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Anthropology ProgramTongan History Association NewsletterVol.2 No.1, July 1990Report from the Fourth Tongan History ConferenceThe Fourth International Tongan History Conference was held at the Pacific Islanders' Educational Resource Centre in Herne Bay, Auckland, from May 13 to May 20, 1990. Participants came from Tonga, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Canterbury, Wellington, Washington, D.C., and Auckland.The range of papers was unusually wide and rich, concerning many facets of Tongan history and culture and the overseas experience, with brief attention being paid to Fiji and Samoa. Papers included: "Lawyer man; Preacherman by Tasi Fakafanua; Tau'olunga and Ula; Me'etupaki and Kailaotheir differences by `Ana Loumoli; "A Comparison of Vasu/Fahu/Feagaiga by Drs. Penelope SchoeffelMeleisea and Kerry James;"7I 5 Years of the Tongan Parliament" by Dr. Pesi Wood; "Foreign Aid to Tonga and the Question of Dependency" by Dr. Ian Campbell; "The Problem of Dynastic Succession in Tongan History" by Leonaitasi Hoponoa; "Tongan Social Organisation" by `Okusitino Mahina; "The Dynamic of Language Levels in Tonga" by `Opeti Taliai; "The Arrival of the Right to be Heard" by Nelson Tupou; "Cultural Differences: Malaita Experience and Tonga" by Father Filipo Motulalo; "Wallis within the Kingdom of Tonga" by Dr. Nancy Pollock; "Tongan Radio Broadcasts" by Wai Tufui; "Missing Persons: Children in the History of Tonga" by Helen Kavapalu; "Kie Hingoa" by Dr. Adrienne Kaeppler; "Pathways to the Tongan Present" by Professor Kurt During; "Tonga: Architecture and Rationale" by Tomui Kaloni; "Tongan School Achievement," a panel of speakers led by Karl Tu'inukuafe; "The Concept of Tau'ataina" by Dr. Aletta Biersack; "Tongans and the Mass Media" by Sefita Hao'uli; "The Growth of the Anglican Church in Tonga" by Bishop Fine Halapua; and "The Health of Auckland Tongans" by Dr. Leopino Foliaki.On Friday, March 18th, participants traveled by bus to Hamilton, New Zealand, where they spent the evening at the Youth Hostel Marae and were entertained at several faka `afe and a dance organized by the Tongan community in Hamilton. Our special hostess in Hamilton was Mrs. `Ema Bourne, interim Chairperson of the Tongan Society Hamilton. On Saturday the group was treated to a tour of the Waikato Museum of Art and History (Te Whare Taonga o Waikato), and we traveled to Turangawaewae Marae of the Maori Queen, where we were formally received and served an elaborate buffet spread.At a plenary meeting of conference participants in Hamilton, it was decided to hold the 1991 meeting in Hawaii in a month that is convenient for the majority (probably August). Though Dr. Latukefu was not present, he has since been notified of this decision and is exploring possible venues in Hawaii. It was also agreed that the use of visuals and performance to illustrate papers should be encouraged; and it was suggested that in the future, participants might attempt to organize a series of papers on particular topics to allow for greater depth in presentations and discussions. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESSThough his health did not allow him to travel to the THA Conference, Dr. Latukefu, President of THA, sent along a taped message to participants. The following is the transcript of that tape, which was supplied to all conference participants. Mr. Chairman, Organisers of the 4th Tongan History Workshop, Edgar Tu'inukuafe in particular, Members of the Tonga History Association, and Friends: It is with deep regret that I am unable to join you at our Conference this week. My thoughts and prayers are with you, however, and I am sure that this meeting will be as fruitful and as enjoyable as the previous ones we have had. Edgar asked me to send you this message wishing you success and reminding you once again of the importance of what we are endeavouring to do, and its urgency. Interestingly, just a few days ago, a young, highly qualified public servant phoned me from Tonga, asking for information concerning the history of the airport at Fua'amotu. Unfortunately, I know very little about it myself. After discussing possible locations of relevant written records, we turned our attention to oral sources. We found that a few elderly people at Fua'amotu and Pelehake can still remember stories about the beginning of the airport's construction, but sadly, when we tried to think of anyone still alive, who could have been involved in or knew anything about the early discussions, the decisions and the plans to build it, we could not think of anyone. This tragic situation can be applied to many other areas of our history, and it vividly illustrates the urgency and importance of what we are trying to do. Before we can make any attempt to produce a sound, well informed and uptodate general history of Tonga, we need to have properly 3researched microhistories of various facets of life in Tonga. Young scholars or retired public servants, school teachers, medical personnel, lawyers and other professionals, must be encouraged and assisted to help those of you who are professional historians, ethnographers and others working in the field, to achieve this objective while those older people with a wealth of important information locked up in their heads, are still around. Otherwise, some of these people will take their vital life experiences to their graves, lost forever. This has already happened with the passing of many older Tongans who were historically important during their lifetime.The following are a few examples of research areas which should be undertaken: (a) Biographies of national, church and community leaders people who have made important contributions to the development of Tonga Tongans and expatriates alike. Late last year, I had the privilege of examining a very good thesis by a young New Zealand scholar, Stephen Donald, from St. John's Theological College in Auckland, which had been jointly supervised by his lecturers and Salesi Havea from Sia'atoutai. It was on the work of Bishop Willis of the Anglican Church and dealt also with the history of the early Anglican Church in Tonga an important contribution to our knowledge of a less familiar