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American Samoa Government - PR001-03022026
Posted: March 02, 2026
Ua Tatala Aloa’ia e Amerika Samoa le Masina o le Gagana Samoa i se Sauniga Lotu i Fatuoaiga
FATUOAIGA, Amerika Samoa – Ua tatala aloa’ia i le Teritori o Amerika Samoa le masina o le Gagana Samoa e ala i se sauniga lotu amata, ua atagia ai le mamalu ma le matagofie. Sa faatautaia lea sauniga i Fatuoaiga e faailoga, fa’amamalu, fa’atumau, ma tau’ave i luga le Gagana Samoa. Na ta’ita’ia e le afioga le Epikopō ia Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao lea sauniga.
Na amatalia le fa’amoemoe i le pese amata mai le aufaipese a Fatuoaiga, ona soso’o lea ma le faitauga o le poloa’iga mai le Kovana, na fofogaina e tagata ā’o’oga mai le Kolisi Tuufaatasi o Amerika Samoa, vaega o a’oa’oga ma su’esu’ega Samoa, ua fai ma sui o tupulaga i le tau’aveina o le gagana Samoa aga’i luma.
Na saunia e le afioga le Epikopō ia Kolio le sauniga i se tatalo ma se upu o le tala lelei, e fa’atāuaina ai le gagana auā o le malosi’aga e mafai ona māopoopo ai tagata, ae mafai fo’i ona avea ma auala e fevaevaea’i ai pe afai e lē a’oa’oina pea, fa’afaileleina, ma tu’u fa’asolo atu. Sa ia fa’asoa i le matāfaioi o aiga, Ekalesia, ma a’oga i le fa’aolaolaina o le gagana ma ia mautinoa le tausia lelei, auā tupulaga fai mai.
Sa auai sui o le Komiti fa’afoe a le Komisi o le Gagana Samoa i le sauniga e ala i faitauga o le afioga mamana, e fa’amalosia ai le ta’utinoga o le Komisi i le fa’aolaola pea o le aganu’u. O nisi o aufaipese sa lagiina vi’iga o le Ekalesia Metotisi Susana Ueselē ma le aufaipese o le Ekalesia LMS i Matu’u ma Faganeanea, o nei vi’iga na fai ma sao i le fa’atamāoaigaina pea o le gagana ma faamoemoe. Na molimoli e le Faife’au Toea’ina ia Asiata Fouvale talosaga ma to’a ai le sauniga i le fa’atuatua ma le fa’amoemoe fa’atasi.
O le ‘auga o lea sauniga o saunoaga o to’oto’o na a’ami. Na saunoa le afioga a le Kovana Tausi e uiga i le tāua o le a’oa’oina ma le tautala i le gagana Samoa i fanau, ma ia fa’amamafaina, o fanau o lumana’i ma tausimea o le gagana. Sa ia u’una’ia aiga ma le lautele e fa’amuamua le fetautalatalaa’i i le gagana Samoa i o latou aiga, ma aso fai so’o ina ia mafai e le gagana ona olaola pea mo le lumana’i.
Na malele le afioga le Peresitene o le Maota o maualuga ia Tua’olo Fruean e fa’ataua le si’omaga o fanau i si’osi’omaga e atagia ai le fa’a-Samoa i falefaigaluega, aiga, Ekalesia, ma nofoaga faitele. Sa ia faamanatuina i le lautele o le umi o le gagana e fuafua i le tumau ma le tutusa o a’oa’oga ma le fa’aaoga fa’amoemoeina i vaega uma o le soifuaga.
Na tulei fo’i le afioga a le Ta’ita’ifono o le Komiti fa’afoe o le komisi o le gagana Samoa, Faiivae Alex Godinet Iuli, na ia fa’asoa e ala i le sao tāua o le puipuia o le gagana. Na momoli lona agaga fa’afetai i Ekalesia, faiā’oga, faia’oga tau aganu’u, ‘āiga ma ē o lo’o tausiniō mo le gagana i aso uma.
Na saunoa fo’i le fa’atonu o le komisi o le gagana Samoa ia Elisapeta Alaimaleata e fa’ailo nisi o galuega a le Komisi auā le fa’amalosia o a’oa’oga tau gagana, ati’ina a’e, ma le auai fa’atasi o le lautele. Sa ia fa’apea mai fo’i, o le fa’atumauina o le Gagana Samoa e aofia i le soifua mitamita ma le fa’aa’oa’o, auā o le galuega o le Komisi e ta’ita’iina ma le talitonuga e fa’apea, o le gagana o le fa’avae o lo tatou fa’asinomaga. Sa ia fa’amalosi’au i tagata e auai fa’atasi i fuafuaga uma o le masina ma silasila i le fa’atumauina o le gagana auā o se matāfaioi e tausoa fa’atasi.
