Muakiga! An Introduction to Gagana Tokelau

“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.