Matari'i Ni'a - Tahitian New Year

Today, 20 November, is the beginning of the Tahitian New Year and the beginning of a new period of abundance.  Trees  become heavy with fruits - the first of which, once, long ago, were offered to the gods.  This is a special Matari'i Ni'a for us, as we begin a new adventure.  

The creativity

inherent within the universe

shimmers radiantly within 

each of us

With each choice you make,

this energy flows forth,

creating and shaping

your world

(The Daily Guru 20/11/08)

Maimiti and Mauatua making 'ahu

After the celebrations, we came back to Huahine with Sue Jean Meralda Fifi and my family.  It was a wonderful moment when the girls began making 'ahu from my backyard tumu 'uru (breadfruit tree).  Meralda taught Mauatua ...

Bounty Day, Matavai Bay

27 October 1788 HMS Bounty arrived at Ha'apape (now named Matavai) after having spent a night at the ajoining area of Pare.  I often think of Mauatua and her first sighting of Bounty.  A large part of the delegations stayed at a hall just off Matavai Beach, and we began most days with a swim at that historic beach.

The Bounty Day celebration began in the afternoon in front of the stone memorial that had been erected three years before.  This celebration focused on the Bounty crew, including, of course, the mutineers - a perfect complement to our exhibition in the next suburb which was entirely dedicated to the Polynesians of the Bounty.

Vernissage - launch - Toofaiti

The launch of the exhibition and book had us stand before those present to share thoughts on our works.  In the photo from left are Jean Clarkson, Sue Pearson, Pauline Reynolds Faara, Tihoti Faara, the Mayor of Arue Philip Schylle, Meralda Warren, Nancy Hall (sitting - daughter of James Norman Hall), Turere Mataoa.  Much gratitude goes out to the deputy mayor Turere Mataoa who gave so much of her time to help organise this event, the Mayor for his many kind words and generous support, and Nancy Hall - her presence for my book launch was an honour beyond words.   

At Sue's feet you can see a sculpture.  This 'ti'i' is called Toofaiti, sculpted by my husband Tihoti.  Toofaiti represents those 12 Polynesian women who left Tahiti's shores in 1789 aboard Bounty.  We donated her to Philip Schyle and his town hall in thanks, and also in memory of Toofaiti.  She was a Huahine girl (where Tihoti and I live) and raised her children on Pitcairn until 1831 when the entire population was moved to Tahiti in an attempt at resettlement.  Spanish fever was sweeping through Tahiti at the time, and tragically, Toofaiti and 16 others died and were buried at Pare (not far from the Arue Town Hall).  We felt it important to remember those who died here in 1831.  

On Wednesday 29 October a 'rahiri' ceremony was performed: the entire Norfolk/Pitcairn delegation and others present for the festival gathered around Toofaiti in the gardens and were linked by a platted rope symbolising our ties.   Tihoti gave the following speech:

I would like to introduce myself: my name is Tihoti and I live on the island of Huahine. I am from Taha’a  on my father’s side, and from the Cook Islands on my mother’s side.  My wife is one of the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian wives.  We have two children, which means that my children are descendants too. I have come here today with the Norfolk and Pitcairn delegations to give them my support.

Before us is a stone sculpture.  Before I explain its meaning, I must remind you that for the ancient Tahitians, stone represented many things.  Stone is the means for the tupuna to keep the knowledge of their ancestors alive.  Everything they did back then was kept in memory through stone because it is the material that lasts forever.

The sculpture standing before us represents Toofaiti.  She was one of hte women who left Tahiti's shores with HMS Bounty in 1789.  She was from Huahine.  She died in Tahiti in 1831 when the Pitcairn population was moved en masse back to Tahiti.

She and hte 16 others who died here were buried not far from where we stand today in Arue.  From 1831 until now, we have heard no more about her in Tahiti.

The sculpture you see before you comes from our home in Huahine.  I sculpted her there and today I am so pleased to donate her to the Town Hall of Arue.  With this gesture I wish to bring the memory of Toofaiti alive.  The sculpture will stay here at the Town Hall a tau e a hiti noa atu - forever and ever.  That means that in the future her descendants and those of all the women who left Tahiti's shores aboard HMS Bounty in 1789 can come here to honour them, because Toofaiti is here.  With this gesture, I hope that the link will strengthen between Tahiti, Norfolk, Pitcairn and descendants of those women around the world.

Town Hall of Arue 'Ahu Sistas exhibition

On 24 October a 'rahiri' celebration was held to open the arts festival at Arue, and the Norfolk Island and Pitcairn delegations were the Town Hall's guests of honour.  I feel extremely honoured and humbled by the generosity of the Mayor Philip Schylle and deputy Mayor Turere Mataoa.  During the week, the Norfolk Island flag flew alongside the town hall and French flag in Arue, and the Pitcairn flag at Papeete.  

