Fono 4
It takes a village
Participants review all they have learned and reflect on their growth. They focus on communal and continual learning that took place around the kava or ‘avabowl, traditionally called the tāno‛a or tānoa. They commit to preserving the future of their culture, their children, by making a larger impact on their community through a village project related to the knowledge and skills learned in the fono.
Key Elements
- Welcome, Review and Follow Up
- Final Review
- Cultural Concept Tāno‛a or Tānoa
- Video: A Healthy Community
- It Takes a Village Project
- Break (Optional)
- Reflection Questions
- Post-Questionnaire
- Conclusion
Cultural concept tāno‛a or tānoa
In our Pacific culture, the tradition of drinking kava or ‘ava was practiced in the islands and has also followed Pacific Islanders in their migrations abroad.
Traditionally, the kava or ‘ava bowl was referred to as the tāno‛a (Tongan) or tānoa (Samoan). The tāno‛a or tānoa (kava or ‘ava bowl) was used as a space for learning and discussing social, political, and cultural issues. Many important family and community conversations took place around the tāno‛a or tānoa.
The tāno‛a or tānoa symbolizes communal learning, continual learning outside of the home, learning from elders (informed individuals) about best practices, and learning about culture.
The tāno‛a or tānoa was traditionally the father’s area for educating. This complemented the education received in the home or mother’s domain through the kaliloa or ‘aliloa. Both were nurturing spaces for children, the future of the clan.
Video: A Healthy Community
A Healthy Community is the sixth video in the community education and engagement series for It Takes a Village: Giving Our Babies the Best Chance. The focus of this video is the community’s part in solving the issue of infant mortality among Utah’s Pacific Islanders.
It Takes a Village project
The final activity challenges the village council to work together and make an impact on the larger community through a village project.