24/10/2026
“Ko e tau mena ne fakaako mai e tau tupuna ha tautolu, ko e tau mena ia ke fakaaue mo e fakatumau ke he tau atuhau ka mui mai. - What our ancestors taught us are things we should be grateful for and continue to pass down to the generations that follow”
Before Niue Language Week 2026 comes to a close, I want to pay homage to my Nena and her sisters, the beautiful women from whom I inherited my creativity and learned so much of what I know today.
Who would have ever thought that all these years later, the skills and talents I learned from them would become such a big part of who I am? What may have seemed like simple moments of learning back then have grown into something so meaningful today.
Today, I find myself creating, preserving our cultural traditions, and using those same talents to share our knowledge, skills, and heritage with a new generation. What was once passed down to me is now something I have the privilege of passing on to others.
I am so grateful for the women who planted those seeds in me, perhaps without ever knowing just how much they would grow. Through every creation, every pattern, and every piece of work, a little part of them lives on.
This is more than creativity. It is legacy. It is culture. It is the knowledge of our ancestors being carried forward through our hands and into the hands of the next generation.
Fakaaue lahi Mahaki Nena, for the gifts you unknowingly gave me. I hope that through what I create and what I teach, I can honour you and ensure that what you passed down to me continues to live on. 💛💛💛🇳🇺
