17 Nov 2010

American Samoa village begins building a monument to tsunami victims

6:59 pm on 17 November 2010

A village in American Samoa where 11 people were killed during last year's tsunami has began work on a memorial monument dedicated to the victims.

A leader of Leone village, John Saelua, says they have some backing for the Garden of Healing monument from the Nuanua Recovery Project which is funded by the Administration of Native Americans.

Mr Saelua says the rest of the project is being funded through individual donations.

The project is being built at the site where much of the devastation occurred and at a ground breaking ceremony at the weekend the names of the 11 victims, who included two foreigners, were read out.

Leone village say the monument will help families and individuals to begin the process of healing by talking about their experiences and working together as a community.