Remembering Samoan ancestors

Tālofa lava! Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Samoan Language Week was celebrated at the end of May this year. Whilst the language week has come and gone, with so much fabulous heritage content at Auckland Libraries, it seemed a shame to wait until next year to share it with you.

The main aims of this annual event are to celebrate and promote the Samoan language and culture and to encourage people to speak Samoan, which is one of the most commonly spoken languages in NZ.

The theme this year was 'Taofi mau i au measina: Hold fast to your treasures'. So it seemed only fitting to remember those ancestors from Samoa whose memory is held not only with their families but also photographically in the library's heritage collections. If you have any information about any of the people depicted in the images, please do get in touch - we are always keen to add information to our records.

Men:

Ref: EV Donald for the Auckland Weekly News, Mau leaders, 1931, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19310812-44-2

Ref: Herman John Schmidt, young man, probably August Nelson, no location, c. 1910s, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-2599

Ref: J Davis for Auckland Weekly News, Samoan siva/dance, no location, 1902, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19021009-3-1

Ref: EV Donald for the Auckland Weekly News, Samoans line up for inspection by the New Administrator, Upolu Island, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19310812-44-4

Women:

Ref: EH Henderson for Auckland Weekly News, Samoan Girls, no location, 1899, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-18990127-6-1

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, Samoan girls performing a siva/dance, no location, 1902, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19020717-6-2

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, Queen of the Apia Carnival, 1941, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19410409-33-3

Children:

Ref: Herman John Schmidt, Singagogo or Piliopo Nelson as a baby, no location, c. 1910s, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-2594

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, a Samoan Native School breaking up for the holidays, no location, 1898, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-18981223-3-4

Ref: Herman John Schmidt, Olaf Frederick Nelson photos, Safune, Savai'i, c. 1910s, Sir George Grey Special, Auckland Libraries, 31-2600

Author: Natasha Barrett (NB)