Check out this video with Pale Sauni and Saylene Ulberg
This is part of a series on Pacific Cultural Centredness:
- Understanding Pacific Cultural Centredness
- How talanoa can build relationships
- Le Va – Understanding the sacred space in Pacific culture – Part 1
- Le Va – Understanding the sacred space in Pacific culture – Part 2
- Fonofale – Part 1
- Fonofale – Part 2
- What is Pacific cultural safety – Part 1
- What is Pacific cultural safety – Part 3
How Pacific Cultural Safety Can Improve Learning
Here’s a summary of this short talanoa with Pale and Saylene which is part of our short series on Pacific Cultural Centredness
Welcome to the second part of our three-part talanoa on Pacific cultural safety in teaching. In this segment, we will continue exploring Pale’s insights on the topic.
Pale discusses cultural safety and highlights commonalities among Pacific Island communities in New Zealand. He stresses that respecting names, places, and greetings is crucial for ensuring safety, as well as acknowledging spirituality and cultural obligations such as sending money to family in the islands.
In addition, Pale emphasizes the importance of respecting differences among Pacific Island groups and recognizing that they are not all the same. Pale suggests using group activities to facilitate discussions about different perspectives and experiences in a safe and respectful manner.
According to Pale, it is acceptable to talk about these differences, as long as it is done in a safe and respectful way. He suggests that educators create a safe space for students to express their views and encourage them to share their unique experiences with their peers. This approach can help create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Pale also highlights the significance of understanding and acknowledging the diversity of Pacific Island communities. He encourages educators to celebrate and learn from the different cultures, languages, and traditions of Pacific Islanders, and to include them in the classroom curriculum.
To sum up, Pale’s insights on cultural safety in teaching emphasise the importance of respecting diversity, acknowledging cultural obligations, and creating safe spaces for open and respectful discussions. By doing so, educators can create an environment where all students feel valued and respected, and where they can learn from each other’s unique perspectives and experiences.
If you’re interested, there’s more here with our friends at Ako Aotearoa.
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