Indigenous education within urban contexts and negotiations in the diaspora: talanoa vā in the moana

ABSTRACT

Indigenous education within urban contexts is diverse within Oceania. Pacific peoples’ movements in the diaspora, including their educational journeys and responsibilities, are ongoing and fluid. This paper employs talanoa vā, an indigenous Pacific approach to understanding the negotiations of educational processes and practices in urban education contexts across the diaspora of Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and Aotearoa-New Zealand. We utilize talanoa as a method of gathering narrative data based on transoceanic education experiences. We argue indigenous education within urban contexts in the diaspora is fluid yet dynamic. The continuous movement of people for improved life and education further emphasizes the diverse ways Moana communities mobilize their knowledges and practices as well as educational aspirations across multiple networks in the diaspora. Indigenous education therefore is context-specific, inclusive of the negotiations across time and space that enable the sense making of educational experiences that empower the next generation in Oceania.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Taufui Mikato Fa’avae

David Taufui Mikato Fa’avae is the grandson of Sione Taufui Mikato Fa’avae and Vika Lataheanga Fositā Fa’avae. He is currently the Pacific Ako Leader and Lecturer at Te Kura Toi Tangata (School of Education), University of Waikato.

Betty Lealaiauloto

Betty Lealaiauloto is an emerging Pacific researcher with 30 years of experience working within Pacific communities in South Auckland. She is currently working as a Tuakaqu Mentor of Pacific first year students with the Pasifika Success student service at the University of Auckland.

Tim Baice

Tim Baice (Sāmoa - Sataoa, Safata & Siufaga, Falelatai) is a Lecturer in the School of Critical Studies in Education (CRISTIE) at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. Tim is also a current doctoral candidate in Te Puna Wānanga - the School of Māori and Indigenous Education.

Fire Fonua

Fire Fonua is the son of Reverend Pitasoni Taelata He Vaha Ilolahia Fonua and Lavinia Talakihesina Ulakai Fonua. He was born in Fasi, Tongatapu and migrated to Aotearoa-New Zealand in the late 1970s as a small child.

Sonia M. Fonua

Sonia M. Fonua is married to Fire Fonua and is Pāpālangi (Tongan language for European ancestry), born and raised in Aotearoa-New Zealand. She is a Professional Teacher Fellow in the School of Environment, University of Auckland.