Over the last 15 years I have worked on many projects to bring our people - descendants of the Polynesian women who left Tahiti's shores aboard HMS Bounty and their mutineer

 partners - closer to our Tahitian cousins.  The week at the Arue Town Hall was the most successful of these attempts.  I was approached by many Tahitians who were touched by our art exhibition, and especially one piece by Jean Clarkson listing the names of our Polynesian foremothers.  By reading those names they felt a tangible connection to us.  I was in awe of the atmosphere created by the works by Jean, Sue and Meralda.  Sue's 12 vahine pieces gave the impression of shadows of women veiled by mystery.  Meralda's pieces were absolute labours of love, tapa cloth made by her hands from both aute and 'uru and dyed and decorated with dyes used by our foremothers. Meralda's tapa cloths are the first to be made on Pitcairn since the practice was stopped 70 years ago.  Sue and Jean's pieces are their contemporary response to the ancient pieces made by our foremothers, and all those artworks together gave visual support to my book, "Pitcairn Tapa - 'Ahu no Hitiaurevareva".  On the 26 October 2008, the 220th anniversary of HMS Bounty arriving at Pare, across the water from the Town Hall, we officially opened the exhibition and began the Tahiti launch of my book.  Turere donated a glorious cake, and many kind Norfolk Islanders helped make Pitcairn/Norfolk dishes for us share with those present (special mention to John Christian, Rachel Nebauer-Borg, Maree Reynolds and the lovely Karenne Gatehouse).  Many thanks to the Norfolk singers led by Don Reynolds who made us all proud and more than once brought tears to our eyes.

Exhibition at Arue, Tahiti

To compliment the Bounty celebrations in Tahiti this year,

 a group including New Zealand-based Norfolk Island artists Sue Pearson and Jean Clarkson along with Pitcairn Islander Meralda Warren, and myself opened an art exhibition and book launch at the Town Hall of Arue, Tahiti.

Arue is in the area which at the time of Bligh and Cook was called Pare.  Pare was where much of the royalty lived in those times. 

It was fitting and immensely touching to hold the exhibition in such an historical area.  The town hall comprises of a set of gorgeous colonial-style buildings surrounded by beautifully kept gardens.  

At the same time as our exhibition, the town hall was also hosting a crafts festival, so that the two complimented each other perfectly.

Tattoo and Tapa

You may wonder why we called this blog 'Tattoo and Tapa'.  Tihoti's passion is design using the ancient symbols used by his tupuna or ancestors.  Pauline's passion is the same, but applied on a different surface.  

The designs used by Tahitians in 'tatau' (tattoo) often crossed over into the designs used in ''ahu' (tapa) decoration.  Much of the deep symbolism used in tatau today in Tahiti is lost, although Tihoti feels that by using nature as our inspiration we can come to understand these designs again, and from there evolve those designs beyond our misunderstandings.  But that understanding has to come from a Polynesian perspective.

Pauline is fascinated by the designs and colours used in the ancient 'ahu - everything was symbolic.  Much of this knowledge is forgotten today but not entirely lost.  It has become an exhilarating adventure of rediscovery.  Her rediscovery of the Pitcairn Tapa made by the Polynesian women of the HMS Bounty has made her the world's foremost expert on the subject.

Bounty Day, Matavai Bay

Pretty soon delegations arriving from Pitcairn, Norfolk, Australia and New Zealand will descend on Huahine and then Tahiti in time for the celebration of the 220th anniversary of the arrival of HMS Bounty on Tahiti's shores.  This is a time for descendants to gather in remembrance of our ancestors - the Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian wives.

Our last celebration was three years ago ... a wonderful event where many lost cousins reunited from all over the Pacific.

A much larger contingent will be coming this year - around 90 people.  The Bounty Day celebration is held on 27th October - the day that Bligh first set step at Matavai Bay and decided to set up camp to collect breadfruit or 'uru.

During the week around this event the delegations and local Tahitian descendants will be attending various other events - watch this space!

BOOKS

Pitcairn Tapa: 'Ahu no Hitiaurevareva

The tapa cloth of Pitcairn Island illuminates the forgotten story of the Polynesian women of HMS Bounty.  Pitcairn Tapa: 'Ahu no Hitiaurevareva rediscovers their beautiful bark cloths from museum archives around the world.  These cloths are the surviving material evidence of those courageous women's lives.

 

Tahitian Names for Babes: i'oa tahiti 

Tahitian Names for Babes: i’oa tahiti - a Tahitian names book

TIHOTI

Ia ora na!

In Tahitian we say ‘May you have life’ when we meet each other.  This greeting of our ancestors inspires me today - and I honour them for their wisdom. I am a Tahitian tattoo artist living on the beautiful island of Huahine.  I also sculpt and paint.  

I have supported myself all my working life as a tattoo artist.  The symbols we use in Polynesia are deep and meaningful - the process of 'tatau' is a two-way exchange.  I always take the time to explain the symbolism to my clients.  It's important to know what you are carrying.

If you are coming to this part of the world, pay me a visit!  We live just a minute’s walk out of our main village of Fare: ask anyone they know who I am.  You can email me on tihotitatau@yahoo.com.

photo: Kirkland Photos

IA ORA NA