LAEI O SAMOA - SU'A LOTOMALIE SULUAPE TATAU

It was a priviledge and honour to capture the journey of my friend/uso George Tuli, together with his sister Martha Tuli, and their cousin Papali'i Ramsay Suilima-Sula and his wife Lotte.

I am extremely proud of them, and spoke often to George about his journey prior to the first tap of the au (tattoo tool). We spoke at length of not just the usual 'E ta muamua le gutu ae le ta le vae', the expectation of not just speaking, but connecting it to understanding how we stand, walk, and serve our families, village, country, God. I see you do this in your own humble way brother, despite what you may think otherwise. This is another step of how you honour our people.

Thank you too to Su'a Lotomalie Suluape, Faiumu, Tofilau, Levi, and Faasavalu for continuing to carry on a practise that has been in your family for many many generations. E mo'i lava le tala, O le tele o sulu, e maua ai figota, e māmā se avega pe a ta amo faatasi. Malo lava le tautua faamaoni.

Our traditional tattoo, the Pe'a is something unique and special to Samoa. I wanted to be there with the others sitting, grounded in to the earth with you, where your blood returned, like our placenta, our sacred clothes after a wedding, and where we would return for our final journey. I wanted to share the pain with you, as is expected by family and friends. At times, I could see your struggle, like I saw Papali'is, Lotte and Marthas too, and I wanted to do more, yet all I could do was film, and try to share your journey. I was encouraged by you all daily. I fell more in love with our culture, with what our parents, and ancestors have done for us for many many years. It was a pleasure to connect and meet Papali'i and Lotte. Quiet, strong, humble people seem to run in the family, a Lufilufi trait I am sure now. I wanted to document this for you uso George, and for Iosia and Mateni, and ofcourse, for your wife Krista who has such a serving heart for our aganu'u ma lou aiga. But most of all I wanted to record this for the ORIGINAL artist, Tufuga himself your brother Teni whom I miss alot. Every strike of the au, I thought of his artistry, every flinch or grimace, I thought of Teni's unwavering loyalty, but most of all at the end of your journey, I thought of his pride in our culture and love for his aiga. Martha was right, your dad and Ten would have been proud.

Alofa tele atu 03 aiga, to the Tuilima-Sula, and Tuli family, I am humbled to have played a tiny part in your malaga. I know you will all wear our Laei o Samoa with true dignity. Viia le atua, Glory to God alone, ma le fa’aaloalo lava JT.

Thanks to my sons Malosi and Talavou for helping with the edit.

Copyright © 2022 Faalavaau Jeremiah Tauamiti, All Rights Reserved. All the videos, songs and images used in this documentary are subject to copyright and cannot be used without permission. Any reproduction or illegal distribution of the content in any form will result in legal action.

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