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Encounters in Amerika Samoa - the story so far

2/12/2020

in 2019:

Dr Ritabelle Fernandes, a beautiful visionary soul and one of my oldest friends:
saw The Good Manners of Colonized Subjects, my solo play about indgeneity & origins
participated in one of my creativity workshops in Hawaii and
invited me to present my creativity writing/movement workshop as a
means of communal self-expression/healing in a project she had helped manifest:

PROJECT: TAUSI FEAGAIGA (COVENANT KEEPER)
a week-long training for family caregivers
a partnership with Pacific Youth and Community Development, the Catholic Diocese Samoa Pago Pago-Hope House and the University of Hawaii.
Funded by: US Dept. of Health & Human Services Administration for Native Americans.

So - in January 2019, I came to Pago Pago with a team from the University of Hawaii and faciliated a creativity workshop during a week-long training for family caregivers.

Inspired by stories & songs of different cultures, participants created original poetry & prose. These workshops are part of a new cross-cultural project I've founded called Faraway is Close, which seeks to inspire "the story that is true to you, the story only you can tell.""

It was such a heartening inspiring encounter.
Read the booklet of participant writings and testimonials here (click and scroll down)

During that week, I also presented excerpts from my play at
American Samoa Community College
Read The Samoa News article for more info

in January 2020, I was invited back with the medical team for a second creativity workshop for family caregivers

It was another heart opening, welcoming encounter with a wonderful new group of family caregivers....sharing poems, skits and dances about the who they are and the challenge and courage it takes to care for others. And our team was so welcomed and cared for!

One of my favorite moments was at the final banquet:

All of us, Ritabelle, Brett, Shelley, Nancy and I
(3 doctors, one nurse and a dancer!, Olé) are called up to dance and
while we're dancing siva samoa (or trying to) in our very own ways,
the caregiver participants come dancing to us with gifts!

someone ties a lavalava around your waist
someone else places an ula around your neck,
or a gift around your wrist.

And we each received a beautiful personalized plaque.

like this - the generosity of Samoa
from le fatu - the heart

It was such a profound joyful exchange.

BIG BIG BIG THANKS TO
the family caregiver participants +
Pacific Youth and Community Development,
the Catholic Diocese Samoa Pago Pago-Hope House
and the University of Hawaii.

And then, this year - after the week long training ended -
I stayed another week on my own and
that's the rest of the story you see here
on this blog.

Start with timu on Jan 16...and follow the rain....

The enthusiasm and energy and organizing talents of
Reggie Meredith helped make this second week possible.

SPECIAL THANKS to her and
Mona and Nick King who most graciously and generously
hosted me in their home

And thanks to all who shared their stories
and received
mine including:

Su'a, Maki and Mike
Kuki Tuiasosopo, Fine Arts Chair, American Samoa
Community College

Tisa and CandyMann of Tisa's Barefoot Bar

Mary Bordonaro and
her 7th grade creative writing class,
and Ricardo Sneed of
Pacfic Horizons School

and THANKS especially all the students who wrote, moved, danced, shared and connected...

faraway is close
thank you fafetai tele lava

to be continued...

Sign up here to join my mailing list and
stay connected to Faraway is Close/Shebana Coelho
and news of upcoming projects.

Read about THE GOOD MANNERS
OF COLONIZED SUBJECTS,
a solo play about
indgenousness and
colonization,
art and fear.

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