Dahlia Malaeulu

Teine Samoa Dahlia Malaeulu

Teine SÄmoa means SÄmoan girl. It's a label that carries with it an unspoken duty to obey, serve and respect your family and SÄmoan culture. But who can be teine SÄmoa? When should you be teine SÄmoa? And how can you be teine SÄmoa outside of SÄmoa?Lani is an afakasi, and is unsure of her SÄmoan heritage and what being SÄmoan even means. But one thing she knows for sure is that she's afraid of Vai and the 'Real SÄmoans'. Masina, the free-spirited daughter of a Church Minister, is bound by parental expectations and struggling to fulfill the destiny set by her parents. Teuila is the good Islander girl and proud teine SÄmoa who realises she doesn't want to be a 'switcher' anymore. How will these junior high school students learn to be, understand and fulfill their obligations as Teine SÄmoa, living in New Zealand? Teine SÄmoa is a journey of cultural identity and discovery for four junior high school students, their families, their teachers and, most importantly, anyone who has ever faced the challenges of being a teine SÄmoa. Now includes study questions for students and The Teine SÄmoa Project - A space created for teine SÄmoa to share their real life stories. Stories that reflect us and help others understand us, so that together, we can better support our tamaiti to succeed as proud teine and tama SÄmoa.***The Teine SÄmoa Project Contributing Authors - Telesia Tanoai, Trinity Tauaneai, Rebecca Sa'u, Akenese McCarthy, Sarah McLeod-Venu, Angela Milovale, Tuto'atasi Vailalo, Makerita Feite Tago, Eleanor McLeod, Trisha Daniels-Sopoaga, Vaia'ua'u Pilitati, Sinapi Taeao, Nila Uili, Niusila Faamantu-Eteuati. ***Dahlia Malaeulu is a New Zealand-born SÄmoan who is a passionate educator at heart. She is the author of the 'Mila's My Gagana' series, and wants to enable tamaiti to confidently and proudly succeed as Pasifika. Dahlia is working towards creating accessible quality Pasifika stories and resources that reflect Pasifika values, languages, cultures and - most importantly - our tamaiti.