Samoans in QLD - Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Presented by
Fi
Finau
Ti
Tiumalu
l
M Schuster
Disclaimer:
The following cultural briefing has been graciously provided by the
respective authors to provide insight into the impacts of ageing on the
Samoan community.
community This presentation is a synthesis of
information from a source believed to be reliable. Diversicare gives no
warranty that the said base sources are correct,
correct and accepts no
responsibility for any resultant errors contained herein or for decision
and actions taken as a result and any damage.
damage This presentation may
not be re-used or redistributed, and is intended for reference only.
Please contact the respective authors of this presentation for further
access or permission to use any of the content or email
cpp.townsville@diversicare.com for other materials.
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I t d ti
Introduction
This project received funding from the
Australian Government Department of Health
and Ageing under the Community Partners
g
Program.
With this presentation we hope to give you
some understanding of the culture and care of
S
Samoan
people.
l
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SOURCE: The Nations Online Project 1998-2009, One World-Nations
Online, viewed 12 June 2009, <http://nationsonline.org>
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CURRENT STATISTICS
MIGRATION HISTORY
COMMUNICATION
FAMILY STRUCTURE
PRIVACY
PERCEPTION OF ILLNESS
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
DIET
TABOO SUBJECTS
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CURRENT STATISTICS
in Australia
15 240
in Queensland
4870
SOURCE: Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2006, Community Information Summary: Samoa-born,
Commonwealth DIAC, Canberra
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in Townsville
300
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MIGRATION
• started in the early 1900s
• migrants
i
t came tto A
Australia
t li ffor commerce,
education and missionary purposes
• more and more New Zealand-Samoans are
migrating to Australia for work
work, study and
sports
• migration from Samoa to Australia is due to
sports, better health services, to be with
family and or for work/career opportunities
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COMMUNICATION
• main language spoken is Samoan
• presently, English is spoken widely throughout Samoa
• there are different ways to greet someone depending on
their
h i status
Status
In Samoan
Greeting
Chief
Ali’i
Lau Afioga
Orator Chief
Tulafale
Lau Tofa
• ...but
b this
hi iis the
h safest
f and
d polite
li way to greet someone if
you are unsure of his/her status:
“Talofa
Talofa lau susuga
susuga”
• when communicating with some Samoans be conscious of
the ‘yes’
yes syndrome (agreeing without fully understanding)
• visiting the home (Fa’a Samoa - Samoan Way)
• majority of schools in Samoa are taught in English
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FAMILY STRUCTURE
• Samoan p
people
p are veryy familyy orientated
NUCLEAR FAMILY
• the head and decision
decision-maker
maker of the family is always the
father
• the
th role
l off th
the wife
if iis tto advise
d i h
her h
husband
b d various
i
matters
tt
and ensure the household is maintained
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FAMILY STRUCTURE
EXTENDED FAMILY
• Everyone works collectively for the betterment of
the whole extended family
RESPECT
• Chiefs/elders
• There
Th
iis a strong
t
respectt b
between
t
b
brothers
th and
d
sisters (i.e. It is a brother’s duty to protect their
sisters no matter what)
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LIFESTYLE/LEISURE
SPORTS
• Rugby Union
• Rugby League
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Netball
• Samoan Cricket
• Fautasi Races
WOMEN’S LEISURE
• Women’s committees (weaving, tapa
making)
• Singing & Dancing
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PRIVACY and
d TAPU (TABOO)
• most Samoan elderly people prefer to be
cared
d ffor b
by ffamily
il members,
b
if not...
t
• the gender of the carer must be considered
(i.e. if the person is female then the carer
must be
b a ffemale
l and
d iff male,
l the
h carer could
ld
be male or female))
• Taboo : sex, marriage with close relations
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ATTITUDES TOWARD HEALTH
• prefer to care for our elders at home
• placing elders in a nursing home is a seen as a sign of
neglect
• traditionally,
traditionally the Samoan diet consisted of fresh
meat and root crops
• due
d tto th
the iincrease iin di
diabetes,
b t cardiovascular
di
l
diseases, etc. more awareness has been raised about
h tto preventt th
how
them
• in Samoa, due to the hot and humid climate, people
tend to showers two or more times a day
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RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
• majority
j it off SSamoans b
belong
l
tto th
the CCCS
CCCS, R
Roman
Catholic, Methodist, Mormon, etc. churches
• on the Samoan crest, it says “Fa’avae I le Atua
Samoa” which means “Founded in God”
• Samoan culture and traditions have changed
dramatically since the arrival of Christianity
(through the London Missionary Society in the
1830 )
1830s)
• there are cases where p
people
p are believed to be
possessed by demons or spirits and will seek
treatment by a traditional healer
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FOOD / DIET
• staples consist of starchy foods such as
root crops (i.e. taro, yams, manioka),
green bananas
• traditional cuisine includes: fish, pork
and birds
• modern cuisine includes: all imported
goods (i.e. meat, canned food, etc)
• Umu (like Hangi, Lovo) – Sunday lunch is
usually the biggest meal of the week
• raw fish (marinated in lemon juice and
coconut cream) & Palusami (made from
t
l
d coconutt cream))
taro
leaves
and
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DEATH & DYING
• there
h
are certain
i cultural
l
l procedures
d
to b
be
followed
• so, it is best to contact the family or close
relatives
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any questions?
ti ?
By Finau Tiumalu M Schuster
Diversicare 2009