Curriculum Vitae
Community Language Needs Survey
Club Hugag'esea & Endangered Languages Project
Ready to Revitalize
Online (MS Forms) - Western North America
Feb - April 2025
A community assessment via MS Forms that collected data from members of Club Hugag'esea, a diasporic Rotuman community in Western Canada. Referencing Bray's global diasporic language survey from 2013, I replicate the research instrument in my local Rotuman diaspora. This was done as part of my Ready to Revitalize project to cultivate Rotuman language health in my community.
The Rotuman Alphabet Book
Maf Ne Puk Ne Fäeag Fak Rotuạm Ta
Author & Illustrator
Hạni Hạni Arts
Online- Available Worldwide
May 12, 2025
A bilingual Rotuman and English children's book teaching the alphabet. Dialogue includes useful phrases like introductions and saying please. Follow Suka the pig along through his journey somewhere in Rotuma, discovering many letters and words along the way. Created with the language support of my elders from Club Hugag'esea. My tefakhanisi for Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta - Rotuman Language Week 2025; ‘Åf'ạkia ma Rak'ạkia 'os Fäega ma Ag Fak Rotuma - tēfakhanisit Gagaja nā se ‘äe ma gou - Treasure & Teach Our Rotuman Language and Culture - A Gift given to you and I by God.
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Hani Hani Arts: Webstore
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Founder; Webstore & Product Design
Vancouver-based; Online - Available worldwide
Feb 14, 2025
A collection of art prints, fashion and hand-printed journals inspired by Fäega Rotuam Ta. This collection is inspired by Rotuman motifs and ancestral stories; connecting to the shark, octopus, tefui, and tupu'a, all wayfinding through the ocean, space, and time.
Ready 2 Revitalize Participant
Endangered Languages Project
Online, Oregon, USA-based
January - April 2025
This online course focused on practical issues in language revitalization, equipping learners with skills and knowledge to keep their languages strong. Over 8 weeks, starting in January 2025, participants work with the ELP Language Revitalization Mentors to develop a concrete plan for a language revitalization project in their community. Topics included revitalization methods, building community collaborations, seeking funding, and more.
Art Exhibit - Block Print Series & Animated Audio Video
Rotuman Language Week
Māngere Arts Centre
Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
May 13- 17, 2024
A block print series of Rotuman motifs come to life with animation and a narrated hanuju (storytelling). These were displayed alongside Dorell Ben's Rotuman tattoo motif works for a mini-exhibit showcasing Rotuman Language Week.
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Art Exhibit - Block Print Series
Pasifika Fest
REACH Ashland Youth Centre
Oakland, California, USA
May 17, 2024
A block print series of Rotuman motifs about navigating the diasporic urban world with ancestral knowledge & symbols. Hosted at a local NGO youth centre in Oakland in collaboration with various artists.
Rotuman Language Week Social Media Campaign
Instagram
May 11, 2024
My third time returning to do the Love My Language Challenge, a revitalization initiative launched by the New Zealand Rotuman Fellowship. Celebrating Gasav Ne Faeag Rotuam Ta (Rotuman Language Week) - May 12th – 18th. This year’s theme was ‘Vetḁkia ‘os Fäega ma Ag fak hanua (Sustaining our Language and Culture). The campaign teaches how to introduce yourself in Rotuman, including your age, ancestry and home village.
"Markings" by Dr. Dorell Ben; e-book
April 2024
Providing consultation about Rotuman tattoo, cultural context, contemporary Rotuman tattoo & more.
Key Note Speaker - "Decolonizing Humanities with Radical Participatory Action Research"
Kwantlen Polytechnic University & KPU Sociology Kaleidescope Symposium
Surrey, Canada
April 12, 2024
I share my Participatory Action Research practices merged with Indigenous wisdom informed by my Rotuman/South Pacific and local Indigenous knowledge. I reflect on how these multidisciplinary, community-based, and earth-embodied practices are necessary as these experiences deeply inform and enrich community practice of language revitalization, culture, and wellness. I present my Leadership model and values navigating tool; sharing my experiences facilitating this model with the Fireside Youth Leadership Program, YWCA Grade 8 Leadership Program, and how I am currently applying the model to myself and with other youth educators/programs.
