Pre-colonial Pacific culture ‘inspiration for feminism today’
Wellington: People of the Pacific need to decolonise their minds and reflect on the traditional role of women as men’s equals. That call came from New Zealand’s Minister of Pacific Peoples on the country’s suffrage day, marking 125 years since women won the right to vote.
The main event was Mausina, a dance and song performance from the MAU Wahine collective of Maori and Pasifika women. Mausina honoured the contributions of Pacific and Maori foremothers’ to democracy in New Zealand.
A former Minister of Pacific Peoples, Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban was among those paying homage to women of the past. “The Whakapapa and Gafa. Of the powerful women in our families and communities that birthed us. Generations of women and men in our whanau and aiga who continue to tell our stories through the arts.” Luamanuvao paid tribute to the choreographer Sala Lemi Ponifasio and the women performing Mauwahine in recognition of women’s leadership. Women’s strength is not defined only by the ability to succeed politically, according to Ms Sala. “We need their imagination, we need their contribution, we need their wisdom for all of us. Without them we’re not here.”
The current minister, Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio, spoke of the traditional role of political leadership among Pacific women in precolonial times.
“History will show us that women have been capable of providing the good leadership that the Pacific has needed.
“In Samoa’s case Salamasina, as I’m told, ruled for forty years and that’s a similar story of many of the islands.”