American Samoa Alliance against Domestic & Sexual Violence

Tusitala

This project was supported by annual awards by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S., Department of Justice, and by Family Violence Prevention and Services.  The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

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9/21/2023

Partners Community Fair

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​​​PARTNER’S COMMUNITY FAIR
Culture, Community & Connection :
”ROOTED IN RESILIENCE, CULTIVATING CHANGE & NURTURING LIVES”

The office of the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
(Alliance) and the Department of Youth and Women Affairs (DYWA) hosted its
first Partners Community Fair (PCF) on September 22, 2023. The fair was an
opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of collective action and
partnership among organizations and community members in addressing the
challenges facing the community, learn more about these issues and how to
prevent them.

With over 30 vendors, the fair showcased the different services and programs
available in the community with the intent of “empowering individuals and the
community through collaboration, promoting resiliency, and strengthening
capacity to eliminate Domestic and Sexual Violence.” The fair also, “empowered
and inspired the youth and women through nurturance, training, support and
development.”

One of the highlights of the fair was the focus on mental health and wellness.
There were workshops on CPR, art therapy, and an information booth on suicide
prevention awareness. These workshops were a great opportunity for people to
learn about the importance of mental health and wellness, and to know who and
where to get help if they are struggling.

Our logo of the fair includes 3 important symbols- the coconut tree, the canoe
and people. The canoe and people signify the partnership of the Alliance and
DYWA. The coconut tree, known as the "tree of life," represents strength,
versatility, and the abundance of resources it provides. By drawing a connection
between the coconut tree and the fair's theme, the slogan emphasizes the idea of
resilience, vitality, provision of essential resources, growth, and community-
driven change. All of which sums up into, “Community, Culture & Connection.”
The slogan conveys the following messages:

PARTNER’S COMMUNITY FAIR

1. Rooted in Resilience: Highlighting the resilience of survivors and the
community's determination to overcome domestic and sexual violence. It signifies
strength and the ability to withstand challenges.

2. Cultivating Change: Emphasizes the fair's mission to cultivate positive change
in the community. It reflects the collective efforts to create a safer and more
supportive community.

3. Nurturing lives: the idea of nurturing and supporting survivors, emphasizing
the importance of providing care, resources, and empowerment to those affected
by violence.

This event suggests the need to extend support, resources, and awareness to
create a positive impact. The coconut tree holds a significant cultural and
economic value in many communities, earning it the nickname "tree of life" for its
integral role in supporting livelihoods, providing sustenance, and offering various
resources for survival and well-being. Just as the coconut tree provides essential
resources, the fair aimed to provide vital support, education, and empowerment
to survivors and the community.

We are truly grateful for all our partners involved to help strengthen our
community and make it a better place to live.
  • Department of Youth & Women Affairs (DYWA)
  • Legal Aid
  • Department of Human & Social Services (DHSS)
  • Pae ma Auli
  • Parents of Children with Special Needs (PCSN)
  • LBJ Family Planning
  • Red Cross
  • Department of Education (DOE) – Guidance & Counseling
  • American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition (ASCCC)
  • Mary Anne Peck: Writing & Workshops
  • American Samoa Community College
  • Intersections, Inc,
  • Foeoletine Foundation
  • Americorp
  • 93 KHJ
  • V103
  • Tautua Samoa: Mental Health & Wellness Resource Center
  • Veterans Affairs: (Dr Jueta McCutchan Tofaeono/Robert Toelupe/IPVAP)
  • Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA)
  • American Samoa Visitors Bureau
  • Ola Malosi Fit
  • Department of Public Safety (DPS): Criminal Investigation Division
  • Department of Agriculture (DoA)
  • Department of Health: Suicide Prevention
  • Wellness Checks: Heart Month
  • Comprehensive Substance Abuse Council (CSAC)
  • Roji’s Jewelry & EJ’s Iced Coffee (Banana bread)
  • Nature’s Educational Laboratory of American Samoa (NELAS)
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Office of Protection & Advocacy (OPAD)
  • RJ’s Coffee & Tea’ing
  • Viola’s Kitchen
  • Tiri’s Chamangos
  • Pac Sales


   **Special thanks to-
  • Tradewinds Hotel
  • SOPAC Inc.

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9/21/2023

It Takes a Village

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Written by: Vatauomalotetele Fanene
“It takes a village.”
You are loved.
You are worthy.
You are important.
You are enough.
Keep fighting.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of
the importance of mental health and to remember those who have lost their lives to
suicide.

