Growing up on Rotuma: Author celebrates language and culture with children's book

A new Pacific ebook and animation is sharing the "beauty of Rotuman culture and language" with children across Aotearoa.

Fupfupu ‘e Rotuma - Growing up on Rotuma - was launched last week by Pacific Kids’ Learning (PKL) ahead of Gasav ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta - Rotuman Language Week - which ends on Sunday.

Author Fesaitu Solomone, a Rotuman herself, says the book stresses the importance of young Rotumans, families and elders embracing their language, identity, and culture.

Watch Fesaitu Solomone’s interview on the NZ Languages Series below.

Solomone is the chief executive of the Centre for Pacific Languages and shares fond childhood memories of growing up in Rotuma.

“Writing for Pacific Kids’ Learning has allowed me to bring the beauty of Rotuman culture and language to children here in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the diaspora.

“This is the first time I’ve written a story like this, and it’s an honour to share my upbringing on Rotuma with a broader audience.”

Pacific Kids’ co-founder and education director Theresa Tupuola-Sorenson said Fupfupu 'e Rotuma aligns with the theme of the language week: Vetakia ‘os Fäega ma Ag fak hanua – Sustaining our Language and Culture.

She said Pacific Kids strives to support the preservation and celebration of Rotuma's language and culture by bringing fresh and engaging content to children, parents, and educators worldwide.

“The Pacific Digital Library works to strengthen cultural identity and expand the reach of traditional knowledge.

“By combining modern technology with cultural heritage, we are creating opportunities for children to connect with their roots while enjoying high-quality, engaging content.”

Solomone said the new content, developed with support from the Ministry of Education and is available in both Rotuman and English, “captures the essence of Rotuman heritage, highlighting elements such as family, faith, and intergenerational storytelling.

Solomone emphasises the importance of preserving Pacific languages and cultures for future generations.

Rotuman haharagi, youth, perform the traditional tautoga at Te Papa. Photo/Te Papa

“Fupfupu ‘e Rotuma is a message for our Rotuman communities – our young people, our families, and our elders – and the importance of us embracing our language, our identity, and our culture.

“We must recognise the gift of language and the importance of sustaining it for the future – be proud of who you are.”

Celebrations continue for Rotuman Language Week with activities planned through to Sunday by the Auckland Rotuman Fellowship, NZ Rotuman Fellowship and Mairani groups.

Rotuman language translator and tutor Nataniela Amato-Ali has a background in freight and logistics “but my passion is for language and linguistics”.

He was introduced to the space during the Covid-19 pandemic because people reached out.

“We needed messaging sent out to our Pacific communities in our Pacific languages because it was an important thing at the time,” he told Pacific Days’ Ma’a Brian Sagala. “I've always been passionate about the language, but not necessarily about the translation bit. It was a new discovery at the time.

“We've been in this space for about five years now. It has grown into working around translations for different stakeholders, and different organisations so that they translate work from English into Rotuman and from Rotuman into English. It's being able to bridge that gap in understanding between Rotuman and English speakers.”

“Sometimes when you're presented with an English text, given cultural sensitivities and other linguistic barriers, it can come across as abrupt, rude, it can deal with topics that are culturally sensitive or that aren't spoken, speaking of taboo topics for instance. So it's trying to navigate those sensitivities to get the message across to our Rotuman people.”

Amato-Ali tutors at the Centre for Pacific Languages and says the most challenging part of his work is “our alphabet”.

He said there are traditional reckonings with 30 different vowels, and the more conservative reckonings have 10.

There is also the lack of confidence and shame, he said.

“For me, it’s getting people to be interested in learning these different sounds in addition to the consonants.

“Teaching the language in a Western setting, in a classroom setting, we’re able to remove that shame because everybody there basically knows close to nothing about the language and so everybody's trying to help everybody move ahead.

“I’m very mindful of the feedback, putting a positive twist on things, always being encouraging, reinforcing a safe space for them to practise their language in.”

Rotuman Language Week events:

Fere (Jump) Friday: 6pm-8pm tonight: Bounce Avondale, 6 Jomac Place, West Auckland, hosted by Kingsland Rotuman Methodist Congregation. A free family fun night of active play with a Rotuman twist. Email kingslandtrinity@gmail.com.

Kato’aga (Celebration) Day, Auckland: 2pm Saturday hosted by Auckland Rotuman Fellowship, Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church. And 10am Saturday hosted by NZ Rotuman Fellowship Mairani, Marcellin College.

Kato’aga Day, Wellington: 2pm Saturday hosted by NZ Rotuman Fellowship Wellington, Brandon Intermediate School, Porirua.

PMN Rotuma is also covering celebrations in Fiji on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pmnrotuma

Rotuman Language Week wraps up on Sunday with thanksgiving services held across the motu. Next up on the NZ Language Series is Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoa Language Week from 26 May to 1 June.