Moemōana Schwenke

Manifesting ideas 🌿💐💫When I make costumes from the land I am reminded of how innovative our Pacific people were and are. I mean… the skill and patience it would take to make a single ‘ie toga (fine mat) or siapo (bark cloth) is awe inspiring. The intricacy!!! Our Pacific ancestors honoured their sacred relationship with the land, as a living being, one that sustains us and must be sustained. A big creative process went into planning and creating fresh costumes last year — all created with a high level of cultural and environmental conscience. Special thank you to O Tahiti E & @poemoana_tahitian_dance_expert @mareikurab @tumata_vairaaroa for teaching me these skills in Tahiti. Choreography for this dance by @perle_renvoye. #tahiti #oritahiti #tahitiancostume #costume #pacificart

A backyard series 😆✨

A life to be grateful for 💖 Thank you to my friends and family who sent me beautiful messages, videos and gifts to wish me the best. Every gesture, big or small, means so much to me. My complete gratitude goes to my family who go to all lengths to make me feel special - definitely the most exciting lockdown day by far! I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who show me unconditional love.

Smiling through these memories that are like little drops of water in a vast ocean full of life. I’ve been given so much in this life to be thankful for. Celebrating monument birthdays in lockdown sends waves of happiness, but also complete uncertainty. I have faith that this next year of life will be as transformative as I’ve always imagined it to be, for myself and for everyone. Growing through what we go through, even if we feel the growth is slow. Thank you for sharing this online space with me — the best years are yet to come. #21

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I think the dance was so beautiful the skies began to cry💧Feeling empowered today by the words of a Hawaiian legend who fought for Indigenous sovereignty… “Our culture can’t just be ornamental and recreational […] Our culture has to be the core of our resistance, the core of our anger, the core of our mana” — Haunani-Kay Trask. Pacific Island cultures have taken me from one life-changing experience onto another, and I can’t wait to see what’s next... Video source: Tahiti Nui Télévision #tahiti #oritahiti #heivaitahiti #heiva #heivaitahiti2019 #teahonunui #toata #haunanikaytrask

Filled with joy to receive a copy of Siva Afi Teine Toa by @milasdm. An empowering story showcasing Samoan cultural values and history through the artform of Siva afi. Mila had emailed me explaining how she stumbled across a picture of me with my fire-knife, and how it inspired her to create this book. I never dreamt that I would be an inspiration for a children’s book and to see it unfold in the beautiful work of Mila’s Books makes me feel all types of emotions. This book is part of Mila’s ‘My Aganu’u Series’ and is the first set picture book stories, written, illustrated, designed and published by an all Pasifika team. For us, by us. If you needed a reminder to keep sharing your story, this is it!!! 🇼🇸🇦🇸🇳🇿🇫🇯🇹🇴🇨🇰🇵🇫🇦🇺🇫🇲🇰🇮🇲🇭🇳🇨🇵🇼🇸🇧🇹🇻🇵🇬🇻🇺🇼🇫🇳🇷 #samoa #teinetoa #sivaafi

Dreaming of better days 🌊...

All for Samoa 🇼🇸 #685

Last week we celebrated Samoa’s 59th year of Independence, and Samoan language week 🌺❤️ A timely proverb: O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota, e mama se avega pe a ta amo fa’atasi ~ “My strength does not come from me alone but from many.” I draw strength from the generations who came before me and the generations who are yet to come 🇼🇸 It is an honour to educate young children, like those in this photo, about Samoan cultural arts @matavaipacificculturalarts; with hope that the knowledge they learn will strengthen their identity... with hope that they leave our centre with their head held higher, proud of who they are and where they come from. Thank you to the Samoan pioneers of today who give rise to future generations daring to try such pathways; who remind us that we are so multi-faceted and revolutionary, who encourage us to embrace our authentic traits passed on from our ancestors and the societies that shaped us. Thank you to the Samoan pioneers of today taking up space in so many diverse industries, who prove that there is no one way to be, or express ✨Pasifika ✨ We owe it to our ancestors whose spiritual guidance continues to support and guide us; to remember and practise our dances, songs, language, stories and culture. #samoamosamoa #samoanlanguageweek #gaganasamoa #samoanindependenceday #teinetoa #nifooti #sivasamoa #sivaafi #pasifika #matavaipacificculturalarts #oceania

Sharing moments ~ 2 years ago this happened, a time I often reminisce about. Conquering the fear and the fire, in an all female category at the World Fire-Knife Championships. Since then, I’ve seen so many more women and girls take interest in the art form/cultural practise, and I’ve had the honour to teach many of them as well. This fills my heart with pride, love and joy. I can’t wait to do it all over again. Teine Toa rise up. #sivaafi #fireknife #samoa #polynesian

Grateful 🤎