Pacific Peoples' Partnership

Connecting Indigenous and Pacific Peoples

Stories of Resilience Update

by

Stories of Resilience was initially conceived in the summer of 2020 but began in January of this year. A cohort of 7 talented Indigenous and South Pacific youth were selected to participate in our novel arts and culture training program. This program was inspired by the current challenges presenting themselves as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic and is intended to inspire and restore links between individuals and communities. The program is designed to help elevate and highlight the connection between Indigenous communities and traditional knowledge and cultural teachings through invigorating art and multimedia work. The team is now in the final editing stages of a documentary that will be available soon – so stay tuned to our channels! 

Here are some words from our participants:

The Stories of Resilience program has most importantly given me the chance and confidence to create on my own terms. Having the resources and support to explore what is important is a rare opportunity for any group, let alone Indigenous peoples, so to be able to freely work with the support of PPP is incredible.  As I’m working with the medium of film largely for the first time, I’ve been learning a great deal about the process, something I hope will be realized in full in our final film project.

Benjamin Mulchinock

Working with the Stories of Resilience project has been a very eye-opening experience. It’s a delicate protocol to be a part of a platform that’s created to share other people’s stories. It’s always been, and always will be a sacred time when our people share a part of their story, especially the survivors of intergenerational trauma. When we ask questions like “what has kept you strong through difficult times?” It could be triggering, as well as grounding. We’ve always been so careful with our words, as our teachings have always been orally passed down. Thank you Pacific Peoples’ Partnership for creating such a meaningful project for Indigenous youth to be a part of.

Tana Thomas

Starting the project with interviewing elders of the community has shed some colorful experiences. I wasn’t confident but with the positive energy of the group, my mind has been opened to trying new things such as building upon my people and computer skills which are big steps. Interviewing elders was such a great experience. I will hold those great memories such as seeing them smile and laugh. My objective for the project is to bring honour and to keep the stories of the past going.

Edward George Jr.

March 2021 Featured Partner

by

Pacific Peoples’ Partnership acknowledges the Province of British Columbia and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training for its support. 

Our youth and Indigenous-led, Stories of Resilience Program is proudly funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement. We are incredibly grateful that they have provided PPP with these critical funds to support the work of these emerging leaders, artists and storytellers. COVID-19 has brought about many challenges, and Stories of Resilience aims to inspire and equip talented Indigenous youth with critical technical and soft-skills whilst also giving back to their community and elevating Indigenous stories. 

PPP is deeply grateful for the opportunity and the support provided by the BC program staff as we continue working on the Stories of Resilience. For more information on this funding please visit their webpage at: https://www.workbc.ca/Employment-Services/Community-Workforce-Response-Grant.aspx

One Wave Gathering 2020 Meets Pandemic Challenges

by

By Jaimie Sumner, PPP Operations Coordinator and One Wave Program Coordinator

Over the last decade, One Wave has grown into a much-anticipated annual event here in Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories, with big crowds gathering in downtown Victoria for Indigenous and South Pacific art, music, food, and dialogues.  With the Covid-19 pandemic demanding many changes, we got creative with new ways to gather safely – for instance, planning many smaller events, taking programs online, and holding events outside.  It has been great to work with partners to offer free cultural programs, bring Pacific communities together, and share stories from Indigenous and Pacific perspectives.  This year we held nine public events, with one still to come!

Bradley Dick’s Territorial welcome at the One Wave ceremony, with PPP President, Muavae Va’a.

Our Opening Ceremony took place at Songhees Point on September 3 with a territorial welcome by Bradley Dick and opening words from PPP’s President, Muavae Va’a and Executive Director April Ingham.  We hold up our hands to Bradley for honouring our gathering this year with his welcome, sharing of knowledge, and powerful song and to Mua for his opening words in Samoan and English.  It was a sunny day near the water, and where we stood with Bradley was steps away from a beautiful cedar spindle whorl designed by his father Butch Dick, one of the seven Signs of Lekwungen.  The location, Songhees Point or PAH-lu-tsuss in Lekwungen, is an important site to Songhees and Esquimalt people.  It was meaningful to open our One Wave events on a special Lekwungen site on the shores of the Pacific Ocean that connects us North and South.

Later on that day, we opened our Together / As One exhibit at MediaNet’s FLUX Gallery.  On select days from September 3-18, the gallery came alive with costumes and songs from the youth opera Flight of the Hummingbird based on Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ Haida manga, as well as set-pieces and footage from the theatrical production of Peace Dancer by Roy Henry Vickers. 

