Diaspora welcomes first Solomon Islands Language Week in NZ

The first Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week is underway across Aotearoa with the theme ‘Protektim langguis an kalsa blong yumi - protect our language and culture’.

Due to their exam timetable, South Auckland’s Manurewa High School started marking the occasion a week earlier.

The school’s Ngā Tupuna Pacific coordinator, Caroline Bishop, said they had celebrated all the other Pacific language weeks and wanted to continue.

[Left to right] Roy Fifita, Caroline Bishop and Jel-C Westerlund. Photo/PMN News/Sariah Magaoa

“On Monday, we had our flag raising at lunch time, and we kept it short because we didn't have any [Solomon Islander], we haven't been able to connect with any Solomon Island community, but with that being said, we still went ahead and celebrated the language week anyway.

Year 12 student leader Jel-C Westerlund (Niue) participated in the flag-raising ceremony.

“To be honest, I didn’t actually know very much, and the point of me here today is because I’m in the Pacific Council, but it’s also to get to know it more.”

Year 11 student Roy Fifita (Tonga) was also there to support the occasion.

“I don’t have much knowledge of what the Solomon Islands are and what they’re about, but I just know that being part of the Pacific Council, I can continue to gain that knowledge of the islands.”

The Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week is the 11th and final cultural celebration of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' 2024 language week series.

Bishop said protecting the Pacific language and culture is important and emphasised hearing and speaking the language at home.

“We need to teach our kids even if we know little. It goes a long way … that's my word of encouragement to all of us.

“Language is very important … that's who you are, and without you knowing where and who you are, you won't know where you come from.”

Solomon Islands flag-raising at Manurewa High School. Photo/PMN News/Sariah Magaoa

PMN Solomon Islands host Trixy Ibnul said the diverse nation shared was brought together by the Pidgin language, a simplified version of English and local words.

“We are a Melanesian country that has more than 80 languages, more than 60 dialects. So the only thing that actually glues us together as Solomon Islanders is the Pidgin English.”

The Solomon Islands Language Week represents an opportunity to celebrate, preserve and share the unique cultural identity of the Solomon Islands with broader communities across Aotearoa.

The closing ceremony will be this Saturday and will be hosted in Hamilton.

For more information, go to https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes/pacific-language-weeks/solomon-islands-language-week/

Watch the full interview below.