Transcript
There's been positive early reaction to the trailer shown by two Cook Islanders for their new web series, "Aorangi". Liam Kokaua explains the title.
"The root of the word is ao which is light and rangi being the sky and heaven. So putting it together is an all encompassing term."
He says Cook Islands Maori traditions are important, especially for youth.
"We are aiming for five short 10-15 minute films which actually look at different eco-systems and kind of split up the Cook islands aorangi into different sections and traditional knowledge associated with these different areas, not just document them but to also encourage our youth to find out more about these traditions and to practise them as well."
Joshua Baker, a recent graduate of bachelor of performing and screen art, says they have the talent and are motivated to tell their own stories. The duo are also appealing for anyone who might wish to provide a platform to air the web series, or help out in anyway possible.
"It is quite important that we can create these types of work and it is timeless and people can look back at it and not forget they are indigenous. even indigenous people."
Meanwhile another project focuses on deaf communities in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Two project leaders shared via sign language and interpreters about how they want to ensure people like them are given equal opportuities as citizens in society. Isoa Nabainivalu and Krishneer Sen used sign language to explain why it matters, and their words translated here by Gael Seru.
"W also like to collect data and this will be an opportunity for us to meet with the deaf community out there in the rural outer islands as well as those in the town areas.And this is a great opportunity for us to go out and do something that we feel strongly about and that is collecting data to be able to advocate to government on the issues pertaining to our community."
Two architects from Taranaki in New Zealand put in a funding proposal for their company Mau Studio to hold a Le Va Talanoa workshop. One is Carinnya Feaunati, who was selected to attend a Pacific Youth Leaders conference in Hawaii earlier this year.
"The whole premise behind our project is we really wanted to look at that whole generational gap for architecture in the Pacifc. We are using this grant to bring over third year UNITEC students doing Bachelor of Architecture and taking them over to Samoa and for them to have a workshop and give tufuga faufale the stage and essentially tell the story about the fale Samoa."
Ms Feaunati says getting funds gives visibility to their work that prioritises traditional knowledge. Lynette Hunt's interests also lie in architecture and cultural heritage and says it is something that's lacking in the curriculum.
"Where is taufuga faufale in the curriculum? We learn a lot about Western Architecture at university. But we are in the Pacific and where is that in the curriculum of what we are taught? It is local it is in our backyard and why isnt it in societies view. And why dont we talk about it more."
One young female Palauan leader Joleen Ngoriakl will use the grant to publish and distribute a children's book that she has written in her native tongue. She says she also wants to provide an opportunity along the way to help educate other local authors who are interested who want to learn about the publishing process.
"Now that I am a mother, and I realise that I want my child to read a book that's captivating and colourful and written in a way that captures the imagination and that is why this project is important, because I want to open that world up, not just for my son, but a lot of children across Palau."
Criteria for this round of small project US grants focussed mainly on the environment, civic leadership and social development.
