Young Pacific leaders talanoa on Ocean Health
A youth leadership conference for young Pacific People was held in French Polynesia earlier this year.
Focusing on ocean prosperity, security and sustainability, it was part of the ‘Young Pacific Leaders programme’ which is funded by the US State Department.
Addressing the conference, French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson was delighted to welcome the 44 delegates from 22 nations.
“Being associated with young people from all over Oceania exchanging views, exchanging ideas, cultures and realising that we have so much in common,” he says.
“When I speak to those young people they have this epiphany when they realise that they are part of the same ensemble that is what unites us, this Pacific ocean, Moana Nui a Kiva.”
The participants are from all corners of the blue continent where many face similar threats to their oceans and livelihood.
French Polynesia delegate Ihirau Piton was stoked to meet and connect with others from neighbouring islands.
“We are part of the same heritage, part of the same people that once travelled the Pacific ocean. This is something that [is] also, for me, important for the people of the Pacific [to] go back to your own home knowing that you are not alone in this big ocean.”
Niue’s JinNam Hopotoa is making the most of the time together with his fellow leaders to collaborate on future projects.
“They may be small projects to start with but little impacts can make a ripple effect right across, not only in the Pacific but in the world as well; sharing solutions just sharing and making things happen,” Hopotoa added.
Dr Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka of American Samoa is praising her colleagues for what they are already doing in their communities and is following their lead.
“YPL provides a platform to bring those amazing ideas together so once again you are inspired to go home and think about, ‘oh if my colleague here in Sāmoa or Palau did this’ you know? How can I translate their inspiration into action in my community,” she says.
The group journeyed from Tahiti’s capital Pape’ete to the neighbouring island of Mo’orea as part of their workshops and already the message is sinking in – youth need to be involved.
That is the call to action from Kenley Rudimch-Kenneth who is the delegate representing Palau.
“I feel as though a lot of young people are able to raise signs to say protect our oceans but in terms of clear concise policy recommendation or be involved in the government sector we need more young people to be involved,” Rudimch-Kenneth says.
And while science and technological innovation can help communities better manage and protect ocean environments, delegates like Fijian Laisani Waqairadovu says ancestral knowledge should also play a role..
“I really feel like we should use the knowledge of our ancestors to help us in the future. I feel like traditional ecological knowledge is something not a lot of scientists delve into.”
It’s that advocacy that many here take on as their duty to be the guardians of the moana to protect and safeguard for future generations.
“I think with today’s challenges with the development and rapid urbanization around the world, this massive global scale, there’s risk of diluting that which is in essence a dilution of identity and practise that has kept our people in the pacific thriving,” says Dr Antony Vavia from the Cook Islands.
“I think more than ever it’s really important to be having these discussions and forums such as this.”
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