CIDANZ launches Akapapa'anga Activity Book for young people
What is the Akapapa'anga Activity Book
This is an activity book created by young people to help them learn about who they are and where they come from. Funded by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, this activity book was birthed from the experiences of many Cook Islands people who have felt a little disconnected from their Cook Islands culture and identity. It was then amended to include a section for feeding parents and for those of us who were not brought up by our parents, but by loving aunties, uncles, nanas, grandpa's and others.
A person's cultural journey and self-discovery often starts in the home with the questions - Where Do I Come From?
This resource helps people start that journey. Through using this resource, one can use it to create their very own papa'anga (genealogy or family tree), but also help by providing a bit of research on a person's enua and vaka, and the Ariki's tied to those enua and vaka.
This booklet was created by the Ko'onga Mapu (Youth Nest). This is a group of young Cook Islands people creating spaces, resources, and tools for the development of healthy and well connected Cook Islands family currently living here in the Cook Islands.
According to Jay Taivairanga of the Cook Islands Development Angency of New Zealand (CIDANZ), this project was a culmination of a lot of hard work and all started as part of the National Cook Islands Youth Conference in 2022. Jay says that 'this resource is just the start and they are already working on Part Two'. The booklet has 4 key steps with the final stages incorporating the Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani language. Jay encourages all those Cook Islands people who are wanting to learn about their identity to use this booklet. This is not only for young people but it applies to anyone wanting to learn about their identity and being able to share this in Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani.
For information or if you wish to get copies of this booklet - contact Jay at CIDANZ by visiting the website.
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