AlterNative

Abstract

The article is written in the Tongan language for Tongan People, in the main, and others with an interest in the education of the People who live and work abroad, Aotearoa-New Zealand, for example. The article discusses the concept of fonua as culture in order to understand Tongan ways of thinking and practice. As a concept, it frames and names the many worlds that are experienced by Tongan People. The central idea here is that the many worlds and experiences are intimately related in energy, spirit and life force. Two inter-related notions namely tuúfonua (being indigenous) and nofofonua (residing permanently in another country) are further discussed from a perspective of the author who is indigenous to Tonga but is currently a permanent resident in Aotearoa New Zealand. Both notions are explored by the writer and demonstrate that they can provide insights into signifi cant dimensions of the underpinnings fonua. The article suggests that Tongan migrants to Aotearoa New Zealand can develop their critical perspectives of their indigeneity more deeply in order to inform their new ’stance’ in the new context. That is, they are residing in a fonua/land of which they are not indigenous but with the legal status of Resident.

The author’s concluding suggestion is that the Tongan people who reside in Aotearoa-New Zealand could become better informed about their ’place’ in both Aotearoa and Tonga when they draw upon the knowledge and culture of their indigenous land alongside their learning and education in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this way, the Tongan people re-create ways of working together to put an end to the colonising and the marginalising thinking and practices confronted in our own and the new country of Residency.