Teine Samoa

Teine Smoa means Smoan girl. It's a label that carries with it an unspoken duty to obey, serve and respect your family and Smoan culture. But who can be teine Smoa? When should you be teine Smoa? And how can you be teine Smoa outside of Smoa?Lani is an afakasi, and is unsure of her Smoan heritage and what being Smoan even means. But one thing she knows for sure is that she's afraid of Vai and the 'Real Smoans'. 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 Smoa 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 Smoa, living in New Zealand? Teine Smoa 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 Smoa. Now includes study questions for students and The Teine Smoa Project - A space created for teine Smoa 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 Smoa.***The Teine Smoa 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 Smoan 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.