Flight of the Hummingbird performers with Pacific Opera Victoria and Opera Vancouver.

This opera is the story of a brave hummingbird taking on a forest fire, while Peace Dancer is the story of a big flood descending on a community after the village’s children mistreat a crow.  These compelling, artfully presented stories that encourage each of us to take action to make a difference, like the little hummingbird, and ensure we treat all living beings with respect.  Flight of the Hummingbird was produced by Pacific Opera Victoria and Opera Vancouver, and Peace Dancer was a collaboration between Theatre Inconnu, Story Theatre, and Puppets for Peace along with Roy Henry Vickers and a community cast.  Complementing these two features were Pacific cultural items from PPP’s collection, along with short films on PPP’s work by youth multimedia makers and a special short on Fijian masi (bark cloth) from UBC Curator Carol Mayer.  Visitors to the gallery were also invited to share their thoughts on the guiding themes of this year’s One Wave:  resilience and allyship.

Our next public offering was the outdoor KAIROS Blanket Exercise.  More than 20 participants braved the weather under tents at Royal Athletic Park to take part in this interactive workshop about Indigenous history.  Facilitating the exercise were Muavae Va’a and his wife Marie Va’a from Tsartlip First Nation, facilitator Linda Flynn, and Tsartlip elder Judy Bartleman.  The facilitators did a great job of adapting the exercise to keep everyone safe and socially distanced and bring Canada’s difficult Indigenous history to life.  In the circle at the end, participants shared that they were deeply moved and eager to help bring this knowledge forward.

WildFlowers Drum Group at Orange Shirt Day Market. Credit: Jesse Holland

Then, on September 30, One Wave hosted the Orange Shirt Day First Nations Market & Mural at Royal Beach in Colwood in partnership with Songhees & Esquimalt Nations and Royal Beach.  This event was part of the Orange Shirt Day movement across Canada to honour all who went through the horror of residential schools and reaffirm that “Every Child Matters.”  It was an amazing, sunny day with art by Indigenous makers, songs from the WildFlowers girls’ drum group, Tongan dance by Ruby Kafalava, and bannock from Songhees Catering. 

To open this Orange Shirt Day event, Florence Dick shared opening words and her grandson Darwyn Seaweed did a territorial welcome.  Local artists Brianna Bear and Margaret August facilitated the mural, inviting community members to add a handprint and messages of love for residential school survivors.  We are grateful to Florence Dick for her guidance in arranging this beautiful day and Sara from Royal Beach for all the event planning support. 

During September, we also held several youth workshops.  Local youths had a chance to learn from Cowichan artist Stella Johnny and help out in the Tsawout Learning Garden with Tiffany Joseph.  Footage from these small group workshops will be released on social media this December.  A group of South Pacific and Indigenous youth committee also started plans for a community storytelling project to be announced soon!

Usually, One Wave wraps up in September, but this year we reached the end of September with lots more to offer!  This is mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as we found that each event took hours of extra planning.  The pandemic also meant we had to set attendance limits, making our free events less accessible than usual.  By the end of the month, we had plans still in the making with several Indigenous and Pacific artists, speakers, and partners and decided to extend One Wave, offering our remaining events online so that more people could enjoy them.

Pacific Story & Song storyteller Erin Blondeau

The first of these online events was Pacific Story & Song, an evening of Pacific arts and culture live-streamed by Sunset Labs on October 15.  Sharing stories at the event were Sḵx̱wu7mesh / W̱SÁNEĆ storyteller Tiffany Joseph, Métis storyteller Erin Blondeau, and Polynesian actress Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors, Star Wars, Siren).  The evening also featured live songs by Stz’uminus singer-songwriter Nate Harris from his upcoming album Precious You, PPP President Muavae Va’a, and local Hawaiian performer Anela Kahiamoe, as well as a song by Khu.éex’ centering on a story told by Tlingit / Iñupiaq / Paiute / Kaigani Haida vocalist Nahaan.  Thank you to all the presenters for your cultural sharings and to our special guest Rena Owen for making time from across the Pacific to speak about your journey and encourage each of us on our own.  Our recording of Pacific Story & Song will be released soon on social media.

Next up in the virtual space was our Together / As One Film Festival from October 23 to November 24.  Thank you to local Coast Salish filmmaker Steven Davies for putting together this powerful program of Pacific-based Indigenous features and shorts!  Our two opening films were Feature Film Vai by nine female South Pacific filmmakers, and the National Film Board short Now is The Time about Haida carver Robert Davidson and his reclamation of cultural traditions.  We then featured 6 films from Aotearoa, Haida Gwaii, Australia, and Kapuivik.  While the free viewing period for most of these films is over, we encourage you to check out our Film Festival webpage for some great films to add to your list or order at your local library!