Custom Tattoo Design (Commission)
Mangawhai, New Zealand
November 2023
Creating a custom tattoo design representing Maori, Rotuman, Celtic, and Fijian heritage, love, and family. The piece was created to go from the thumb down the arm. The client took the design to a tattooist at 818 Inks who collaborated on the application of the markings.
Business Logo Design (Commission)
Island Creatives Florist
South Hampton, United Kingdom
June 2023
Creating a custom business logo for a Fijian tropical florist who makes wearable and decorative floral arrangements for events and dance performances. We worked together to create a design that represents her Fijian roots incorporating native flowers into the logo.
Participant - “Jouez et Rejouez" Clown School
Atomic Vaudeville & Britt Small
Victoria, Canada
Jan 2023
A 3-day workshop on the art of clowning. Methods building upon Pochinko Clown, we explored various colours and characters through the clown exercises.
Art Exhibit - Painting & Altar Curation
The Stories We Belong To Showcase
Open Space Art Gallery & Tah'lum Collective
Indigenous Emerging Artist Program
Victoria, Canada
Nov 2022 - Feb 2023
A small cohort of Indigenous emerging youth artists explore a wide range of artistic practices and connect with other established Indigenous artists through a series of workshops. I created an altar to honor my family's gift of art with carvings, jewelry, and weavings from them. With my mixed media paintings depicting my spiritual journey reconnecting to my ancestors from the Pacific North-West Coast
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Coordinator & Art Facilitator
South Pacific Community Holiday Gatherying
Pacific Peoples Partnership
Victoria, Canada
December 2022
A Christmas holiday party celebrated in partnership with our local South Pacific Island community. I facilitated a kid's Christmas card-making table using Pacific Island motifs and rubber block printing techniques. Folks gathered with shared dishes in fellowship, celebrating community and the season.
Art Facilitator & Coordinator
Pasifik Paint Night - Deep Sea Discussion
Pacific Peoples Partnership
Victoria, Canada
November 2022
A paint and chat night hosted by the Pacific Peoples Partnership to engage community members with our team to paint deep sea creatures while discussing the effects of deep-sea mining and the effects on Pacific peoples..
Cultural Presenter
One Wave Festival 2022
Pacific Peoples Partnership
Victoria, Canada
September 2022
Performing a 3 song Rotuman and Tahitian medley of
Pacific dance for the One Wave festival at Fisherman's Wharf. Including a short cultural presentation on Rotuman Island.
Assistant Painter
Fernwood Community Mural
Sarah Jim Studios & Fernwood Community Association
Victoria, Canada
September 2022
Assisted in painting a large street mural designed by Sarah Jim for the Fernwood Community at Haultain Corner depicting local native plants and fish.
Mural Painter
Taki Bar Mural
Taki Bar & Bula Lager
Aldershot, United Kingdom
July 2022
Created a large mural painting of the Taki Bar logo on a hand-made wood-burned bar for Bula Fest 2022.
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Journal Publication - Painting
Tạuna'i - To Join Together
Octopus Spirit Journal
Issue 2: Centering Indigenous Women & LGBTQ2S,
Vancouver, Canada
June 7 2022
Issue 2 of this journal publishes a painting titled “Tauna’i To Join Together”. Created as a community project with the help of some local Rotuman community youth. The painting depicts 215 orange fingerprints representing orange poppy petals, wrapped around a heart made of fresh & salt water. Created to show our love and support to the Indigenous members of our Pasifika community who have been directly affected by the Indian Residential Schools.
