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Known in Samoa as 'foafoa', ‘pwetek’ in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia and ‘koi’o’ in Kairuku (Roro), Papua New Guinea, conch shells are blown to signal a call to the people. The ancestors' call is not just heard but felt across oceans - it echoes through the beat of our drums, the husking of our coconuts, the paddles of canoes and between the palms of our elders' prayers.
The ancestors call is a call to action, a call to serve and a call to amplify the power of community. Equipped with the cultural teachings of the past and our unique experiences in the present, our future ancestors mark our conch with their fingerprints - a continued legacy of shared responsibility grounded in culture, identity and community.
Tenkyu tru to Jeffrey Gorogo for designing our meaningful logo.
Our Values
The Future Ancestors Program is underpinned by these values:
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Èoreni | Culture
(Chuukese, Federated States of Micronesia)
The diversity of the Pacific is a value that we wield collectively as a strength. Our unique traditions, customs, languages and identities deeply inform how we navigate unfamiliar spaces and make them our own. Cultures may vary from island to island, but we are united in the belief that the knowledge and experience of those before us will best allow us to serve communities today.
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Fa’asinomaga | Identity
(Samoan)
Our team is dedicated to creating safe and transformative environments that nurture diverse identities so participants in our program feel supported, respected and proud to be their authentic selves. We look to explore what it means and the complexities of blended backgrounds and being a part of Pacific diaspora in the Australian context.
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Vanua | Community
(Nara, Papua New Guinea)
We value community and building meaningful relationships that are centered on mutual respect, collaboration and open talanoa/ tok stori (dialogue). Together with our partners and stakeholders, we strive to address challenges to make a positive impact on our youth so they can better serve their own communities.
Our
Services
PARTICIPANT
I didn't know what to expect but it was so much fun. Although there were important and informative discussions, I personally felt that the fun activities helped cognitively lighten the experience making difficult topics easier to digest.
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Such exciting times for our people to exist in these kind of spaces! Can’t wait to watch the seeds you’ve all planted to grow exponentially!
PARTICIPANT
I swear we could've solved all the problems in the world if we had a few more days!!
Such an honour and privilege to be apart of this amazing initiative.