Born in Honolulu, Hawaii but raised in Fiji and New Zealand, Teaiwa, who is part-Micronesian and part-African American, shared her knowledge of the adversities Pacific Islanders faced in migrating to New Zealand.
Teaiwa, who is a senior lecturer of Pacific studies at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, said much like how Micronesian migrants on Guam are perceived as a burden, Pacific Islanders were also being blamed for the social and economic problems in New Zealand, as the population grew exponentially.
“Now, in New Zealand, the Pacific population is really celebrated and has been really embraced as a key part of New Zealand identity … and it’s kind of recognizing migrant communities for their economic contributions to society, and also their cultural contributions — seeing diversity as a strength,” Teaiwa said.
Teaiwa is on Guam until Aug. 29 as part of the project, “The Micronesian Question: Issues of Migration, Identity and Belonging on Guam.”
Spearheaded by the Guam Humanities Council, the goal of the project is to focus on the many issues surrounding the migration of islanders from other parts of Micronesia to Guam.
During a press conference Monday at the Cars Plus showroom, Teaiwa, GHC Executive Director Kimberlee Kihleng and GHC board chairperson Joyce Crisostomo presented the “In-Sights” Exhibit which features the works of 57 high school Micronesian students from Guam. The exhibit is a display of a series of photography and creative writing workshops.
Teaiwa said while the exhibit is meant to serve as a way to create awareness and an understanding of the Micronesian population on Guam, she also expressed her empathy for some of the youth and the stories they shared in the exhibit.
“I feel really saddened and very disturbed by some of the testimony of young people here,” she said. “I know when societies are stressed, people react in ways that are not very well thought through.
“If you have low expectations of young people, you will get what you expect and it becomes this self-fulfilling prophecy. But I think for any culture in any society, you have to value your youth,” she added.
According to Kehling, some of the key issues the students highlighted in the workshop were education, faith in community and representation.
Kehling also said there are a number of other programs and projects on Guam that can assist Micronesian migrants in assimilating into the community. Some of those include programs offered by the Humanities Council, non-profit organizations, and church groups.
The exhibit will be on display at the Cars Plus showroom for the rest of the week. Other events taking place this week as part of “The Micronesian Question” include a “community conversation” with Teaiwa today, Aug. 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Outrigger Guam Resort, and an educational tour of all of Guam’s public high schools as well as JP Torres Alternative School, Guam Community College and the University of Guam.
The community conversation event will feature Teaiwa and Micronesian writer Emelihter Kihleng via Skype from New Zealand.
