Pacific pathways to the prevention of sexual violence.

Abstract

In formal rituals of encounter, whether these gatherings are to initiate, strengthen or re-establish the boundaries of vā relationships between people, between people and their divinities, or with their environments, siapo (tapa) is one traditional element used in the practice of presentation and reciprocity to honour human connections. Siapo also has functional purposes in people’s daily lives. The image of the siapo mamanu is presented here as a medium – one which together with tatau – pe’a and malu (male and female tattoo) has already captured the imagination of Samoan young people living in New Zealand. What enduring message can the siapo provide from within fa’aSamoa? The siapo mamanu uses symbols from cosmos, marine, and physical environments, which have meanings attached to Samoa’s origins and the interconnectedness of all living things. What endures in the fa’asamoa are encounters of mutual respect for self and others. Siapo mamanu and the many other sacred manifestations of Samoan rituals of encounter ‘rise to the fullness of their dignity’ when the messages that they carry speak to the Samoan heart and soul.