18 May, 2015

Fa’atauaina o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Sāmoan Language Week at Auckland Libraries

O le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – It’s Sāmoan Language Week this May 24-30, and Auckland Libraries are celebrating being part of the world’s largest Polynesian city by adding a Sāmoan flavour to their programmes.

Cr Anae Arthur Anae, Manukau Ward Councillor and liaison councillor for the Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel says that the event is about celebrating as a community.

“Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Sāmoan Language Week is a great way for all of Auckland to come together and celebrate the Sāmoan language and its role in Auckland. Through this year’s theme ‘tautua faamaoni nei mo sou taeao manuia’ or ‘serve diligently now for a better tomorrow’, Auckland Council’s Libraries are focused on the Fa’a Sāmoa way of showing leadership through service – o le ala i le pule o le tautua.

“We are committed to contributing and serving, offering opportunities to explore Sāmoan stories, resources and both digital and print materials of our past, present and future.”

Library users can share their experiences on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #ALPasifika.

Event highlights events include:

Central

Pesepesega mo fanau iti / Sāmoan Language Week rhymetime
Mt Albert Library, Saturday 30 May, 11 am
Join us with our guest author Marieta Aequ-Talupoo as she reads her debut picture book. We will learn simple songs and dances in Sāmoan and English.

Tala mo fanau iti / Sāmoan language week storytime
Avondale Library, Wednesday 27 May, 10.30am
Join us for Sāmoan storytime with special guests - Rosebank Primary's Tupulaga mo a Taeao.

East

O le a’oa’oina o le gagana ma pese Fa’a-Sāmoa mo le fanau iti / Introduction to basic Sāmoan language and songs for kids
Highland Park Library, Thursday 28 May, 4pm - 5pm
An opportunity for kids to learn Sāmoan and songs! Bookings essential.

South

Finauga a Aoga maualuluga i le gagana Fa’a-Sāmoa / Sāmoan Language Week Secondary Schools Debate
Otahuhu Library, Thursday 21 May, 4pm - 6pm
De La Salle College, Mangere College, McAuley High School and Aorere College will debate in Sāmoan `O mala fa`alenatura o fa`ailo o le to`asa o le Atua ia Sāmoa' (Natural disasters are a warning of God's wrath on Sāmoa) and `Ua tatou pologa i le fa`aSāmoa, e le ona o le aganu`u, ae ona o tagata.' (We suffer in Fa`aSāmoa, not because of culture but because of people).

West

Fa’afiafiaga a fanau mai Aoga Amata ma tala mo le fanau iti / Performance by the children of the Faamasani Aoga Amata and a bilingual storytime
Massey Library, Wednesday 27 May, 10.30am - 11am
Join us for a bilingual story time and performance.

Auckland Libraries offer a range of Sāmoan language resources including:

• Books about Sāmoa, Sāmoan language and culture

• Children’s story books in Sāmoan, as well as bilingual books

• CD and DVD collections showcasing culture, music festivals, dance, history and more

• Online resources like my pride, my treasure, my Samoa, Historypin and the heritage images database

• Pacific contemporary and traditional music on Music Online

To see the full list of Sāmoan Language Week events visit: http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events/Events/Pages/SāmoaSāmoanlanguageweek2015.aspx

ENDS

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