aspect of our history. I was so impressed with it that I recommended strongly its preparation for publication which I am glad to hear is being done at the moment. (b) Family histories There are well known families who have contributed significantly to our development. Some have unfortunately ceased to be prominent, making the recording and analysing of their past histories very urgent. Others are continuing and new ones are now emerging. All of them should at least be encouraged to preserve their written records and family documents. (c) Village or District histories Who among us Tongans can honestly say that he or she knows the history of his or her own village well? We occasionally get this kind of history indirectly from the work of anthropologists. Should we not encourage more of them to contribute to our efforts rather than discouraging them by our rather unfortunate professional jealousy and extremely negative and nationalistic attitudes towards outside researchers? (d) Church histories some have already been written but they need to be brought up to date, including the Anglican one I referred to earlier. I understand that the Mormon Church is to produce their history soon. All the very best for their efforts. Other Churches such as the Seventh Day Adventist, the Bahai, Tonga Tau'ataina, Tonga Hou'eiki, Siasi Konisitutone and Tokaikolo need to be looked at. (e) School histories Local schools should be encouraged to produce simple histories of their schools as school projects, and major colleges that have produced outstanding scholars and citizensmen and womenwho played key roles in Tonga's development, should be studied in a 4 more professional way. I understand that Na'a Fiefia is working on a history of Tonga College, and Feleti Sevele on the history of `Apifo'ou. l hope they are progressing well with their research and writing, and we look forward to reading the endproducts of these endeavors. Liahona, St Andrews, Piula, Tonga High, Tupou High, `Atenisi, Tupou and Queen Salote College and others ought to be studied. Other histories such as those of Health; Agriculture; Fishing; involvement in commerce; Parliament; sports, particularly those of Rugby Union and Boxing of course!! and I am sure you can think of a host of others worthy of professional investigation. May I conclude this short and rather chatty address by emphasising once again the importance of using oral research properly and critically. l have published a journal article and two chapters in books on various aspects of this topic [see below], including its strengths and weaknesses, and have used it extensively in all research I have carried out, to supplement written records. They may be worth looking at by those of you who are new to the game and are still unfamiliar with its techniques. Today, many of my informants in Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and other parts of the Pacific are no longer with us, but I am grateful for the valuable information they willingly and unselfishly provided for me. Interestingly, their descendants take great pride in the fact that the names of their loved ones are now remembered in their published works. Once again, may I wish everyone of you a wonderfully successful and enjoyable week. Sione Latukefu,
President Tongan History Association Bibliography on Tongan Oral History Latukefu, Sione. 1966. "Oral Traditions: An Appraisal of Their Value in Historical Research in Tonga," Journal of Pacific History 3. Proceedings of the First Tongan History ConferenceTarget Oceania, a group within the Department of Pacific and Southeast Asian History, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, is finalizing the proceedings of the first Tongan History Conference. Titled Tongan Culture and History and edited by Phyllis Herda, Jennifer Terrell, and Niel Gunson, the volume should be available by the end of the year. The next THA Newsletter will contain information about how to purchase a copy.Edgar Tu'inukuafe is planning to publish the proceedings of the second Tongan History Conference through the Pacific Islanders' Educational Resource Centre. The Newsletter will carry information about this volume as well. PMB Films Tongan ArchivesThe Pacific Manuscripts Bureau has received authorization from HRH Tu'i Pelehake, who heads the Tonga Traditions Committee, to film the papers of that committee. These archives are presently housed in the Palace Office, Nuku'alofa. The project is being conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, the Tongan Government.The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau is devoted to preserving important documents related to Pacific island culture and history in microfilm form. The filming of the papers of the Tonga Traditions Committee is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The microfilm will be available for scholarly use in the participating libraries and institutes associated with the Tonga project. These are Alexander Turnbull Library (Wellington), Mitchell Library (Sydney), Menzies Library (ANU, Canberra), the library of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu), Australian National Library (Canberra), and the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies (Christchurch). Research NotesKerry James and Penny Schoeffel Meleisea are working on a comparative study of the institutions of vasu in Fiji, fahu in Tonga, and feagaiga in Samoa, showing how similar structural formsof brother, sister, and their issueare differently manfiested in patrilineal and cognatic structures of succession and inheritance. Kerry presently holds a 6month fellowship at the newly formed MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch (see below); and she will be working on an ethnography of a fishing village in Vava'u and articles on gender, myth, and polity. Her mailing address is: MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury, Christchurch I New Zealand. Penny, whose research is on Samoa, is working for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Social Science Unit, and can be reached at: Ham Research Centre, 27 Creyke Road, PO Box 29181, Christchurch, New Zealand.Together with Phyllis Herda (History, Victoria University of Wellington), Malama Meleisea