Virtual Feast Panelist Tiffany Joseph

A final unique online One Wave event was called A Virtual Feast: Honouring and Revitalizing Indigenous Food Systems.  This was an interactive panel and film premier on Indigenous food sovereignty co-organized with our partners at the University of Victoria Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE).  We had more than 100 participants registered for the online event!  The dialogue was hosted by Lisa Kenoras and Jeff Corntassel with a traditional Lekwungen welcome by Brianna Dick.  The Virtual Feast fed us all with presentations by local Indigenous knowledge holders, Tiffany Joseph and Cheryl Bryce, and Papua New Guinean cultural TV producer, Jennifer Baing-Waiko, as well as a premier of CIRCLE’s new short film Rising Tides which you can find on our Vimeo here.

And that’s a wrap… almost!  We have one more One Wave event we hope to present this winter, the raising of the Pacific Peace Post at Macaulay Point, a beautifully carved house post by local Lekwungen carver Bradley Dick and Solomon Islands carver Ake Lianga.  We hope to see the Peace Post go up in early January — watch our social media channels for news!

Ake Lianga and Bradley Dick carving the Pacific Peace Post.

We were thrilled to offer a bountiful One Wave 2020 program in spite of the pandemic, making space for Pacific cultural sharing while offering paid opportunities for local artists and Indigenous knowledge keepers. To the volunteers who came with open hearts; to the artists and speakers who shared at One Wave events; to our amazing partners and funders who worked with us to make it happen; to the participants who came ready to learn and share; and to our team who pulled together in this challenging year  – thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Our programming partners for One Wave Gathering 2020 were Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, MediaNet Flux Gallery, CIRCLE at UVIC, Theatre Inconnu, Puppets for Peace, Story Theatre, Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, and Royal Beach.  Thank you for helping design inspiring programs enjoyed by so many.

Key funders and contributors were Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, Government of Canada, Province of BC, CRD, City of Victoria, Township of Esquimalt, City of Colwood, CTV / CFAX, Rika Design, Peppers Foods, Royal Scot Hotel & Suites, Metropol, The Sign Pad, Black Press Media, and Sunset Labs.  Your contributions were crucial to the success of our One Wave Gathering.

People & Passages: Announcing Phase 2 of the Indigenous Climate Action Program

by

Prepared by Peter Boldt and Monica Shore (Iisaak Olam Foundation)

Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP) is proud to announce that we will be partnering once again with the IISAAK OLAM Foundation  https://www.iisaakolam.ca/ (IOF) for the second phase of their Indigenous Climate Action Preschool Program (ICAP). Phase 1 was entitled ‘Cultivating Connections: Building Relationships between Nature, Culture and Community through Early Childhood Education’.

Photo Credit: IISAAK OLAM Foundation

With the huge success of the pilot and the continuing support of the TD Friends of the Environment, we are pleased to support IOF as they offer a second phase of this inspiring educational program, with a pandemic-influenced twist: ‘Cultivating Connections between Children and Nature from the Safety of Home.’ This will include five nature-based educational modules that are delivered online and that young children, families, and educators can use and adapt. Indigenous and western knowledge systems and teaching styles/tools will be employed to provide a rich and unique experience.

“We hope that this program will inspire young children and their families to connect with and learn from the environmental and cultural diversity of the place they call home. By home, we mean not only the dwelling or house in which we sleep, but the broader environment and ecosystems that teach us about our place in the world and our responsibilities to care for it,” explains Monica Shore, Executive Director of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation.

Photo Credit: IISAAK OLAM Foundation

While COVID-19 has certainly challenged us and caused our organizations to make adjustments to our work, PPP is delighted to assist IOF with such important programs for children. This project will advance work that began with the launch of the pilot in January of 2020, where IOF facilitated early-childhood education experiences in Saanich Parks, weaving together Indigenous and western teachings about nature and diversity. The next phase of this program will provide virtual learning opportunities for connecting young children to their local environment, applying both Indigenous and western knowledge systems.

For more information, please visit https://www.iisaakolam.ca/cayac. More details to come in January 2021!

One Wave 2020

by

One Wave is Back in September … with many Online and In-Person Events!

