Isiah Cambridge (Ute/Núuch and Diné/Navajo) and Samoana Matagi (Tagata Sāmoa and Papalagi) join this episode to discuss culture, language, and relationships to place. We reflect on work we have done at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai where Isiah has taught Diné Bizaad (Navajo language) classes and Samoana continues to run a monthly Friday Fono (Faikava workshop) and regular Umu (underground earth oven cooking) demonstrations. We reflect on Indigenous knowledge projects as they introduce themselve...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 55
This episode begins by attempting to tackle some bigger questions about religion, belief, and spirituality. I share some different approaches to analysing religion using thinkers like Talal Asad and Émile Durkheim , in order to explore concepts like ‘religion’ itself and the ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’. I also consider Indigenous Reflections on Christianity to explore the tensions and compromises with religion (Christianity) and Indigenous peoples , including ideas from Vine Deloria Jr . and John Tru...
Jul 22, 2025•51 min•Ep. 54
This episode features poet, author, and intellectual Moana ‘Ulu‘ave-Hafoka. The catalyst for this discussion was a recently released YouTube video by former Mormon author and YouTuber Alyssa Grenfell, titled Tonga is 60% Mormon?????? , which has currently been viewed more than 200k times since being posted. This video references one of Moana’s articles , so as nerds of Tonga, Indigeneity, and Mormonism, we wanted to add further complexity to some of what was shared on that platform. We discuss n...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 53
Dr. Kehaulani Fagatele-Folau joins this episode to introduce her doctoral research. We begin with Indigenous concepts and methods she used from the Madau-Moana to make sense of some of the colonial contexts Indigenous women of Oceania traverse in the academy. Some themes we discuss include Indigenous feminism, interconnectivity, sharing space, and relational ethics by using Niu/Neo/Knew Tā-Vā. Fagatele-Folau shares a re-imagined R.I.P. acronym, and deploys it as metaphor for laying to rest syste...
May 01, 2025•36 min•Ep. 52
This episode introduces an idea Dr. Hafoka and I have been working through and developing, inspired by and extending out of the undercommons. We reflect on intellectuals that remain connected to home communities or who emerge organically from communities. We also consider the re-framing of study as common knowledge or as a shared and subversive project grounded in the Black Radical Tradition, which is revealed in the multiple embodied identities we traverse. Undercommons/Undercurrents examples i...
Mar 13, 2025•42 min•Ep. 51
This episode begins with a reflection on this podcast project reaching its 50th episode. I share some additional background and future plans, including some of the symbolism behind the WAI logo. This episode introduces some ideas from the article, Indigeneity as a Post-Apocalyptic Genealogical Metaphor , which explores the metaphysics of indigeneity - Indigenous metaphysics through a global Indigenous consciousness. In conclusion, a diverse range of Indigenous experiences are presented in the co...
Feb 02, 2025•57 min•Ep. 50
This episode seeks to share an understanding of coloniality as a global system by engaging with the Matrix film series franchise, focusing on the initial trilogy. The Matrix trilogy is applied as a metaphor to build critical consciousness of coloniality, settler-colonialism, and Indigeneity, while also exploring other social constructions. This compliments an early episode on modernity and Indigeneity and confronts the world as we know it. References: Liliana Conlisk Gallegos – Thinking Colonial...
Jan 03, 2025•40 min•Ep. 49
This episode focuses on ideas about critical thinking in systems of power. Topics include critical pedagogy, critical consciousness, belief, agnotology (study of ignorance), and aesthetics as ethics. Concepts mentioned include the banality of evil and the illusory effect with pop culture references to the films Don’t Look Up and The Lorax as well as the TV Series Barbaren ( Barbarians ). The reflection shared draws on historical perspectives and contexts to thoughtful questioning and remembering...
Nov 14, 2024•42 min•Ep. 48
Lana Lopesi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon interested in Indigenous and Women of Colour Feminisms, Contemporary Art, and Global Indigeneities. We begin this episode by reflecting on both of our recent shifts in social and political context moving from Aotearoa-New Zealand to the continental United States. This episode covers terms and the differences of scale across societies, feminisms including Sāmoan perspectives, and an analysis of various systems of power from the mac...
Apr 22, 2024•39 min•Ep. 47
Indigenous Tongan scholars Dr. Ka‘ili and Dr. Hafoka join this episode of remembering the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the impact of Mate Ma‘a Tonga. We reflect on the background to doing research at that time and thinking about the geopolitics of sport alongside an exploration of Tongan Indigeneity. One of the iconic moments we recall is the roll of diaspora and descendant populations having the opportunity to play for Tonga with an international rule change allowing overseas players to repr...
