Reviving the ‘lost skills’ of traditional waka voyaging

Tuesday, 26 June 2018, 12:25 pm
Press Release: Pacific Media Centre

VIDEO: Reviving the ‘lost skills’ of traditional waka Pacific voyaging
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/video-reviving-lost-skills-traditional-waka-pacific-voyaging-10182

Video: Pacific Media Centre - Video link
Monday, June 25, 2018

By Hele Ikimotu

AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): The president of the Samoa Voyaging Society (SVS), Schannel van Dijken, says humans cannot thrive without looking after our landscapes and seascapes.

As part of his work with the SVS, van Dijken and his team of volunteers sail across the Pacific on their waka, the Gaualofa – promoting the old tradition of navigating.

“Our mission is to revive the lost art of traditional navigation and voyaging but also to take this knowledge and stewardship responsibilities that we used to have – take these to the communities,” he says.

He also speaks of the challenges around climate change and the need to raise awareness about the issue.

This 4min video was produced by Hele Ikimotu and Blessen Tom as part of the Pacific Media Centre’s Bearing Witness climate assignment under the postgraduate International Journalism Project with Te Ara Motuhenga at Auckland University of Technology.

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