Utah

Utah exhibit explores ‘collective rest’ in Pacific Island communities

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The show might be on the Pleasant Islands Tongan Pageant on Saturday till 9 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rain falls as members of Denise’s Polynesian Creations group get able to take the stage in the course of the Pleasant Island Tongan Pageant at Jordan Park on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.

Taking a look at carved wooden and bamboo headrests from the Pacific Islands in a museum can show fascinating.

At first sight, it reveals how a sturdy arch might work as a pillow for people or households. However put into context, the artifacts inform extra. They mirror the story of a individuals who worth collective relaxation and cultural embrace.

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That’s what ‘Amelia Afā ‘Aikona Niumeitolu meant when she put collectively the exhibit “Asoso: Resting Collectively, Rising Collectively,” which opened Friday night time at this week’s Pleasant Islands Tongan Pageant in west Salt Lake Metropolis’s Jordan Park.

The show will run by Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

‘Aikona Niumeitolu questioned how her ancestors again within the 1500s and the way Pacific Islanders in Utah considered relaxation. She discovered solutions in Utah, the place one of many nation’s largest Pacific Islander populations lives, and in Massachusetts, the place a group of headrests from Oceania is displayed on the Peabody Museum at Harvard College.

The ensuing exhibit is an immersive assortment of images, cultural objects, movies and tales by kids, younger folks, elders, LGBTQ, Indigenous and Black communities.

“We needed to have a platform,” ‘Aikona Niumeitolu stated, “and switch up the quantity on these voices.”

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She and a workforce of volunteers from Utah had been in a position to maintain and contact the headrests for this exhibit. Now, they’re sharing the expertise, and plan to proceed this work and tour different group areas.

Jakey Siolo, a sufferer advocate who lives in Salt Lake Metropolis, stated the challenge allowed him to share his perspective as half Samoan and a member of the LGBTQ group.

“I discover lots of relaxation in group work,” he stated. However there are additionally issues, he added, that must be put to relaxation as properly in several communities, akin to colorism, homophobia and transphobia.

Sinia Maile, who grew up in a Tongan family in Utah, additionally shared her expertise with racial identification conflicts.

“In the event you’re half-caste, you don’t really feel like sufficient Tongan for the Tongans,” she stated. “Or they’re not white sufficient for the white folks.”

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(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Sifa Kolo and Seti Hausia performs in the course of the Pleasant Island Tongan Pageant at Jordan Park on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.

These tales are shared amongst different cultural actions on the twenty fifth annual Pleasant Islands Tongan Pageant, which options performances, sports activities, a conventional kava ceremony, meals and distributors from Tonga and different Pacific Island communities.

Even on a wet day, folks gathered underneath umbrellas Thursday night time to get pleasure from a barbecue whereas watching drummers and dancers in conventional apparel.

“I see lots of people coming down and bringing their kids,” stated Sesili Taukiuvea, who’s on the advisory council of the Nationwide Tongan American Society and traveled from Ogden to attend the pageant. “They need their kids to learn about our nation.”

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Quite a few Polynesian distributors arrange for the beginning of the primary day of the Pleasant Island Tongan Pageant at Jordan Park on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.

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Alixel Cabrera is a Report for America corps member and writes in regards to the standing of communities on the west facet of the Salt Lake Valley for The Salt Lake Tribune. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps maintain her writing tales like this one; please take into account making a tax-deductible reward of any quantity right this moment by clicking right here.



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