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For the Ancestors

by Madeleine Chapman

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SJ Level 3, November 2019

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WALT

make sense of new information in a text

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VIDEO: Tatau & Ta Moko: Pacific & Maori Tattooing

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Key Words

WORD

DEFINITION

tatau

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pe’a

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malu

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tufuga tā tatau,

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au

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sausau

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Fact Finding...

  1. Why did Matalena’s memory of the tatau fade until almost forgotten?
  2. What are some of the ways supporters provide help?
  3. You normally tattoo with a partner because…
    1. It is tradition
    2. To share the pain
    3. It’s part of the experience
  4. Where was the most painful part to tattoo on her body and why?
  5. Why did Matalena want to get a malu?
  6. True or False - Matalena got a malu to express her identity.
  7. “O le ala i le pule o le tautua.” - What does this proverb mean?
  8. What is the significance of the malu?

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Your thoughts...

  • Why is getting a malu described as a spiritual experience?

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  • What are the two main reasons Matalena waited a long time to receive her malu?

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  • Matalena wants to see tatau everywhere - not just in Samoa but here in New Zealand. She hopes that “people will appreciate their beauty and understand their significance.” �Do you agree or disagree with her comment? Explain your point of view.

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CREATE: Your Turn!

Choose one of the following tasks:

  1. Describe a cultural tradition in your family, whānau, or community�
  2. Write a recount of a special cultural event (e.g. a wedding, a birthday, a funeral) that you were part of�
  3. Explain the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of getting a cultural tattoo (e.g. ta tatau, ta moko )

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  • Design a cultural tatau, malu, taulima you would like to get done when you are older.

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