Conversations with first American Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen

Written by:  Media Coordinator, Marilyn Ho Ching
We had the privilege and opportunity to conduct a podcast session with Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. Amata was born in Washington DC and moved to Samoa as an infant, she was raised in the village of Pago Pago. Her father was the late Governor Peter Tali Coleman.

 She reminisced about young days with her father, listening to him and being very interested in politics. She recounts how she was very close to him and encouraged her to never forget about the people of American Samoa. Amata holds a psychology degree and had intended on pursuing a career in Social Work but found politics to be much more fascinating. 

When she told her father that she wanted to run for Congresswoman, he advised her that he would be difficult as she was a woman and that it would take her 20 years before she would win. It actually took her 22 years before she would take the congressional seat. She states that she is a public servant voted by the people of the territory to serve and will continue to work tirelessly for the territory. 

The Alliance invited Amata to be our guest speaker for our podcast in light of Women’s Equality Awareness. We asked questions about challenges that she faces as a woman in a predominantly male realm to her thoughts on Kamala Harris being selected to run as Vice President for the Democratic party. It is an informative and entertaining podcast.

Tune in next month when it will be available. 
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