A member of our community shared in a Facebook post her connection of
spreading suicide prevention awareness with the Samoan tradition of the siva afi
(fire dance). She shared insights on how in Samoa, the word afi means fire. The
song "Ua alu atu le afi" means the light is coming. This song is a reminder that
there is always hope, even in the darkest of times. -

In our culture, there is a strong emphasis on community and support. We are all
connected to each other, and we all have a role to play in preventing suicide. We
can be the light in someone's darkness by being there for them, listening to them,
and offering them support. We can also learn about mental health issues, such as
PTSD, anxiety and depression, so that we can better understand what our loved
ones are going through.

"It takes a village to raise a child." But it also takes a village to heal a child.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone.
There are people who care about you and want to help. Please reach out to a friend,
family member, or mental health professional. There is help available, and you can
get through this.

For Samoans, suicide is a particularly pressing issue. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates among Samoan Americans
are more than twice as high as the national average. This is a significant disparity,
and it highlights the need for culturally specific suicide prevention efforts.

Samoan culture is a rich and vibrant one, and it has a lot to offer in terms of suicide
prevention. For example, the Samoan concept of fa'aaloalo (respect) emphasizes
the importance of showing respect for others, regardless of their differences. This
principle can be used to create a more inclusive and supportive community, which
can help to reduce the risk of suicide.

Another important Samoan value is alofa (love). Alofa is a deep and abiding love
that extends to all members of the community. This principle can be used to create
a sense of belonging and connection, which can help to protect people from feeling
isolated and alone.

Finally, the Samoan concept of tautua (service) emphasizes the importance of
giving back to the community. This principle can be used to encourage people to
get involved in suicide prevention efforts, and it can also help to create a sense of
purpose and meaning in life.

By incorporating these Samoan values into suicide prevention efforts, we can
create a more supportive and inclusive community that can help to reduce the risk
of suicide. We can also use these values to help people who are struggling with
suicidal thoughts to find hope and healing.

There have been cases of suicide here in our community of young people, our
youth. As a community, what can we do? Light your fire. Be their light. Keep it
burning. For those who are struggling, “ua alu atu le afi”, the light is coming. Keep
holding on. Be the village, be the light for that “one”.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out
for help. There are many resources available, including the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone.

In case no one told you today-
You are loved.
You are worthy.
You are needed.
You are enough.
You are alive for a reason.
You are stronger than you think.

You are going to get through this.
Don't give up.

May we remember in our hearts, all those we have lost to suicide. Let’s continue to
listen with no judgements, lift in spirits and love with sincerity for those who are
fighting to stay with us.

*For more information on suicide prevention awareness, contact the Alliance
office at 684-699-0272.
**If someone you know is in danger or is attempting suicide, CALL 911.

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9/19/2023

Turning Tragedy into Opportunity

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Submitted by: Luana Yoshikawa-Scanlan, MBA, PRIME 

"Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live."  --Robert Kennedy

A crisis, a critical moment in time, often creates opportunities for deepening emotional turmoil and widening social division.  As we struggle to understand why ‘bad things happen to good people’, reason may turn to blame. Rather than looking for the ‘why’ we become fixed on the ‘who, how, when’ and lament our inability to make things right.

Crisis also creates opportunities for transforming community in a good way.  Leadership, community engagement, employing strategies of well-being are key factors in turning tragedy into opportunity.  