By Jaimie Sumner, PPP Operations Coordinator & One Wave Program Coordinator

It’s September, and our 13th annual One Wave Gathering is once again brightening the streets of Victoria, BC in beautiful Lekwungen territories!  One Wave is a free, family-friendly celebration of Pacific Island and Indigenous cultures organized by Pacific Peoples’ Partnership each year.  This year’s gathering is focused on the themes of resilience and allyship and will feature arts and culture events including Indigenous opera, digital media, theatre, film, workshops, and more.

Pearls of the South Pacific Dancers at One Wave 2018. Credit: Heather Tuft

In these challenging times, we feel it is more important than ever to make space for cultural connection and learning.  While we need to take precautions to keep each other safe, it is vital that we find ways to share special moments, listen to each other, and engage with the issues facing the Pacific.  From Samoa to T’Sou-ke, from Viti Levu to Lekwungen territory, Pacific communities are working to preserve and revitalize culture, pass on knowledge, and ensure a healthy future for all.  At One Wave, we invite people from all backgrounds into the circle to hear these stories, be inspired, and find ways to move forward together.

Our team has worked extra hard this year to create safe ways to come together.  This year, we are offering a robust online program as well as a few in-person events within the safe protocols of social distancing.

Read on for some highlights you can expect at One Wave this month.  Some of our events will not be announced in advance, so join us on Facebook and check out our website to avoid missing out!  

 A colorful theatrical performance accompanies Indigenous author, Roy Henry Vickers, as he reads from his children’s book Peace Dancer. Credit: Tony Sprackett

Together / As One – Sept. 3-18 at FLUX Gallery 821 Fort St.

Visit the gallery and witness powerful Indigenous and Pacific stories woven together in Together / As One, an exciting digital media and art exhibit.  Watch carvings and masi cloths take shape and collective stories come alive in this display of cultural objects and films by local and international artists. Featured works include Roy Henry Vickers’ Peace Dancer (Theatre Inconnu, Story Theatre, Puppets for Peace) and Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas’ Flight of the Hummingbird (Pacific Opera/Opera Vancouver).   You are welcome to visit Tuesday – Friday between 12-5pm and walk through the exhibit in groups of 6 or less.  We will provide visitors with masks and social distancing instructions to ensure a safe space for all.

Flight of the Hummingbird performers with Pacific Opera Victoria and Opera Vancouver

KAIROS Blanket Exercise – 9:30am, Sat, Sept. 26 at Royal Athletic Park *Sign up on EventBrite to reserve your spot.

Deepen your understanding of allyship, reconciliation, and Indigenous history in Canada through an interactive history lesson called the Blanket Exercise.  During the exercise, participants will accompany facilitators on a journey through Indigenous history in Canada, spanning pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization, and resistance.  Blankets laid out on the ground will provide a visual guide to the history lesson as participants walk through a set of interactive exercises that bring history to life.  Attendance is limited, so reserve your space now on EventBrite and visit the KAIROS website to learn more.

During the Blanket Exercise, blankets laid out on the ground symbolize Indigenous territories

Rising Tides 

Tune in online for a new film on Indigenous food sovereignty and climate justice by the Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE).  Rising Tides is locally produced and features knowledge-sharing and ideas for action shared by Erynne Gilpin, Jeff Corntassel, Peruzzo Andrade, Cheryl Bryce, Beangka Elliot, and April Ingham.

Pacific Peace House Post

A momentous event this year will be the installation of the Pacific Peace Post, a symbolic house post carved by local Lekwungen and Solomon Islands carvers Bradley Dick and Ake Lianga. The Pacific Peace Post will overlook the waters at Macaulay Point and stand as a symbol of peace and connection between Pacific peoples.  Watch for the unveiling in late September!

Carvers Bradley Dick and Ake Lianga working on the Pacific Peace House Post

Films, Pop-ups, Workshops & More!

Join our Facebook or visit our website for a full listing of events.  We have lots more exciting programming in the works this month, including online feature films, pop-up music and dance, workshops on topics from slam poetry to weaving, and maybe even a drive-in theatre.

We hope to see old friends and new as we gather once more – in person and online – for a powerful program of Pacific stories, songs, and speakers.

If you are interested in volunteering, there may still be an opportunity!  For more information, get in touch with us at: operations@archive.pacificpeoplespartnership.org.

One Wave Gathering is held on Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territory and made possible with the consent and consultations by hereditary and elected leaders, elders, youths, artists and community members.

Our amazing partners for One Wave 2020 include Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, MediaNet FLUX Gallery, CIRCLE (Centre for Indigenous Research and Community Led Engagement at UVIC), Theatre Inconnu, Puppets for Peace, Story Theatre, Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera,  City of Victoria, Township of Esquimalt, the Government of Canada, the Province of BC, Canadian Heritage, British Columbia Art Council, Capital Regional District, CTV / CFAX, and Rika Design.

