The Future is Brown, Brainy, Beautiful, Bi-cultural, Bilingual and Bold
Teherenui Koteka (she/her; Pukapuka, Manihiki, Mauke, Cook Islands) and Elisapeta (she/they; Aleisa, Samoa, Ngare Hauata, Ngāpuhi)
I am completing my Masters degree in which I am required to complete a week of industry work. Whilst in this placement I was posed with the question of “who am I bringing into the room?” My response has always been, “I am bringing my nieces, nephews and all the tamiriki of Te Ipukarea.” I choose to bring these youngins into any room I enter because I believe they have a lot to offer any person and community they interact with.
In Dr. Melani Anae’s article ’Towards a New Zealand Born Identity’ she states, “The Pacific Islands ‘community’ is a collection of distinctive groupings which have occasionally formed coalitions to pursue interests in common, a unified community.” We have always protected ourselves, our determination being a better life for those who come from us. Dr Anae cites a formula for reclamation of identity in pan-ethnic groups (against homogenized labels such as ‘Pacific Islanders’, ‘brown’ or ‘coconuts’). We can use this formula for our tamariki born across the diaspora, to entice them towards their future.
“Discovering the identity as a self-referential category or label”
Settle with who you are. The inherent value you possess, grounded by the unique differences of your home within the Pacific. Any young Pasifika person has the ability to diversify our economy, provide incentives to embrace our culture/s and shape our own future. We are the best in the world at performing arts, political science and dealing with climate change. These are not learnt habits but ways of our culture that we need to embrace!
As said by poet Albert Wendt: “Pacific Islanders exist only in New Zealand. I am called a Pacific Islanders when I arrive at Auckland Airport. Elsewhere I am Samoan.”
2. “Discovering the already existing narrative - good or bad - to which the label refers.”
The path to a brighter Pasifika future lies not in conforming to the ways of the colonizer, but in our embedded history! There are those who are limited by their ignorance, their own judgment of themselves. You are strong. You have the capacity to stand in what you know to be true.
3. ”Discovering” the story, or counter narrative, the newly self-conscious group itself wishes to tell.”
I ran a poll recently asking Pasi youth what they wanted for our Pasifika future. A common response was for our metua to value the insight of youth. The number one answer was for the older generation of Pasifika peoples to realize job opportunities for the next generation lie outside the realms of law, health and commerce. On this note, I’d like to quote Minister Aupito William Sio: “this generation of Pacific youth is Brown, Brainy, Beautiful, Bi-cultural, Bilingual and Bold(er than those that came before them.)”
The late great Moana Jackson said courage is simply the deep breath you take before a new beginning
Our history, your truth. You are unlimited, you are deserving, you are intelligent, you are our future. Claim your destiny as everything your ancestors, parents, and grandparents wanted for you. We have the power to dictate our future. Foster dignity, never forget your worth.
We are the future.