Edwina Strickland-Napara is the founder tutor and administrator of the new generation group of young Kuki Airani (Cook Islands) women....this is their story and legacy.
The Te Uki Ou is a new group of young Cook Islanders learning to sew, cook, dance, compose music,while journeying through various other important cultural aspects of interest that have generally been passed down from mother/parent to daughter/children. The aim is to focus in teaching young Cook Is teenagers and others the opportunity to learn these important skills for self/personal/family/group development. They encourage the young to be a part of the group in whatever way they feel they can contribute.This new seed that has been planted has initially begun with a tuitui (embroidery) gathering, and will grow to other interests that members choose to explore and initiate. This is Knowledge - Cook Island women! continuing to practise what has been passed down. These initiatives have especially helped to bring the group closer to elders, moreover in remembering those who have already passed on.
"Our Cook Is grandma's loved coming together to sew, and celebrate as a collective group; and as long as we continue with their works, thus their spirit will live on, in us, in our children and in generations of Cook Islanders to come. Our very first initiative was the embroidery group in South Auckland. We began with each member sewing four cushions each.This began in November 2012 under the name of Vainetini-mapu Angaanga Kuki Airani (VAKA), which saw nine enrolled members. We have now opened this opportunity to young Cook Islanders living in the City - at Trinity Methodist Church in Kingsland on the 2nd May, 2014. Our original name VAKA will still be used specifically for the purposes of the overarching main body of the organisation that will yet be formally incorporated at a later date" said Edwina.
The Te Uki Ou is a new group of young Cook Islanders learning to sew, cook, dance, compose music,while journeying through various other important cultural aspects of interest that have generally been passed down from mother/parent to daughter/children. The aim is to focus in teaching young Cook Is teenagers and others the opportunity to learn these important skills for self/personal/family/group development. They encourage the young to be a part of the group in whatever way they feel they can contribute.This new seed that has been planted has initially begun with a tuitui (embroidery) gathering, and will grow to other interests that members choose to explore and initiate. This is Knowledge - Cook Island women! continuing to practise what has been passed down. These initiatives have especially helped to bring the group closer to elders, moreover in remembering those who have already passed on.
"Our Cook Is grandma's loved coming together to sew, and celebrate as a collective group; and as long as we continue with their works, thus their spirit will live on, in us, in our children and in generations of Cook Islanders to come. Our very first initiative was the embroidery group in South Auckland. We began with each member sewing four cushions each.This began in November 2012 under the name of Vainetini-mapu Angaanga Kuki Airani (VAKA), which saw nine enrolled members. We have now opened this opportunity to young Cook Islanders living in the City - at Trinity Methodist Church in Kingsland on the 2nd May, 2014. Our original name VAKA will still be used specifically for the purposes of the overarching main body of the organisation that will yet be formally incorporated at a later date" said Edwina.
CASE STUDY: Each member in the first group in Mangere made four cushions each (as displayed in the orange hibiscus bloom on 1st page of website). A couple of the students gifted their very first completed handcrafts to their grand-ma for Christmas that year, and another framed her masterpiece and kept it as a prized trophy to admire in remembering cherished moments of delight in achieving. The cushions that went to one of the grandmas; was a very special moment for both the student and the grandma. The grandma held her gift close to her and said: "this is the first handcraft gift made by my grandchild, that was especially made for me". Unfortunately some months later the grandma passed away,.....but in saying that, she was absolutely delighted to know that this grandchild of hers came all the way from NZ to Aitutaki to bring her this special gift, one that not even money can ever match.
These are the stories that they want to capture and share, and each member within the group will have their own special story to tell and remember loved ones by. They want to bring these stories to light, as a way of highlighting the important values and teachings that these treasures hold. By helping young Cook Islanders reconnect back to the teachings of Cook Is mamas and papas/ancestors, and to the home island of origin where they grew up, it's the group's hope that this will be one way of reinforcing a part of their children's 'identity' in attaining a sense of belonging as young New Zealand born Cook Islanders.
These are the stories that they want to capture and share, and each member within the group will have their own special story to tell and remember loved ones by. They want to bring these stories to light, as a way of highlighting the important values and teachings that these treasures hold. By helping young Cook Islanders reconnect back to the teachings of Cook Is mamas and papas/ancestors, and to the home island of origin where they grew up, it's the group's hope that this will be one way of reinforcing a part of their children's 'identity' in attaining a sense of belonging as young New Zealand born Cook Islanders.