Deep-Sea Mining in Tonga, Nauru and Kiribati.

by

Deep Sea Mining – Not the silver bullet we are searching for 

By Peter Boldt, PPP Multimedia Coordinator. Peter Boldt holds a Masters degree in International Development Studies and has worked in international research and projects relating to mining, corporate accountability and sustainable development.

The transition to a prosperous green future is possible. Large multilateral institutions, grassroots community organizations, political parties, and cutting-edge thinktanks among others have begun to take strong actions in the fight against climate change. The momentum to adopt renewable sources of energy has never been stronger, despite facing considerable pushback from an array of polluting and extractive industries. Mechanisms such as carbon markets, regulatory bodies, and watchdog organizations play a critical role in mitigating carbon emissions, as do innovations in green technologies ranging from highly efficient electric vehicles to sophisticated solar power plants that use sea water reservoirs to provide around the clock electricity. However, this dramatic shift has significantly increased demand for energy storage solutions which require production of vast amounts of metals and minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and manganese.

 The Patania II used to collect polymetallic nodules from the seafloor in the Clarion Clipperton Zone. Image: DEME Group

This unprecedented new demand has ushered in a boom for deep-sea mining (DSM), a once thought fringe high-risk venture which has now turned into a lucrative opportunity for transnational corporations. DSM involves harvesting metallic nodules from the sea floor at depths sometimes greater than three kilometers. Many of these mineral concentrations are located in what is known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a large area in the Eastern Pacific covering more than 4.5 million square kilometers. This area is regulated by an intergovernmental body known as the International Seabed Authority (ISA). This body is responsible for granting exploration contracts for DSM activities outside Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of respective countries. Thus far, South Pacific nations that have sponsored exploration initiatives both within their own EEZs and in the CCZ are Nauru, Cook Islands, Kiribati, and Tonga.

The extractive process is costly and extremely challenging from a technological perspective, given the great depths at which that machinery must operate and the remoteness of prospecting sites. Since it is a relatively new process, little technological progress has been made and detailed methods that corporations intend to use are not disclosed. This lack of transparency coupled with significant knowledge gaps of ecosystems at such remote depths has the potential to cause irreversible damage to fragile abyssal organisms and may trigger unprecedented chain reactions in already compromised ecosystems. The removal of nodules which serve as habitats, the creation of sediment plumes, and the discharge of waste, chemicals, and tailings has the potential to greatly disturb an area of the earth that we know very little about. In addition, the removal and disturbance of these fragile habitats is permanent. Nodules take millions of years to form and would guarantee a significant loss of biodiversity.

Polymetallic nodule with a shark tooth, recovered from 5000 meters below the Pacific. Image: Velizar Gordeev

Deep-sea mining has been lauded as a worthwhile economic opportunity, particularly for Small-Island Developing States (SIDS) whose economies rely heavily on tourism. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many national governments are struggling to provide employment and have implemented austerity measures to soften economic shocks. Desperation has intensified the pressure to grant DSM licenses as transnational corporations seek to take advantage of the uncertain economic climate to push their agendas. 

The extraction of minerals, however, has very rarely led to sustainable development, particularly in the global south. In fact, extractive operations have often generated divisions in many communities and led to conflict over control of territories and resources. Economists have also long questioned whether natural resource extraction is in fact a path to equitable and long-lasting development. Land-based mines have often caused more harm than good and have resulted in irreversible damage to the surrounding environment and social fabric of communities.

 Tuna migrations are particularly vulnerable to changes in the deep-sea ecosystem. Credit: A. Pavel

The connection between the ocean and Pacific Peoples goes beyond economic dependence. As with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, Pacific Peoples view themselves as custodians, not owners, of the ocean and its resources. This relationship links to traditional Indigenous understandings and the concept of ensuring that resources are protected and accessible for future generations. Additionally, Pacific Peoples understand the interconnected nature of the ocean, and how it serves as a network to reefs, and other shallow waters. Understandably, many members of civil society and traditional leaders have spoken out against DSM, largely out of concern for the health of their protected waters. 