Cultural Consultant
"Wayfinding the Cultural Cloud" Dr. Dorell Ben
Griffiths University, PhD program
Queensland, Australia
2022-2025
Contributing cultural practitioner, artist and consultant discussing Rotuman culture with Dorell Ben within their PhD project. Various pieces of my work are featured and analyzed in support of Ben's research. Contributed to a panel discussion with 2 other artists sharing our ideas on women's tattoo in the Pacific with the researcher.
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Art Exhibit - Water Colour Painting
Fạ'i Ma Fui Tattoos & Star Adornments
University of Waikato
Hamilton, Aoteroa New Zealand
May 2022
A collaborative exhibit showcasing Rotuman motifs and art from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand for Rotuman Language Week 2022 as part of the Pacific Language Weeks Series at UoW. I contributed this water colour portrait imagining my great-grandmother, Taufue in a Tefui.
Art Facilitator & Coordinator
At the Fireside - Community Paint Night
Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition &
Fireside Youth Leadership Pilot Project
Surrey, Canada
March 2022
A paint and chat night hosted by the SPRC with the Fireside Youth Leadership cohort to engage in community care by coming together to paint and express our creativity. Part of a 6-month life-skills transition course for folks transitioning out of ministry care to independent living.
Participant - Indigenous Emerging Artist Program
Open Space Art Gallery & Tah'lum Collective
Victoria, Canada
Nov 2021 - Feb 2022
A small cohort of Indigenous emerging youth artists explore a wide range of artistic practices and connect with other established Indigenous artists through a series of workshops. Workshops included contemporary dance, cedar harvesting, weaving, hide-drum making, stick and poke tattoos, 3D installations, and more.
Painter
Hapo Manu Totem Pole Restoration
Westshore Rugby Club
Langford, Canada
September 2021
A repainting of Tim Humeʻs South Pacific Mythology-inspired totem pole at the Westshore Rugby Club. Players touch the pole before a game for good luck.
Virtual Facilitator & Coordinator
Rotuma Day 2021 (Virtual Gathering)
Online Event
May 24, 2021
A gathering with Club Hugag'esea online via Zoom to celebrate Rotuma Day while practicing social distancing during the pandemic. The session
included music, language, and a lesson about the 4 pillars of wellbeing presented on by diffferent elders.
Storytelling & Paint with me Video
A Rotuman Creation Myth
Kailomalagi
London, United Kingdom
May 2021
Storytelling of a Rotuman creation Myth of King Raho from Samoa while painting for Rotuman Language Week in collaboration with UK-based Instagram collective Kailomalagi.
Guest Presenter
A.A.P.I Arts & Culture Presentation
Elementary school virtual lesson about Pacific Islander heritage, culture and arts. Discussing various symbols and the various islands's uniqueness.
I outline popular motifs and discuss their history and meanings.
Renton School District
Renton, Washington, USA
May 2021
Guest Presenter: "MAD" - Spoken Word Poem
Life, Society & Decolonization Panel
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Surrey, Canada
March 2021
Spoken word poem performed on a virtual panel for a KPU hosted panel discussing life, society and our pathways to decolonization.
Community Organizer & Facilitator
Fireside Youth Leadership Program & Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition
Surrey, Canada
January 2021 - June 2022
Developed a 6-month Fireside Youth Leadership Program, a life skills (MCFD Accredited) course in partnership with Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition and Options Community Services, to support former youth from government care, seeking education and credits towards Youth Agreements. Building a model over the 6-month program, youth develop a tool that reflects their current identity, core values, goals, and support systems. The goal of Fireside was to support youth transitioning to independent living from government care, in making healthier decisions that benefit their self-esteem, build healthy relationships, connect them to their local communities, and gain employment, education, and financial skills for independent living. The cohort hosted 8 youths aged 18-24 who were transitioning out of government care in Surrey.
