We, the Voyagers: Our Vaka
We, the Polynesian voyagers of Taumako, Solomon Islands, share our history, motivations, and skills, through story-telling, canoe building, and wayfinding. We recall our ancestors, who made the greatest of human migrations. We use only the designs, materials, and methods of our culture-hero, Lata, who built the first voyaging canoe (vaka) and navigated to distant islands. When Europeans took over we became isolated. To help us regain sustainability, Chief Kaveia, our most experienced navigator, led us in training new generations to plant gardens, feed workers, make rope from plants, weave and sew sails, protect our trees, adze parts for voyaging canoes, and lash them together. Kaveia also enlisted an anthropologist to help us make this film. After he died in 2009, we built a vaka and Chief Holani, Kaveia’s former crew, became our new Lata and prepared us for the test of an open ocean voyage. The story of Lata teaches us that everyone is welcome in Lata’s crew, and that we can avoid making certain mistakes as we strive to connect with long-lost family and new friends on faraway shores.
Primary Title
- We, the Voyagers: Our Vaka
Date Broadcast
- Wednesday 28 October 2020
Duration
- 57:12
Episode
- 1
Channel
- Vaka Taumako Project
Broadcaster
- Vimeo
Programme Description
- We, the Polynesian voyagers of Taumako, Solomon Islands, share our history, motivations, and skills, through story-telling, canoe building, and wayfinding. We recall our ancestors, who made the greatest of human migrations. We use only the designs, materials, and methods of our culture-hero, Lata, who built the first voyaging canoe (vaka) and navigated to distant islands. When Europeans took over we became isolated. To help us regain sustainability, Chief Kaveia, our most experienced navigator, led us in training new generations to plant gardens, feed workers, make rope from plants, weave and sew sails, protect our trees, adze parts for voyaging canoes, and lash them together. Kaveia also enlisted an anthropologist to help us make this film. After he died in 2009, we built a vaka and Chief Holani, Kaveia’s former crew, became our new Lata and prepared us for the test of an open ocean voyage. The story of Lata teaches us that everyone is welcome in Lata’s crew, and that we can avoid making certain mistakes as we strive to connect with long-lost family and new friends on faraway shores.
Classification
- Unknown
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captioning Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by agreement with rights owner.
Subjects
- Canoes and canoeing--Solomon Islands
- Ethnology--Solomon Islands--Santa Cruz Islands
- Documentary films--Solomon Islands
- Documentary films--United States
Genres
- Boat
- Community
- Documentary
- History
- Interview
- Science
- Travel
Contributors
- Marianne George (Director)
- Marianne George (Executive Producer)
- H.M. Wyeth (Director)
- H.M. Wyeth (Executive Producer)
- Dixon Holland (Producer)
- Jacob Penchansky (Producer)
- Simon Salopuka (Producer)
- Dixon Holland (Director)
- Jacob Penchansky (Director)
- Serge Marcil (Editor)
- Jacob Penchansky (Editor)
- Simon Salopuka (Narrator)
- George Koloso Kahia Kaveia (Interviewee)
- Marianne George (Narrator)
- Vaka Taumako Project (Production Unit)
- Pacific Traditions Society (Production Unit)
Subjects
- Canoes and canoeing--Solomon Islands
- Ethnology--Solomon Islands--Santa Cruz Islands
- Documentary films--Solomon Islands
- Documentary films--United States