A Samoan academic in Hawaii says the people in American Samoa will be split over a call by Governor Togiola Tulafono that the US territory have more political autonomy.
A University of Hawaii Pacific studies teacher, Sailiemanu Lilomaiava-Doktor, says the territory is facing a lot of economic pressure with the downsizing of the tuna canning industry and the federally mandated minimum wage rise.
The Governor has also raised concerns over the possible impact of US laws on local land tenure.
Sailiemanu Lilomaiava-Doktor says being able to preserve cultural protocols and pass laws without having to consult the US every time would be a huge plus.
"Perhaps culturally some people are saying faasamoa or the samoan way of life has been perhaps negatively affected by American influence, Western influence and modernisation."
But Sailiemanu Lilomaiava-Doktor says the territory's heavy dependence on U.S aid
may convince others to resist change.
