Elena Pasilio in Tokelau
A community champion of the protection of Tokelauan culture and language in New Zealand hopes to see the younger generation "take ownership and be proud" of their identity.
Les Lehi Tenise Atoni, a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his commitment to the Tokelauan community, was part of establishing the language week series in Aotearoa, which is now in its 13th year.
"My dream, and I think like a lot of us parents, is for our kids to take ownership of their language and be proud of who they are, to equally speak English as well as Tokelauan, to be comfortable in both worlds when they communicate," Atoni said.
He moved to New Zealand at age 11 - one of six Tokelauan children to receive a scholarship to attend school there in the early 1980s.
Les Atoni has been honoured as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his tireless commitment to preserving Tokelauan language and culture. Photo: Facebook / Vaka Tautua
He said very little was known about Tokelau then, and he was very shy about speaking his language.
"I remember being made fun [of] for speaking a different language, so it took us a while to get over it and say, 'hey, you know, this is part of me, my identity," he told RNZ Pacific.
He lived with a Pālagi family for a number of years - years he spoke of fondly: "They encouraged me to speak and proudly promote my Tokelau heritage," Atoni said.
There are no dogs on Tokelau's three atolls, one of many differences that made the move feel massive for a young Atoni: "It was bit of a shock coming here to New Zealand. You know, you come from Tokelau to Samoa, you see cars and trucks and ice cream and two story houses," he said.
Children play on Nukunonu atoll in Tokelau. Photo: Supplied/ Elena Pasilio
From a young age he knew his Gagana Tokelau was designated as "severely endangered" by UNESCO.
"We grew up knowing that our language in decline. Knowing that if we don't, as a generation, do anything about it, that we'll see our language disappear."
Ulu-o-Tokelau, Faipule Kelihiano Kalolo and Education minister for the Solomon Islands, Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada at Inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
While language use is healthy back home, Atoni said it has been a bit harder to foster in New Zealand.
"We're doing a lot to ensure that we hold and we maintain our language. We've seen now is a lot more young Tokelau can now promote and freely speak very proud of their culture and their language."
He believes greater collaboration with those who still live in Tokelau could do wonders in the language space.
Atoni believes there is still work to be done when it comes to the wider knowledge of Tokelau in New Zealand.
"It's an important note to make that a lot of people here in Aotearoa don't know about Tokelau and where Tokelau is, and let alone knowing that Tokelau is... the last territory of New Zealand on the other side of the Pacific."
Tokelau's Education Minister Kelihiano Kalolo has been busy documenting Gagana Tokelau for the next generation so that the stories, sounds and meanings passed down to him can thrive.
"The way to do it is to live it," Kalolo said.
"And to write and record the Tokelauan songs. We have the literature. We have myths and legends. We have chants, we have prayers, I mean traditional ones, and we can record them and introduce them in the school syllabi."
With Tokelau, a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, marking its 100 year relationship with New Zealand next year, Kalolo said education and the strength of Gagana Tokelau is vital.
And he also agrees that it is a good idea to build connections between the diaspora and the homeland.
"We can do this by establishing links and in the future we're going to establish something that like a homework centre, schooling research center for our students, and that will be the areas that diaspora can contribute."
"It's why it's important for Tokelauans because we have to think of our future as well," Kalolo said, stressing that education plays a key part in that.
