Village Herrings Ban Wins Strong Support
Written by: Lua Salei
The banned use of cartons of herring for traditional family obligations by the Savai’i village of Sili, has the excited support of village mayors, working to overcome the unnecessary financial burdens cultural practices hold for families.
The Sili village leaders made a public announcement last week for villagers living in or outside the village, to cease from the popular use of cartons of herrings for family traditional commitments.
The man who is spearheading the village leaders drive to streamline the cost of cultural commitments, Maulolo Tavita, described the Sili village decision as an example of good governance.
Maulolo is also the assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women and Social Community.
“Sili has taken a different approach from the other villages by banning the use of herrings which is a popular item required for family obligations,” he felt.
“Other villages have taken different approaches where the culture is not taken advantage of to take home a fine mat or food without making any direct contribution to the event.”
Maulolo believes that it is important to clarify the demands of the culture so that families are prevented from taking their obligations beyond what they can afford.
“Participation is very important in the culture, but it is difficult for some people to hold face in the family because they could not afford to meet the obligations demanded of them – in the end they would send in someone else with a token contribution they could afford while they stay home.
‘This goes against the culture where participation is the essence.”
Maulolo also went on to impresses the need for people to live within what their pocket can afford.
“ Don’t go beyond your means is how I would put it and this idea of no longer having to buy cartons of herrings in heading in the right direction towards avoiding the surplus of all that food that is unnecessary in the first place.”
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If only the ignorant Matais of Lefaga were the same as the matais in Sili.
This is what the people of Samoa needs.
Leaders who help lighten the ongoing BURDENS, (ie: faalavelaves, & $2000 saogameas everytime an uncle's wifes brothers daughters son gets married or has a saofai or even dies)
The banned use of cartons of herring for traditional family obligations by the Savai’i village of Sili, has the excited support of village mayors, working to overcome the unnecessary financial burdens cultural practices hold for families.
The Sili village leaders made a public announcement last week for villagers living in or outside the village, to cease from the popular use of cartons of herrings for family traditional commitments.
The man who is spearheading the village leaders drive to streamline the cost of cultural commitments, Maulolo Tavita, described the Sili village decision as an example of good governance.
Maulolo is also the assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women and Social Community.
“Sili has taken a different approach from the other villages by banning the use of herrings which is a popular item required for family obligations,” he felt.
“Other villages have taken different approaches where the culture is not taken advantage of to take home a fine mat or food without making any direct contribution to the event.”
Maulolo believes that it is important to clarify the demands of the culture so that families are prevented from taking their obligations beyond what they can afford.
“Participation is very important in the culture, but it is difficult for some people to hold face in the family because they could not afford to meet the obligations demanded of them – in the end they would send in someone else with a token contribution they could afford while they stay home.
‘This goes against the culture where participation is the essence.”
Maulolo also went on to impresses the need for people to live within what their pocket can afford.
“ Don’t go beyond your means is how I would put it and this idea of no longer having to buy cartons of herrings in heading in the right direction towards avoiding the surplus of all that food that is unnecessary in the first place.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If only the ignorant Matais of Lefaga were the same as the matais in Sili.
This is what the people of Samoa needs.
Leaders who help lighten the ongoing BURDENS, (ie: faalavelaves, & $2000 saogameas everytime an uncle's wifes brothers daughters son gets married or has a saofai or even dies)
Comments
It's not the culture, it's ignorant people using the culture to get their way/for their own benefits.
E leai a gi mea faapea sa iai i aso anamua
It's all because ua too much GREED, plus, ua ova le fia tele ma le fia mata muamua when really, they got nothing to show for..