A former Minister for Pacific Peoples says the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) presents a vital chance for Pacific nations to decolonize and celebrate their Indigenous cultures.
On the weekend CHOGM wrapped up in Samoa, the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to host the biennial meeting.
Former Māngere MP Aupito William Sio says Samoa and other Pacific nations have increasingly adopted practices from the Pākehā world, undermining their traditional knowledge and indigenous experiences.
While CHOGM has opened avenues for these conversations, much work must be done to support the new generation in embracing their cultural heritage.
“Traditional leaders need to play a greater role, particularly when the late Kingi Tuheitia made that announcement about the recognition of the whale as a personage. That sort of decision and that sort of platform needs to be championed more,” says Sio.