Sa fa’ai’uina le sauniga i le vi’iga na fofogaina e le Aufaipese o Amerika Samoa, fa’aalia ai fo’i upu sa tusia e le Susuga ia Fofō Sunia. O latou pesepesega mālie na momoli ai se agaga mafanafana i ē uma sa auai ma tūlata ai le fa’ai’uga o le sauniga, ma fa’amamaluina ai tala’aga o fa’atufugaga Samoa ma le mana tumau o le fa’aaliga o le agaga Samoa.
O le sauniga amata i Fatuoaiga e fa’ailogaina ai se tasi o fa’amoemoe muamua o le masina o le Gagana Samoa. E vala’aulia ma le fa’aaloalo e le Teritori tagata uma, o aiga, a’oga, ma fa’apotopotoga e auai i fuafuaga uma auā le fa’amanatuina o le Gagana Samoa, ma toe timata ai le matāfaioi tau’ave o le fa’atumauina o le gagana auā augātupulaga o le lumana’i.
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American Samoa Opens Samoan Language Month with Special Church Service at Fatuoaiga Parish
FATUOAIGA, American Samoa — The Territory of American Samoa officially launched Samoan Language Month with a solemn and culturally rich church service held at Fatuoaiga Parish, marking the beginning of a month dedicated to honoring, preserving, and uplifting Gagana Samoa. The service was led by Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao.
The program commenced with an opening hymn by the Fatuoaiga Choir, followed by the formal reading of the Governor’s Proclamation, delivered by students from the American Samoa Community College Samoan Studies Institute, representing the essential role of youth in carrying the Samoan language forward.
Bishop Kolio opened the service with prayer and later delivered a compelling sermon emphasizing that language is a force that unites people but can also become a source of division if it is not practiced, nurtured, and passed on. He shared the responsibility shared by families, churches, and institutions to ensure that Gagana Samoa remains vibrant for generations to come.
Members of the Samoan Language Commission Board participated in the service through scripture readings, reinforcing the Commission’s commitment to cultural preservation. Additional hymns were offered by the Methodist Church of Susana Uesele and the Matuu and Faganeanea Choir, each contributing to the spiritual and cultural richness of the ceremony. Rev. Elder Asiata Fouvale offered prayers that further grounded the service in faith and collective purpose.
A highlight of the ceremony was the series of keynote remarks delivered by our territorial leaders. Lt. Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. spoke passionately about the importance of teaching and speaking Samoan to children, emphasizing that they are the future stewards of the language. He urged families and communities to prioritize speaking Gagana Samoa at home and in daily life so that the language may thrive long into the future.
President of the Senate Tuaolo Fruean echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of surrounding children with environments that reflect fa‘asamoa in workplaces, homes, churches, and community spaces. He reminded attendees that the longevity of the Samoan language depends on consistent practice and intentional use across all aspects of life.
Chairperson of the Samoan Language Commission Board, Faiivae Alex Godinet, offered heartfelt remarks acknowledging the collective effort required to safeguard the language. He expressed deep gratitude to the churches, educators, cultural practitioners, and families who continue to champion the language daily.
Director of the Samoa Language Commission Office, Elisapeta Alaimaleata, also addressed the congregation, highlighting the Commission’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen language education, resource development, and community engagement. She added that preserving Gagana Samoa requires both pride and practice, noting that the Commission’s work is guided by the belief that language is the foundation of identity. She encouraged all residents to participate in the month’s activities and to view language preservation as a shared and enduring responsibility.
The service concluded with stirring hymns by the American Samoa Arts Council Choir, featuring a renowned composition by the late Fofo Sunia. Their performance brought the ceremony to a heartfelt close, honoring both the legacy of Samoan artistry and the enduring power of Samoan expression.
The opening service at Fatuoaiga Parish marks the first of many events planned throughout Samoan Language Month. The Territory invites all residents, families, schools, and organizations to participate in activities that celebrate Gagana Samoa and reaffirm the collective responsibility to preserve the language for future generations.
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