Mar 04, 2024•51 min•Ep. 46
Kehaulani Folau is a Madau-Moana (Oceanian) scholar and doctoral student of education, and Tino is a critical educator and activist. We discuss ‘diversity’ in the context of dominant schooling institutions, including its impact and limitations. Our talanoa/platica is inspired by recent legal acts to ban diversity initiatives, and Tino’s online commentary “ DEI can’t save us, so why do we try so hard to save it ?”. We critically reflect on the institutional limits of diversity initiatives, imagin...
Jan 31, 2024•44 min•Ep. 45
This episode features Moana Iose who is an artist and Indigenous art policy consultant, as well as the founder of Salt Lake City’s Pasifika First Fridays and the Lost Eden Gallery. We begin with a look back to our global crossing of paths and our shared connections at Auckland Uni. Moana was involved in the ‘I too am Auckland’ project while she studied at Waipapa Taumata Rau (formerly Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau, a.k.a. University of Auckland), where she drew inspiration from Black studen...
Aug 01, 2023•49 min•Ep. 44
Building on an earlier episode about Critical Tongan Studies , Ata and I revisit this idea and discuss the various waves that make up a rich intellectual tradition based in the regions associated with Tonga. Acknowledging the social and national construction at a particular point in time we seek to localise and unpack the context where different philosophical traditions emerged by imagining both a pre- and post- Kingdom of Tonga context. We don’t cover everything, but we spend some time on the f...
Jul 03, 2023•48 min•Ep. 43
This episode begins with some reflections on my experience and relations to people of place and to being mindful of where one lives, especially if one’s immediate ancestral ties lie elsewhere. I think about responsibilities and possibilities of relating differently and better to where I currently reside by digging deeper beyond the dominant understandings of Indigenous people and issues here in Utah. I highlight a variety of sources by Indigenous folks in order to respect their capacity and list...
May 31, 2023•41 min•Ep. 42
Ata and I have just published a paper on Tongan Coloniality which this episode provides a brief introduction to as well as a bit of background behind this research project. Prior to successfully publishing this paper we were getting blocked within academia when making attempts to discuss Indigenous issues from a Tonga context in relation to global perspectives. Questions of Tongan Indigeneity have regularly been raised due to the dominant idea and definition of Indigeneity based on minoritized p...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 41
This episode takes a sneak peak into one of our whānau hui (family meetings/gatherings) where we reflect on a recent move we have made. The tamariki (children) share some insights and observations of living in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and now in Soonkahni (Salt Lake), including nationalism in schools, political ideologies, language, and foods. My partner and I reflect on their comments further and share some thoughts about accessing and living in these different places. We conclude with some o...
Dec 30, 2022•42 min•Ep. 40
This episode features post graduate student Dorothy Savieti who has been interested in and researching fahu (chiefly sister, aunt, relative, etc.) within Tongan culture and society. She shares an introduction to thinking about this significant identity and role within family clans that are commonly known for their ceremonial position and function in life events. We discuss how there are a variety of perspectives and understandings throughout time, as well as ongoing changes occurring, while high...
Dec 23, 2022•24 min•Ep. 39
Yucatec Maya Anthropologist Genner Llanes-Ortiz joins this episode from his current position as research chair of digital Indigeneities at the Bishop’s university in Canada. He shares some of his background in anthropology, Indigenous rights, and linguistics throughout the world. We discuss Dr. Llanes-Ortiz article Cos-Maya-Politan Futures where he coins this term to identify cultural and historical heritage that is contemporarily mobilised in the Maya region and transcends modern national borde...
Dec 14, 2022•58 min•Ep. 38
David Fa‘avae joins this episode bringing with him his experience as a Tongan/Sāmoan with ties to Niue, and as a founder of the early Tongan scholars network, a Senior Research Fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland), and Senior Lecturer at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato (University of Waikato). Ata and I discuss with Dave some of his intellectual background that seeks to respond to community needs, as well as some of his research interests with intergenerationality, education, and de...