of the MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, and Judith Huntsman (Anthropology, University of Auckland), Kerry and Penny are also working on a study of the "dense comparisons" that can be made between Samoa and Tonga. Topics to be covered include the transformation of political structures and gender distinctions in each island group and the distinct cultural concepts of the appropriate construction of the past. The resulting book will be published early next year by the University of Canterbury Press in conjunction with the MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies.Phyllis Herda is beginning a project on the influenza epidemic of 1918. She welcomes any information members may have on the epidemic or names and addresses (in Tonga or overseas) of survivors of the epidemic. She may be contacted at: History Department, Victoria University, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand ([04] 721000 ext. 8354). Focus on The MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific StudiesThe MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies is a relatively new center located at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Its mandate is to investigate and research "the history, traditions, customs, laws and ideas of the peoples of the Pacific generally, and more especially of the indigenous people of New Zealand, its islands, Polynesia and adjacent islands." The Centre sponsors research through research grants and fellowships and it contributes to programs of study at the honors, masters, and doctoral levels in the field of Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury.The Centre will host a major conference every other year on themes of interest and relevance to the people of the Pacific islands and the academic community. From November 12 to 16 of this year the Centre will host a conference on Land Tenure and Development in the Pacific Islands. Papers are invited on the following themes: the contemporary function of customary land tenure systems; the exercise of traditional land rights and usage of customary land within modern economies; 7credit schemes, commercial agriculture and development within the framework of customary tenure; the operation of land courts and tribunals; and new directions in land development policies. For inquiries and bookings, write Dr. Malama Meleisea, Director, MacMillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury, Private Bag, Christocurch, New Zealand. PeopleAs a result of the recent Auckland meeting, the THA has several new members, whom we hope to see at future meetings. These include:1) Kurt During: Kurt is Chair and Professor, Scientific Study for thePacific Islands. His photographic essay on the history of Tonga,Pathways to the Tongan Present, has just been published and it contains a forward by His Majesty the King. Within the next few years he plans to tour Central Europe combining lecturing on Tongan history and culture with a slide show and a presentation of Tongan dances. He has already lectured on this topic at Stanford University, USA; The University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA; Goethe Institute (Germany); and the World Congress of Historians, Stuttgart (Germany).2) Brother Marcel: Brother Marcel, a Marist, teaches at St. Paul's College in Auckland, which he calls "a very Polynesian school." In Auckland he associates most closely with Samoans and Tongans, though he also knows members of the Maori community there.3) Ellis Gilmer: Ellis is at present studying full time at Auckland University for a Diploma in England Language Teaching. Previously she has taught English and journalism at Auckland Girls Grammar School, where she was in charge of the Tongan group.Epeli Hau'ofa was a visitor in the Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, in April and May. Epeli was doing research on his next project, a novel based on the World War II experience of Misima, the island off the coast of mainland Papua New Guinea where Epeli grew up. While in Canberra he gave a presentation in the Department of Pacific and Southeast Asian History, Research School of Pacific Studies, on the history of the University of the South Pacific over the last two decades. Membership DriveThe THA Newsletter is available twice a year to members of the Tongan History Association. Membership costs $10.00 yearly for salaried people and $5.00 yearly for students, retirees, and farmers; any currency is acceptable. Checks should be sent to Salote Fukofuka, USP Centre, Box 278, Nuku'alofa.The membership year runs from July 1 to June 30. Members who have not yet paid dues should do so for the 199091 year. The membership of anyone who has already paid one years membership dues will be extended throughout the 199091 period. There will be no need to pay further dues for this period. However, all members will be expected to resubscribe on July I, 1991, for the 199192 period.Anyone who does not pay membership dues by the end of the year will not receive the next issue of the THA Newsletter. Checks should be sent to Salote Fukofuka, USP Centre, Box 278, Nuku'alofa.Next IssueReview: During, Kurt. l990. Pathways to the Tongan Present (`Uuni Hala ki Tonga he Kuonga ni). Nuku'alofa: Government Printing Department.Archive: The holdings of the Alexander Turnbull Library (Wellington) pertaining to the history and culture of Tonga.Progress: Plans for the fifth Tongan History Conference, Hawaii.Editor's Note: The editor would like to carry information concerning Tongan scholars' research plans. This will not only provide general information but will enable scholars whose interests overlap to get in touch with one another. Also, all subscribers are welcome to submit short summaries and review of current texts on Tongan history and culture. If you would like to share information concerning your research with other Tongan scholars and/or publish a review, submit materials to the Newsletter editor, Aletta Biersack, Department of Anthropology, RSPacS, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia, or, after September 15th, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA. Content Approved by: Head of School
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