Trauma, the emotional impact of tragedy, leads us through periods of mourning, anger, healing, and hopefully positive action.  They may be experienced all at once, in large or small doses, sporadically over time – every person is unique.  The key is to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. The ‘light’ is unique to everyone, representing a breath of fresh air, a warm ray of sun, a smile . . . hope.
Hope fuels the journey. Hope gives us perspective.  
As we traverse the trauma of domestic violence, understand that a single incident forced upon our awareness is a tragedy we can choose to respond to in ways that can create good.  It is an opportunity to act. It is an opportunity to help the children and families directly impacted, and to address the violence we see in our everyday lives.  It is an opportunity to ask the hard questions of leadership, to report on the drug dealers not just the drug users, to call the police when someone is being beaten, to show up at court as a witness.  It is an opportunity to uncover the tragedies happening in our everyday lives, not just those that make the news.  By that time, it’s too late.
Click the link below for inspiration.
https://youtu.be/96gwigNMEwo?si=Hxxy0iIRv2LpDePj
​

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9/18/2023

Working together to Identify Victims of Domestic Violence in American Samoa and Finding Support

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Written by:  Jennifer F Tofaeono, Ex Director
​     While traveling in the U.S. to share our work with the Fa’afafine community regarding domestic and sexual violence I received a text from my team about a domestic violence fatality that occurred on September 5, 2023.  Samoa news reported the victim was dedicated mother to her children and husband, as shared by her church member.  This is not the first story we have read in our community about an abuser and the death of the victim.  Domestic disputes and abuse are reported in our newspapers, online social media, shared in works spaces, church spaces, school spaces, as the chatter about the victim and abuser spreads through our community quickly. 
     Domestic violence exists and is found in many families in American Samoa. Samoan studies show nine out of 10 Samoan women have experienced physical or emotional violence at hands of family members, 6 out of 10 experience intimate partner violence (1) .  It is evident Domestic Violence impacts our community in extremely real ways. Domestic violence can negatively impact people’s thoughts, and behaviors that can lead to creating mental instability for victims.  Studies show increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms are found among survivors of domestic violence.
      What does a victim look like in American Samoa?  They are Samoan, Filipino, Korean, Tongan, Fijian.  They are any Race.  They are a baby or a  senior citizen.  They are any sexual orientation from male, female to fa’afafine.  They practice any religion, from London Misionary Society (LMS), Catholic, Methodist, and Mormon.  They are married, living together, divorced, single or dating.  They are educated, graduating with a doctorate, a masters, a bachelors, a high school diploma, entering high school, elementary, or never have been educated.  They are poor or rich, they are our family members, friends, or strangers.  They are husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend.  Abuse does not discriminate, and leaves a devastating emotional toll on victims, family members, and community.
     For victims of domestic violence, finding assistance and support can be complex.  The American Samoa Alliance recognizes our local victim advocacy, and partners who work tirelessly to eliminate domestic violence in our communities.  One such space is the community coordinated response (CCR) team led by Mona Uli, from Back on Track.  The CCR team discusses the impact of domestic violence on families, and in this case the focus is “how do we as a community deal with these critical issues impacting families”. Core discussions center on creating safe spaces, to allow people to just “be”, to promote healing and rebuilding from traumatic incidents.  The group creates toolboxes of resources to share with families, describing community organizations and their services to support victims’ needs that will help create safe spaces. Our government recognized the importance of combating domestic violence by creating the Domestic Violence Advisory Team to help victims, and support policy changes.  The Alliance and its partners continue to educate promoting awareness and prevention in the community about the impact of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and dating.  Our reach has expanded as we continue to partner with organizations locally, and afar to help promote discussions on how to stop abuse in the spaces we reside.
      I am asked time and time again; how do we end domestic violence in our community.  My answer is the same.  We must continue to learn more about domestic violence, what it looks like, how it operates in our community,  how we can strengthen families to make change, and learn how to heal. We can find strength in working together and providing support to victims to improve healing in our community. I challenge our community to continue to learn every day, make simple changes.
     If you find you are a victim or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, please contact Department of Human & Social Services for assistance.  You can connect with local offices such as Back on Track, or Catholic Social Services. You can also contact our office at 699-0272 for assistance and we will help get you to the right place for help.  

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  • Home
  • Faafafine Rural Project
  • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Monthly articles
    • COVID-19 Manuscript
    • COVID-19 PSA
  • Domestic & Sexual Violence
    • Community Outreach >
      • Training Resources
    • Tusitala - Monthly Articles
    • Public Service Announcement Videos
    • RESOURCES
  • CDC Rape Prevention Education
    • CDC RPE Articles- TUSITALA
  • Find Help
  • Who We Are
  • Contact
  • Happenings
    • Positions Available
    • Malaga Mo Sulufaiga Travel Assistance Program
  • EVENTS
  • Forms