Aug 27, 2022•58 min•Ep. 37
Returning guests : Philosopher, writer , and PhD student Anisha Sankar and soon to be Assistant Professor of Pacific Island Studies at the University of Oregon and author of Bloody Woman Lana Lopesi. Contents : This episode gives some background to the anthology project Towards a Grammar of Race in Aotearoa New Zealand to be published by Bridget Williams Books in Sept/Oct 2022. We reflect back on the beginning of a reading group that culminated into this project, drawing from Jodi Byrd’s The Tra...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 36
This episode features educator and city councilperson Jacob Fitisemanu along with community leader and educator 'Inoke Hafoka. They discuss some of the background to a recent community tatau/tātatau event that took place in Utah. We learn some of the background to the history of Ocean peoples in Utah and move into the beginning of this group’s tatau journeys with tufuga Li'aifaiva before the pandemic took off, which finished two years later once travel restrictions eased. We discuss ideas and co...
May 31, 2022•55 min•Ep. 35
Grant training specialist for ANA (Administration for Native Americans) and Diné (Navajo) educator Rich White joins this episode to share some stories and wisdom on a variety of topics including facing challenges in education, seeking balance in life, and relational knowledge in protocol. We challenge dominant ideas of fixed trajectories, the importance of being flexible and mobile in grey areas, and moving in and out of multiple worlds. In addition, we also reflect on other themes such as land ...
Apr 01, 2022•56 min•Ep. 34
This episode starts by contextualizing current issues and how kava is connected to them. I also confront some of the various impacts of commodification and commercialization within a larger context of ecological and economic crisis. Is kava threatened of being gentrified? Do you know where your kava comes from and how it was processed, what it contains, or how it got to you? Have you thought about the different varieties of kava, their parts, or its chemical composition? I conclude with an ances...
Mar 15, 2022•37 min•Ep. 33
This episode builds on the previous discussion with Dr. Aporosa and explores some of the Tongan kava stories compiled in the book Tongan Tales and Myths (Gifford, 1924). Tongan intellectual 'Inoke Hu'akau's position is that kava stories are part of a cosmological identity based in stories of creation, kava, and the Gods. Hu'akau has proposed that kava stories are constructed for social and political purposes, which "serve as the mode of operation for society" (see 'Kava: A mitre touch of a maste...
Feb 24, 2022•44 min•Ep. 32
Luka is Samoan, Han Chinese, and Ashkenazi Jewish, autistic, dyspraxic, and fa‘atama. They join this episode to share some of their research that critically looks at climate action and justice. While Luka is inspired by the pressing necessity of Pacific climate justice, and supports the declared aims of the movement, they have struggled with the engagements with gender and disability within it. Who has the power to represent "the Pacific" and how? In which images? We discuss how language is impo...
Dec 21, 2021•58 min•Ep. 31
This kōrero/talanoa with Teri (Ngāti Hineoneone) and Shane (Tagata Sāmoa) shares some of their stories about growing up on and near the Whanganui river, their experience working in public service, and some insights on the recent sci-fi film release of Dune. We unpack some words and concepts relating to identity and worldview, issues of accessibility and ethics in libraries and government sectors, treaty rights, and socio-political, ecological, and cultural insights on the film Dune (with spoiler...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 30
Prior to opening the main discussion the host contextualises the current delta variant lockdown that is resulting in an online semester delivery that Dr. Andrea Low is helping out with. There are a couple of examples given of early 20th century commercial representations of the Pacific and issues of skilled performances and musical innovation entangled within race, power, and colonialism. Discussion with Dr. Low begins at 14:16 Curator and ethnomusicologist Andrea Low joins this episode to discu...
Sep 13, 2021•50 min•Ep. 29
This episode reviews and reflects on recent pop culture alongside Ata Siulua. We discuss the Loki series and some possible ways to interpret concepts of time in the show. From the time variance authority as a metaphor of colonisation to nexus events that re-calibrate time, with a mix of insights, laughs, and a bit of ranting throughout.
Aug 09, 2021•41 min•Ep. 28
Educators ‘Inoke Hafoka and Tino Diaz join this episode to think together about the regions of Latin America and Oceania, their ideas, peoples, and relations. We discuss ancient, colonial, religious, and contemporary entanglements, as well as solidarity, and connections, in order to explore how to speak about and build on them. From food connections to black birding (Pacific slavery) that has led to descendants from each region ending up in the other in the late 19th to early 20th century. Addit...
Jul 19, 2021•37 min•Ep. 27
Public health and Pacific studies scholar Edmond Fehoko joins this episode to discuss his research on problem gambling, addictive behaviours, and culture among Tongan men. He confronts sensitive topics head on such as gender issues, exploitation of cultural values, family impact, and religion. We discuss traditional games of chance and new contexts of contemporary gambling practices, class status, large church donations, and future research interests that extend into digital harms online. Due to...
Jul 16, 2021•31 min•Ep. 26