Rotuman Wood Carvings (Part 1 & 2)
Instagram Edutainment Video Series
November 2020
A video series showcasing and discussing Rotuman wood carvings carved by Konousi Aisake from Culturally Inspired Rotuma Arts. The videos share language and information about 3 common tools including a pun he (wooden spoon), ipesi (cooking sticks), and umefe "dinner platter". I also discuss symbols in his carvings including the momoa (mollusk shell). Created as a community youth outreach project to continue my personal and Club Hugag’esea cultural engagement through the COVID-19 pandemic. Opened to the public via Instagram reaching global Rotumans and other audiences.
Research Paper: "Multilingualism in Fijian Education"
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
SOCI 3270 Education, Nation-Building,
and Globalization
Surrey, Canada
July 10, 2019
Exploring what roles the 3 national languages of Fiji (Vosa Vaka Viti,
English, & Fiji Hindi) play in the education experience of
post-colonization era Fijian youth. Also analyzing what multilingual pedagogies, including Mother Tongue Education, can do to benefit the preservation of Indigenous language health.
Capstone Project "A Look into the Globalization of Rotuman Culture Through Facebook"
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
ANTH 4500 Culture, Community, and Wellbeing
Surrey, Canada
April 19, 2019
A virtual ethnography analyzing trends in the social media group
"Rotumans on Facebook". My goal with this project was to reflect
on what and how Rotumans are sharing and creating a community
online. This project explored questions about what topics and aspects
of language are shared in English and Rotuman, how Rotuman language is adapted due to technological incompatibilities, and what is important to the Global Rotuman community of diasporic folks on Facebook. This project cleared a Research Ethics Board process of approval and included a semi-structured interview with a group participant & community member.
Language & Cultures Student Award 2018 & 2019
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - LANC Department of Language & Cultures
Surrey, Canada
2018 & 2019
A student award of $1000 available to students pursuing Language or Language and Culture Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Criteria: Completed a minimum of nine credits in language, linguistics or cultural studies courses; GPA of 3.0 or greater; performed community or volunteer service with activities related to cross-cultural studies.
Guest Speaker - "Cultural Revitalization Practices"
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - INDG 1100 Indigenous Studies
Surrey, Canada
November 17, 2018
Discussing practices of language and cultural revitalization. Sharing glimpses into local diaspora community projects we do to preserve our cultural identity and pass it along
to the next generation of Canadian-born children.
Projects like hosting a bilingual alphabet book/language workshop, summer camps including food and ceremony teachings, cultural showcases, regalia-making
workshops, and Indigenous song/dance.
"Maf ne Feäg Ne Puk Fak Rotuma - The Rotuman Alphabet"
Writer & Illustrator
In Collaboration with Club Hugag'esea
Western Canada
May 2018
A bilingual book teaching the Rotuman Alphabet to English-speakers. Created as a community project idea with the support of various members and elders from Club Hugag'esea. This book was self-published in a limited print of 50 copies and donated back to the community. 20 copies were sent to our northern community in Fort McMurray for the families who couldn't join in person. The book introduces phonetics, common words, and letters.
Rotuman Alphabet Book Reading & Language Workshop
Club Hugag'esea Rotuma Day
Nanaimo, Canada
May 17, 2018
A language workshop where 50 copies of my book "Maf ne Feäg Ne Puk Fak Rotuam - The Rotuman Alphabet" were donated to community families as a language resource to inspire oral storytelling, speaking, and reading Rotuman.
I conducted a live reading and facilitated a group language lesson with community youth, families, elders, and visitors as we learned the Rotuman Alphabet.
Airbrush Tattoo Artist
Partywork Interactive
Metro-Vancouver, Canada
May 2014-2020
Airbrush tattooing for local events including kid's birthdays, corporate events, weddings, graduations and more. Offering over 100+ stencils and a full set of colours to add fun to every party.
President
Club Hugag'esea
Western Canada
May 2015-2023
Upon nomination from the elders at our closing meeting for Camp Hugag'esea, I was gifted the opportunity to serve as President. My goals were to focus on language revitalization and youth education. I wanted to create more space and time for community gatherings geared towards the needs of elders, parents, and children sharing in Rotuman culture. My dream w to make a bilingual book.
