‘The language of my dear mum’: Sāmoan edition of a healing children’s book releases

The Sāmoan co-founder of the global anti-violence movement She Is Not Your Rehab, says holding the Sāmoan translation of his debut children's book brought a deeply personal moment of emotion.

Matt Brown says it also connects his family story, his “dear mum’s” memory, and his work on healing from violence.

He says the release of E Le o Sau Avega E Amo, the Sāmoan version of This Is Not Yours To Carry, came on the five-year anniversary of his mother’s death from cancer.

The book was translated by Wellington-based Larissa Toelupe.

“Holding this pukapuka, this api [book], in the language of my dear mum, I started crying,” Brown says on Pacific Mornings.

Brown, who co-wrote the original book (released last year) with his wife Sarah, and had it illustrated by their eldest daughter, Oceana Olsen, says the story is rooted in his own upbringing and lived experience of trauma and recovery.

It follows a boy named Tai and other children as they learn that some burdens are not theirs to carry.

Brown says the release coincided with the five-year anniversary of him losing his mother to cancer.

“Never did my mum or my father imagine leaving Sāmoa one day to come to Aotearoa New Zealand for a better life, that our story would be turned into a book that would hopefully heal other families.”

Listen to Matt Brown’s full interview below.

Brown says he had always dreamed of getting their book translated into many languages, especially Pacific languages.

He says he and his wife wanted to provide language for children to understand that the burdens of domestic violence are not theirs to carry.

“If we gave children language of the inner world and what was happening at home, we wouldn't have the stats that we have around family violence, sexual abuse, all these things.”

On the ground at the Wellington book launch of E Le o Sau Avega E Amo. Photo/Facebook/531pi

Brown says they aim to donate 125,000 copies of the book to practitioners, schools, and children in refuges. So far they have already donated 20,000 copies globally through various funding partnerships, including support from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.

The rollout for the Sāmoan version began in Sāmoa two weeks ago in collaboration with Doris Tulifau, the founder of Brown Girl Woke. This was followed by a launch in Wellington last week and Māngere this week.

“[Tulifau’s] been sending us videos and messages from kids in the villages, children crying, and giving us their responses.

Matt Brown hopes that his book can give children the tools to unpack a harsh reality they may be experiencing at home. Photo/Unsplash

“We do some therapy around the book where we encourage our tamaiti [children] to write things that are heavy for them to carry. So kids are writing: mum and dad fighting or no mea ai [food] at home.

“Then the teachers are asking them to put it in a magical backpack, telling them that ‘this is not yours to carry’.”

Brown says they also received photos from a prison in Sāmoa where young men are holding and resonating with the book.

Matt Brown (left) alongside wife Sarah Brown. Photo/Facebook/531pi

“It’s really beautiful. Never in a million years did we ever think our story of trauma and pain and coming out on the other end would resonate with our communities. It's been a massive honour.”

Brown encourages people that breaking the cycle and becoming "everything you’ve never received” is possible, but requires that first leap.

“I always speak from my own story. I'm living proof that a boy who grew up in violence and sexual abuse for the first 15 years of my life, can dream of being something else and then actually be something else.

“But how I got there was being brave, courageous, and having conversations with people who were in my world.”

He says the first person that had modelled what healing looked like was his “blonde hair, blue eyed” music teacher in school. Brown says she shared her story of rehab and addiction, which made him and his peers feel seen.

“I want people to understand that your trauma and pain does not define who you are. Yes, your childhood trauma was not your fault. It's never a child's fault, but your healing is absolutely your responsibility.”

This release is the first in a series of 10 books focusing on adverse childhood experiences. Brown says future titles will cover topics like verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and suicide.

He adds the most courageous thing a community can do is own its story in its entirety.

To view the book, visit She Is Not Your Rehab’s website here, and to make a donation towards the team’s goal of 125,000 copies, click here.