Contributing her voice and measina [taonga] as part of the O le fogava’a e tasi – One family exhibition, in this track we hear Helena Chan Foung talks about her identity and her chosen measina Pa.

"Pa is a woman’s necklace used as fish lure in Tokelau. I remember laughing when I first put it on “…does this make me bait?” but it’s really become more of an anchor, it’s surprisingly heavy.

Outside of whateles (Tokelau dances), I wear it proudly when I want to quietly signal to other Tokelauans walking by “Malo ni! Please talk to me!” and more fiercely like an amulet on the days I know I’ll need their protection and strength. I wore this on the day I gave a speech at the 2019 School Strikes for Climate at Parliament. Standing in front of thousands of mostly palagis and being so nervous and one of the few things that kept me still was this Pa. The weight is a physical reminder of the love I have for a country I have never seen but who has welcomed me and loved me since before I knew of her”.

Image: Helena Chan Foung, 2023, Photographer Pamata Toleafoa, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Music: Track 1: Drum_Dance_Vaipae_Aitutaki from the album https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=b2816c56-f483-4573-816c-56f4837573d1&entityType=FormatGroup

O le fogava’a e tasi – One family exhibition can be viewed on Level 2 of Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library till the end April 2023