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Tribute to High Chief Ulu Taufaasisina of Tafua

Written by Cherelle Jackson
Thursday, 19 June 2008
The death of Ulu Taufaasisina signifies the official gradual end of a beautiful era of persistence, cultural pride and indigenous representation in environmental protection on the island of Savaii. Taufasisina was not just an advocate, he was a pioneer in the protection of indigenous land belonging to Savaii. Co-founder of Faasao Savaii Society, a conservation society by indigenous people on the island of Savaii, Taufasisina was sentimental in his efforts to protect the forests of his village Tafua, and the island itself. In 1992 this High Chief, whom prior to the arrival of Swedish environmental activists to his village, did not use much English, managed to convery his wishes for the land of Tafua. “"Five times the logging companies have been here asking for our forest," Ulu explained to Paul Cox. Taufasisina confessed: “I was deeply depressed because they put a lot of pressure on all of us, persuading the people of my village to sell the forest for a few dollars. I resisted, because I love my land and the land more than the money. The land is our lives. The land is also our mother. The land is sacred. I believe that the land has provided the culture, the food, the water, and the other things essential for my people. I deeply respect the honour that has been given to me, as chief orator, to become a caretaker of our beloved land.” It was with these sentiments that Taufaasisina successfully convinced his village of Tafua to protect their land and rainforest. Taufaasisina is famous in the environment community for this just approach, his unfailing faith in the culture and the value of the land to our heritage as Samoans. Taufaasisina his wife Anita and seven children are an integral part of the Tafua village, they became representatives of the true Samoan family, with a pride in their land and their village. Gentle Soul I don’t remember when the exact date I met Taufaasisina, but as a close friend to my family, he was a constant guest at home, always with a smile and genteel word. He thrived on culture, he thrived on the protection of his identity as a Tafua Chief, he was a good man, in character and at heart. I remember he always wore a lavalava tied in a certain manner, depicting in his own way, humility and yet a prestige that surpassed the highest of Chiefs. I knew him as ‘Ulu’, and have made many a cup of tea for him as he awaits in the living room for the rest of the Faasao Savaii Society members to turn up. When my sister got married, Taufaasisina was there with a large pig to show his friendship. When our guests needed to experience the village Taufaasisina was the first to take them in, making them a part of their family. When a visitor is stranded in the village of Tafua, Taufaasisina will take them in, for as long as they want to stay in Tafua. When he came to our home, he would sit there quietly for hours on end, as if solving the troubles of the world in his head. I never knew that Taufaasisina played such an integral role in Savaii, I always knew him as our family friend who was part of Faasao. It was later on in the newsrooms I worked that I discovered, that Taufaasisina was one of a kind. Genuine Spirit What is unique about Taufaasisina is that he was genuine in spirit. No logging company, no investor and no rich palagi could buy the support of Taufaasisina, he only endorsed efforts that would ensure that he honours his village and that truly protect the forests of Savaii. Taufaasisina was not a man of superficial values, his deep wishes to preserve the forests of Tafua resonated the world over because of this. It is not often we come across heroes of this type, with temptation at all angles, and the dollar sign from every corner, Taufaasisina resented the possible loss of priceless rainforests. He is one of the few true Samoans who see the value of the trees, the birds, the ocean and the air, he is one of the few who see it as a spiritual and cultural gift, not for us to give, gain from or sell. He is one of the few who see the land and the forests as the mother of our culture and for that reason I tribute this editorial to him. Taufaasisinas efforts will not be forgotten, his legacy will live on through his children, his grandchildren, the people of Tafua and those whose lives he touched while he lived, including myself. For the life of Taufaasisina, a rare Samoan and a true hero, I say a silent prayer, for where there is doubt in a cause, there are people like Taufaasisina who instil in us, a hope in the genuine human spirit. Good journey Taufaasisina, and Thank You! Comments (1) Subscribe to this comment's feed Salute to a true hero... written by Tony Faleafaga- Germany, June 19, 2008 This is a very true hero to me, man like him should be more in our matai system so they can see the future for our new generation to come, hold up with the valuable land that his people will one day benefit from it. Man like him can be a role model to other matai chief so they can learn some from him. He doesnt look for something to benefit himself but he look for the future for others to come that, the land is for them to take care but not to sell for just a cigaret or bayonette knife like our other forefather did it to other palagi some decade ago. I wish we have a lot of this kind in every village of Samoa, I bet with you our faalavelave will be eased down in some cases. SALUTE!! to the True Hero...Chief Taufaasisina should be recognised for saving our beauty forest land. Chief Taufaasisina should be remebered for what he had done. 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