Canada is home to many mining companies, some of which specialize in deep-sea mining. However, Canada’s own Fisheries Act (2019) prevents any DSM exploration within Canadian borders since it could potentially release harmful substances in waters frequented by fish. In light of this, Canadian companies have set their sights internationally, often targeting the resource rich waters of countries that struggle economically, such as Papua New Guinea. For example, the Canadian company Nautilus Minerals Inc. which was the first venture to secure a license for DSM, failed and declared bankruptcy within a decade of beginning operations. This particular project, titled Solwara 1 DSM, disregarded community perspectives and inconsistencies were found in relation to their environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Canadian mining companies often operate with impunity abroad, and ignore the guidelines that are provided to them, which highlight the need for proper consultations and rigorously researched EIAs. 

 Pictured is Jonathan Mesulam, a leader and advocate of local communities, urging the PNG government to cancel Nautilus Minerals’ deep-sea mining licences. Image credit URL 

To date, the largest players eying South Pacific waters are:

    1. DeepGreen Metals, a private company based in Vancouver. (https://deep.green/) It currently holds a 15-year license to explore 74,830 square kilometres of the CCZ.
    2. Global Sea Mineral Resources, a Belgian subsidiary of the Deme Group. (https://www.deme-gsr.com/) It too holds a 15-year exploration license in the CCZ. 3
    3. The Cook Islands has expressed the strongest political interest in DSM. They also have significant amounts of nodules within their EEZ and have granted DSM licenses.

Overall, there has been little concern or attention given to the potential social and cultural impacts of DSM. Just as terrestrial mining has done for decades, the focus of transnationals has largely been placed on mitigating environmental effects or ‘greenwashing’, which is the practice of misleading investors and the public into buying into their narrative of being environmentally mindful. In order for social and cultural perspectives to be truly respected and considered, transnationals must go far beyond individual consultations and high-level closed-door business meetings. DSM transnationals must engage with all levels of society, and meaningfully explore the social and cultural implications DSM may have. This can only be achieved through extensive dialogue and genuine engagement, where community stakeholders are treated as equal participants in the process. 

For these conditions to be met, a moratorium on all DSM activities is urgently required, given the uncertainties surrounding environmental impacts and the lack of social or cultural impact assessments. MiningWatch Canada, along with other partners, published an extensive report in May 2020 which you can find here. It calls for a precautionary pause on the issuance of new DSM exploration contracts until further studies are conducted and DSM impacts are better understood.

Proponents argue that DSM will provide all the necessary materials to transition to clean energy; they champion DSM almost as the ‘extractions to end all extractions.’ The problem is no one knows for certain the environmental impacts DSM might cause, particularly because it has never been tried at a large scale and is for the most part an experimental process. The urgent need to innovate in the face of climate impacts is critical, but it should never disregard or come at the cost of compromising environmental, social, and cultural resources.

Pasifik Pulse: COVID-19 In the Pacific

by

COVID-19 in the Pacific and a Concert to Unite

Prepared by Andy E. Nystrom, PPP Archivist & Research Assistant

A universal truth in 2020 is that everyone has to deal with COVID-19 in some form or another, even if you live in one of the few locations left in the world with no cases. Although remote, many areas in the Pacific Islands have been hit with the virus. According to Worldometer on August 21, 2020, COVID-19 cases in the South Pacific include (Total Cases/Total Deaths/Total Active Cases; see the site for more stats): Indonesia (149,408/6,500/39,917), Australia (24,407/472/5,475), New Zealand (1,665/22/105), Papua New Guinea (361/4/159), French Polynesia (211/0/143), Fiji (28/1/7), Timor-Leste (25/0/0), New Caledonia (23/0/1). Worldometer tracks US states and territories separately; among those in the Pacific are: Hawaii (5,844/45/3,768), Guam (767/6/379), and Northern Mariana Islands (54/2/33).

While some regions of the Pacific have indeed avoided the direct impacts of the virus, the entire region is facing hardship due to the virus. According to Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Dame Meg Taylor in a recent Guardian article, “Covid-19 has exposed and exacerbated systemic and structural imbalances in our systems and societies, underlining the urgency for decisive policy action… If I look at this from what’s happening within communities and different countries, I think some countries are getting harder hit than others, and I think where we’ve seen unemployment, we’ve seen people really struggle… We’re seeing in places like Nadi [Fiji] low employment and lots of young mothers and carers with children who do not have sufficient resources to be able to feed themselves.” As the article also notes, remittances, or overseas money sent between the islands, are predicted by World Bank to decline by 13%, “represent[ing] a huge downturn for Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall islands, where money sent back by overseas workers account for 40% of average household income.” 

