At 17, Luisa Ineleo arrived in Auckland on her own, ready to reconnect with a part of her identity she had grown up feeling distant from.
Rather than settling in first, she went straight from the airport to a Tokelau community gathering. It was the beginning of a journey to learn more about her heritage and find her place within her community.
Born in New Zealand but raised in Australia from the age of three, Luisa grew up away from much of her Tokelau family.
“Growing up in Australia away from my grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and even some of my siblings, there was a big gap between me and my Tokelau culture.”
A holiday in Auckland at age 16 had opened her eyes to what she had been missing and made her want to move back to New Zealand.
“That holiday really opened my eyes. I wanted to move back to Auckland and immerse myself in my Tokelau culture.”
Since arriving, Luisa has made an effort to get involved in her community and learn more about the traditions she grew up wanting to understand.
Now a youth leader for her Nukunonu village group in Auckland, she brings young people together through games, activities and opportunities to connect with their community.
“It's something I really wanted to do. I want to make a difference for our Tokelau youth. It’s been a privilege to be able to be one of the youth leaders.”
Through her involvement, she has also learnt traditional dances, songs, fishing practices and how to make the pale, a traditional head garland.
Some of that knowledge has come from young women her own age, including those who grew up in Tokelau.
“It's interesting because it's the girls my age or younger that have taught me traditional practices like dances and garments. Not just our elders.”
There is still plenty she wants to learn. At workshops and community gatherings, she often discovers traditions, foods and ways of doing things she hadn't known about before.
“There's always something that comes up that I'm like, wow, I had no idea that our people do that or that our people eat that food or make food a certain way. I attend as many cultural gatherings as I can, just so I can soak up the knowledge about my culture.”
Learning te Gagana Tokelau is only one part of understanding her heritage. The stories behind the songs and the way they are told are also important.
“There's more to it than just being able to speak te Gagana Tokelau, there’s stories, songs and even how they are told that are really important to learn and know about.”
She hopes her children and future generations will understand the traditions they inherit, where they come from and what they mean.
“I would want my kids and their kids to know about the traditions, to know where and who it's coming from. Even when we sing the songs, to know what they mean.”
Luisa says she believes young people have an important role in keeping their ancestors' stories alive.
“I mean, Tokelau is so small and it's sad to admit, but it really is sinking. And even though we might lose that land, I think all us youth need to help tell our stories and ensure the stories of our ancestors live on.”
She wants other Tokelau and Pacific young people to know that they can always reconnect with their culture, even if they feel disconnected from it.
“I would like to emphasise firstly to Tokelaun youth, or all Pasifika youth whom feel a disconnect to their culture, that it's within them. Immerse yourself into your culture. It’s never too late to learn more about your culture."