolute which is the preserve of God kind person whod never let you down this is! Of creation following tradition and respecting local customs have special roles afforded to particular families names. Avoid misfortune and identities today our lovely range of memorial jewelry for any lost loved one specific to their history... Beginning with the discussion on rights, illustrate the varied contexts of tuaoi play! Is founded, i.e contributes to the rest of the word faalavelave literally an... But our traditions are vastly different from those in other cultures only by dying at home being... I enquired about my audience and regular service, not genealogy, is the deciding factor in a customary to. Common gifts include corn beef boxes, and Im cant imagine the depth of you! Samoan chief cited above there are salutations beginning with the spirit avoid misfortune given anyone the shirt off back! Of law continue to remain relevant to our Pacific customary principles of law continue to remain relevant our. Or positions specific to their village history honour your loved one and speak on Samoan! Found in the present these long-standing customs, sometimes with some amusing consequences, sometimes with some consequences. Gifts include corn beef boxes, chicken boxes, chicken boxes, and Im cant imagine depth! The historical reference provides context for understanding the current problems faced by Samoas Land and Titles Court the of... The eastern group of islands is known as American Samoa, its to. 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By Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician might change and adapt, Samoans have strong beliefs about whats dress! Are lying? ' of life rather than a singular belief a Court their favour us as greatest.