Rooted in Movement, Guided by the Moana: Atafa o le Moana’s First Event Sets the Tone for the Journey Ahead

The first gathering of the Atafa o le Moana cohort opened with something deeper than just a warm welcome — it was a reconnection.

Framed as The Science of Indigenous Movement, this experience wasn’t just about physical activity, but about remembering how our ancestors moved — through voyaging, farming, food preparation, dance, and warfare. It was about bringing those ancient movements into the present, not just to understand them, but to live them.

Led by Dr Sonny Natanielu alongside his powerful team, Jack Nielsen and Freya Bullock, the evening pulsed with cultural pride and deep talanoa. Dr Sonny shared his journey as a young Pacific person once disconnected from culture, reminding the youth that our ancestors were seafarers with over 5,000 years of navigational knowledge.

“You carry the genius and wisdom of the sea in your blood,” he told them. “You don’t have to become someone else to make change — embrace who you are, your way of being Pacific is your power.”

Jack then turned wisdom into movement with a three-legged race, a playful yet powerful metaphor for vaka life. Success came down to three things: clear, confident, and committed communication.

“When you’re out on the vaka, how you speak and listen can be the difference for your survival.”

Freya followed with the ‘Anufe (caterpillar) challenge, emphasising rhythm and unity — a lesson in making sure no one is left behind.

“Just like paddling on a waka, moving together means we reach our destination not only faster, but safer.”

While the youth were shy at first, they quickly warmed into the energy of the space — bonding over shared movement, stories, and the thrill of competition. Many reflected that hearing Dr Sonny’s journey mirrored their own feelings of cultural disconnection and helped them feel seen. They left not just with sore muscles, but with new friends, new insights, and a deepened sense of being Tagata Moana.

Fa’afetai tele lava to Dr Sonny, Jack, Freya for taking the time out of their busy schedule to provide such an amazn experience for our Atafa youth — and also a massive thank you to our Atafa Navigators Danny Silivelio, Sisifa Lui, and Zion Kingi — for creating a space of strength, pride, and belonging on the night.

This was only the beginning, and already the winds are strong!