Mauke
life and legends
UNESCO-funded documentary aims to preserve an island's culture
The
Taporoporoanga Ipukarea Society (TIS) travelled to the island
of Mauke in September to make a documentary on the island's
stories, legends, language, customs, crafts, dance, song and
people.
The
project was funded by UNESCO's (United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Small Islands Voice (SIV)
programme.
Members
of the group included Jean Mason, a published writer and poet
who was raised on Mauke and is passionate about the island (Mason
is the writer, narrator and translator in the documentary);
Hinoi Henry, a resident of Rarotonga of Nga Pu Toru descent
who is a cameraman from Te Digital Factory; Teina Enua, the
mayor of Mauke who took part as the camera assistant; and Richard
Wachter a former Hollywood filmmaker who has made the Cook Islands
his home for over 25 years, and produced and directed the documentary.
Wachter
says SIV wanted the focus for the documentary on a small undeveloped
outer island and it was decided that Mitiaro or Mauke would
be suitable.
"If
the results of the documentary are successful, SIV will look
at funding a series of all the islands of the Cook Islands,"
he says.
The
production team arrived on Mauke in late September and were
greeted warmly by the people of the island who were enthusiastic
about the documentary project. They see it as a way of preserving
their culture and history.
Shooting
began the day after the group landed and averaged 10 hours a
day for the next seven days.
Teina
Enua organised the locations for filming. Enua had previously
taken part in a skills course for outer islands broadcasters
held back in April on Rarotonga.
Mauke's
hospitality was the most memorable part of the project says
Wachter.
"Mauke is a beautiful unspoiled island with wonderful people.
"People waved and called out greetings as we went about our
business.
"Everywhere we went the wonderful people of Mauke welcomed us
into their homes, plantations, celebrations and families and
were eager to participate and assist us in any way possible."
He says the island's MP Mapu Taia was also helpful and offered
to recite legends as well as take the group on a tour of Mauke.
Tai Tura the island secretary also lent his support to the filming.
Footage of the island's main export crop - maire - and the making
of a traditional canoe feature in the film, and several locals
took on acting roles to portray legends.
The
team visited the two schools on the island and presented SIV
magazines/T-shirts, and encouraged participation in the SIV
and Sandwatch programmes for the pupils. "The students were
incredible and sang the legend of Paikea for us," says Wachter.
Several of the elderly were interviewed about their memories
in their native Maukean dialect and local island legends were
also noted, some of which were staged and enacted.
The
Mauke TV broadcasting service received a donation to air 30-second
environmental spots for three months, and part of these funds
will be used to purchase equipment for local production. The
team returned to Rarotonga on 1 October and work is continuing
on editing the over-seven-hours of tape for the final copy on
DVD in time for Christmas.
Once
the post production is complete it will be broadcast first on
Mauke, says Wachter. Present day and later generations will
be able to access these archives through the library, USP, and
Ministry of Education.
The
DVDs will be sold through the Cook Islands Library and Museum
and Tarani Napa. Wachter would like to thank UNESCO for enabling
their team to help preserve the linguistic dialects, stories
and legends of the people of the Cook Islands.
A
Small Islands Voice conference is to be held in January and
Nancy Kareroa has been selected to give presentations on the
several SIV projects in the Cook Islands.
Melina
Smith, Cook Island News 20 November 2004