Coordinator - Camp Hugag'esea
Club Hugag'esea
Sooke, Canada
May 2015; 2017
Leading a new community initiative: A summer camp focused on creating a slower-paced, child-focused Rotuma Day called Camp Hugag'esea. In 2017 we included a tefui making workshop.
Families came together for the 3-day camp, teaching youth the basics of Rotuman cooking and language. This included butchering and preparing the pig, creating the koua (underground oven), campfire songs, fara (song & dance), creating lolo (coconut cream) and coconut candy, and language lessons. Elders and youth got to spend wholesome time together without the pressures of putting on a performance and dinner for an audience.
Polynesian Dancer
Tusitala Polynesian Dance Company
Western Canada
2013
Performing a variety of Polynesian dance styles including Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii and more at local events and festivals. Performances include Fiji Day, the Carribean Festival, weddings and fundraisers.
Polynesian Dancer
Roots & Rhythms Charity Showcase
Queen Elizabeth Secondary School
June 2013
Performing in a duo, we danced a medley of Tahitian 'Ori & Contemporary Rotuman Tamure. The event is an annual multiculturalism night aimed at fundraising for a local cause. This year we raised $8000 towards the Surrey Memorial Hospital neo-natal care facility, the largest donation to date at the time.
Polynesian Dancer
Quinaesthetics Dance Show
Queen Elizabeth Secondary School
May 2011, 2012 & 2013
Performing in a Tahitian 'Ori solo in 2011 & 2012. As a duo in 2013 we danced a medley of Tahitian 'Ori & Contemporary Rotuman Tamure. The event is an annual dance showcase hosted by Queen Elizabeth Secondary.
Rotuman Day Tautoga Performer
Victoria, Richmond, Nanaimo, Canada
May 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2025
Performing traditional Rotuman tautoga (song, chant & dance), as well as contemporary medleys of Polynesian dance. Supporting also in the coordinating of choreography, event planning, and club organization via board role as secretary. This including coordinating meetings & practices.
Cultural Performer
Merritt Secondary Girl's Rugby
Charity Showcase: Fijian Loco Night
Merritt, Canada
October 2009
Performing a contemporary Rotuman dance medley with several other Pacific-Indigenous performers. The event supported fundraising for the Merrit Secondary Girl's Rugby team to go to Fiji in 2011.
Rotuman Tautoga Youth Performer
UBC Museum of Anthropology & Club Hugag'esea
Vancouver, Canada
March 2009
Performing a variety of Rotuman dances from traditional group chants to modern medleys of women's dance. This performance was for the UBC Museum of Anthropology grand-reopening showcase along with the Tatau: Samoan Tattooing Wxhibit and the unveiling of Coast Salish artist John Marston’s “Killer Whale and Crocodile” carving.
Rotuman Tautoga Youth Performer
Club Hugag'esea Rotuma Day Showcase & Dinner
Chilliwack, Canada
May 2008
Performing traditional Rotuman tautoga (group chant, song & dance) with Club Hugag'esea for our annual Rotuma Day showcase and fundraiser dinner. I also performed contemporary Rotuman dances including hula and tamure-like rhythms.
Rotuman Tautoga & Women's Tamure
Club Hugag'esea
Abbotsford Canada
May 2007
Performing traditional Rotuman tautoga (song & dance) with Club Hugag'esea for our annual Rotuma Day fundraiser & cultural showcase. I joined the adult women's team performing a Tahitian tamure .
Rotuman Tautoga Youth Performer
Club Hugag'esea Rotuma Day Showcase & Dinner
Chilliwack, Canada
May 2006
Performing traditional Rotuman tautoga (song and dance) with
Club Hugag'esea. The night includes fundraising, a Polynesian-style dinner, and a dance showcase of traditional and modern Rotuman dance.