Muakiga! : an introduction to Gagana Tokelau : teachers' guide and support materials

“Muaki” means “to yield, to blossom, to flourish, and to reproduce”. Muakiga is the special time in the life cycle of the coconut tree when it produces an abundance of flowers and new coconuts (the fruit). Muakiga produces the seeds that are the source of new life, ensuring the survival of the species. This tree provides food and shelter for many living creatures, including us. For this reason, it is called the “tree of life”. As the title of this resource, Muakiga! symbolises the Tokelau philosophy of inati and its values of alofa (compassion), fakaaloalo (respect), và feàloaki (relating to others), màopoopo (inclusion), and fakahoa lelei (equity). Muakiga! not only offers an abundance of learning to nourish those who receive a share, it will be a source of new life for gagana Tokelau as well, helping to ensure the survival of the language. For this reason, an image of a coconut tree during muakiga appears on the progress chart on page 48. In a similar way, the tuluma (fishing tackle box) on the cover and in the top right hand corner of every page symbolises the “catch” that is being distributed. Agànuku Tokelau (Tokelau culture) places a high value on sharing resources. In the customary practice of inati, when a paopao (outrigger canoe) returns from a fishing trip, the catch is shared with everyone in the community. Muakiga! An Introduction to Gagana Tokelau shares gagana Tokelau and agànuku Tokelau with you and your students. The paopao design on the front cover, which echoes the design on the front cover of Gagana Tokelau: The Tokelau Language Guidelines, symbolises this inati.