 As of early September, Tonga has no confirmed COVID-19 cases, and entry restrictions prohibit most travellers from entering the country. Credit: Tonga Tourism Authority

Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu are particularly hard hit due to reliance on tourism. As the Guardian article explains, “Tourism makes up 40% of Fiji’s GDP. The International Monetary Fund recorded a 99% drop in tourist arrivals to the country in May 2020 compared with the same month last year.” This is likely to result in a decline of 21.7% in Fiji’s economy, more than any other Pacific nation. It is uncertain how tourism in the area can begin to recuperate, as plans for tourism “travel bubbles” remain stalled in Australia and New Zealand. At the time of the article (August 11), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern predicted quarantine-free travel to the Cook Islands in 2020, but the newest outbreak in New Zealand puts that into question. 

While virus mitigation efforts continue throughout the Pacific, one recent creative initiative came together to spread hope and connection. As part of the effort to unite the Pacific in this time of COVID-19, “UN in the Pacific brought together artists, UN leaders, Heads of State and international celebrities in the world’s first regional COVID-19 concert.” Titled Pacific Unite: Saving Lives Together, the concert was streamed on Saturday, August 15 (the entire concert can be found in the above link). This two-and-a-half-hour concert, hosted by Tofiga Fepulea’I as his character “Aunty Tala,” included “musical performances from Jahboy of the Solomon Islands, Mia Kami of Tonga, Juny B of Kiribati, Te Vaka of New Zealand and many more.”  Fepulea’I called it “the first-ever virtual concert to comprise primarily of artists from across the region and be accessible to audiences not only in the Pacific but around the world.” Aside from being streamed worldwide, this closed-captioned concert was broadcast on radio and television in 12 Pacific Island nations, Australia, New Zealand, plus some countries farther afield.

While offering an experience to enjoy, the concert shone a light on the varied issues experienced across the region due to the pandemic, with growing issues with economic instability, food shortages, domestic violence, and mental health issues. Speakers stressed that rebuilding must include “creating a sustainable Pacific that is resilient to the impacts of climate change.” According to President of Palau Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. in his video message, “This new normal should not be the same old story, but with face mask.” UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed stressed that the only way to overcome COVID-19 is to work together. She urged the global community to help the islands “by ensuring equitable access to vital medical equipment, supplies and – when they become available – vaccines“ as well as by debt-relief and stimulation support. 

Demonstrating the resilience of the Pacific People, the concert closed with the song We Will Rise, “written about the coronavirus pandemic in the Pacific and performed by Pasifika Voices and the International School Suva.” 

Sung primarily by children and youth, the hopeful closing lyrics were:

“Around the world, we’re closing borders, COVID-19 on the rise

A new world order behind closed doors, the storm will pass, we will survive

We will rise, we will rise again, our isles will rise again

We will rise, we will rise again, our world will rise again” 

Pasifik Pulse: Palm Oil and Food Insecurity in Papua

by

Palm Oil and Food Insecurity in Papua

Prepared by Tana Thomas, PPP Arts and Culture Coordinator, who is also a Nuu-chah-nulth youth leader, canoe skipper, and healing advocate.

In Papua, Indonesia’s largest and easternmost province of Indonesia, large scale palm oil plantation developments are not only threatening animal and plant species, but also the caretakers that have sustained these species for thousands of years. Sophie Chao, an anthropologist at the University of Sydney, has spent years working with the Indigenous Marind people of southern Papua. In her powerful article, she sheds light on the severe impacts that new palm oil plantations are having on the region. What she has discovered in her in-community work is that the Marind people are increasingly unable to obtain their traditional foods and are suffering from malnutrition. 

Merauke and Boven Digoel, the districts in southern Papua where oil palm estates are concentrated.

The practice of harvesting their own food is one of the many factors that sustains holistic wellbeing in many Indigenous communities. Witnessing the loss of their traditional foods can bring overwhelming feelings of grief and shame stemming from not being able to provide for their families. The Marind children of the village have grown up learning to sustain and create abundance within their natural food systems when harvesting. Since time immemorial, Marind children have been firsthand witnesses to the generations before them, following protocols and enacting ceremonies passed on through generations in order to coexist with their relatives of the forest. 

Marind families are now fighting to sustain their customs, feed their families, and protect the natural forests that are their home, working from their deeply held belief that everyone and everything is interconnected. Exploitation of their forest food systems is destroying the spirit and wellbeing of their communities. The generational act of enculturation is being severed due to the detachment from teachings that stem from their environment. It’s an enforced act of assimilation into a system that bypasses the basic needs of humanity. Unfortunately, this is a common fight Indigenous people are facing throughout the world.

The Indonesian government continues to approve more palm oil projects with increasing impacts on Indigenous Papuans and their lands. Learn more about this important issue and catch a glimpse of the stories of Marind families in Chao’s article published by Mongabay and The Gecko Project.

People & Passages: Habitat House

by

A New Home for a Local Pacific Family

Prepared by Jaimie Sumner, PPP Operations Coordinator, who is familiar with Habitat’s important work, having previously managed a local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

We are thrilled to share the news that a local Indigenous / Pacific Islander family, Tina and Niu Savea and their 3 kids, is getting a new home!  The Savea family has Cree and Samoan roots and has been working toward a house of their own for years.  Earlier this year, they found out that their dream was to come true through a partnership program with Habitat for Humanity Victoria.

The Savea family in Victoria, B.C. is excited that Habitat for Humanity is helping them invest into their family’s future.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization focused on providing safe and stable homes for lower-income families in Canada and across the world.  Many people are familiar with Habitat’s international housing projects but are unaware that local chapters focus on building houses too. In Victoria, families apply to their local Habitat for Humanity to be considered for the local homeownership program.  If selected, each family invests 500 hours of their own labour into Habitat’s volunteer programs by helping out at builds, Habitat stores, and special events. Habitat homes are sold to qualified families at fair market value and are financed with affordable mortgages at no more than 30% of the family’s income. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving fund, which is used to build more homes.

Habitat for Humanity Victoria is building eleven new homes this year. Their work is supported by community donations and by two secondhand home & building supply outlets called ReStores.  Consider shopping or donating if you can.  And congratulations to the Savea family on qualifying for their new home!

Tina Savea shared:

“Now is the perfect time to let you all in on some exciting news for our family… We have been blessed to partner with Habitat for Humanity and to be able to purchase our very own home. We have always desired to buy a home… but the very expensive market in Victoria we would either have to leave the city we have grown to love or have to save for 100 years. LOL, We didn’t want to do either. 

We were told about this amazing organization that helps make buying a home possible for families like ours. AND they just happen to be doing a build 3 minutes away from the house we are in now & only STEPS away from the ocean!! We took the plunge and started the 6-month process of applying! Months later we got the phone call we were accepted. Now here we are, helping build our brand new home, connected to a great community of people & all extremely grateful to this amazing organization. Habitat for Humanity is helping us invest in our family’s future!”

People & Passages: Johnny Edmonds

by

Johnny Edmonds, A Champion of Indigenous Tourism

Prepared by Dani McDonald, Communications/Media, New Zealand Māori Tourism

We learned with heavy hearts that our dear friend and colleague, Johnny Edmonds passed away in May 2020. Johnny was a stickler for detail and flag bearer for the development and strengthening of indigenous tourism. For Johnny, tourism was a vehicle for indigenous people to tell their own story. It is because of his foresight that New Zealand Māori Tourism exists today.

Johnny held executive management positions for indigenous non-profit organizations for the past two decades in Aotearoa and Australia. These include the Waitangi National Trust, Taitokerau Regional Māori Tourism Organisation, NZ Māori Tourism Council and the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council. He served on tourism industry boards in NZ and Australia and held statutory and executive management positions in the NZ government.

Johnny led the formation of the national body of NZ Māori Tourism, as we know it today, from 2004 – 2007 where he helmed the establishment and organizational development of the NZ Māori Tourism Council, and the development of national and international relationships to foster the development of Māori tourism. In 2005, only one year into his new role at NZ Māori Tourism, Johnny established the inaugural nationwide conference in Tāmaki Makaurau focusing on operating sustainable clusters alongside the former Associate Minister of Tourism, Hon Dover Samuels. A year later, Johnny’s expertise at building relations was evidenced in a collaboration between Government and NZ Māori Tourism to provide targeted mentoring services to the business development needs of small Māori tourism businesses.

Johnny poured his energy into turning the attention of the tourism industry toward the Māori tourism product. During his tenure, Johnny saw that Māori tourism would grow Aotearoa’s entire tourism industry. Māori tourism eventually became the fastest growing sector, as a result of Johnny’s dedication and visionary leadership.

Connect With Us

Pacific Peoples' Partnership
#407 620 View St., Victoria BC
Canada V8W 1J6

We want to hear from you!

Contact Information

Join Us On Social Media

About Us

For 45 years, Pacific Peoples’ Partnership has supported the aspirations of South Pacific Islanders and Indigenous peoples for peace, environmental sustainability, social justice and community development.

Read More

 

Pasifik Currents: Latest Posts