Ocean custodian and Young Pacific Leader from Fiji, Gabriel Mara at Te Fare Natura - L'écomusée, in Mo'orea.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
Using connection, collaboration and networking to achieve positive, impactful action is the resounding message for the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) contingent at the Tiaki Moana Summit and Workshop in Pōrīnetia Farāni.
Following the opening event at the Palais Présidentiel de la Polynésie Française, in Pape’ete on March 25, 44 YPL from 22 countries embarked on three days of exploration around ocean health and prosperity, in Mo’orea.
United States Department of State Foreign Service Officer Alexia Branch, who is based in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, says the US Government is proud to support the YPL event.
“It believes in the need to protect our oceans for future prosperity and security, and building resilient and prosperous communities, and that young people are key to achieving this in the region,” Alexia says.
Her colleague, Pacific Regional Engagement Specialist Mara Hosoda-Sua says the workshop is the first to be staged in French Polynesia, and it has been a long-time coming.
Pacific Regional Engagement Specialist for the United States Department of State Mara Hosoda-Sua at the Tiaki Moana workshop closing dinner, in Mo’orea.
“It is really special to host our first YPL event in French Polynesia after several French Polynesian young leaders petitioned to be part of this unique program in 2019,” Mara says.
“Hosting this event is testimony to the French-speaking Pacific – a part of the Pacific which has often been overlooked for some time.
“It is a great opportunity to reconnect with this part of the Pacific, and for our YPL, who are all ambassadors for their countries and experts in their respective areas, to meet and explore collaborative efforts around ocean health, learn and adapt local practices and decide as a collective, on what actions should be taken.”
During the past three days, the YPL group discussed in depth themes including the need for unity and collaboration among Pacific countries, using nature and Pacific-based solutions for managing ocean health, and utilising local practice, science and policy to create resilience and prosperity in the region.
They also enjoyed hands-on moana and fenua-based activities, connecting with local Mo’orea organizations concerned with ocean and land health, including Reva Atea, Association Oceania and To’a Hine Spearfishing, as well the Tahitian Historical Society.
Reflecting on Tiaki Moana, Mara says her hope is this YPL contingent will return home having gained new knowledge, skills and contacts, to make a real impact in their community.
“I have already seen some of the leaders already stepping up and outside of their comfort zones this week, including Keanu Rochette-Yu Tsuen who reminds me of a modern-day Tupaia, the Tahitian navigator and arioi.
From Tahiti, Keanu is a Biological Oceanography master’s student at the University of Hawai’i and stepped up to help with translating French speakers at Tiaki Moana.
“He is exceptional at language skills, translating French, English and Tahitian, enabling elders and young people to connect and understand one another from across the Pacific on quite complex marine topics,” Mara says.
“It is great to see YPL grow and find a sense of purpose over the week – Keanu found value in a skillset he did not know he had,” Mara adds.
For Fiji’s Gabriel Mara, taking part in Tiaki Moana and the YPL program has been an opportunity to connect with like-minded leaders and to learn from each other, and from the region.
The ocean custodian is currently studying a double masters in Islands and Sustainability at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, and is regularly asked to act as a negotiator and coordinator at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Group of 77 (G77).
“I thought inspiring others was a skill of mine, but I have been inspired myself by the passion that is in this group here – they are all doing amazing work,” Gabriel says.
“What inspires me the most is how real the issues are that they are talking about – the issues which are affecting them are also affecting me.
Young Pacific Leaders take part in moana-based activities, including coral data collection, and listening to marine mammals, during the Tiaki Moana workshop.
“My biggest hope and takeaway from this workshop is to remain connected – it is the same thing I am hearing from everybody because there is a lot of work to be done.
“We also need to continue to inspire more leaders…we need to be great ancestors to the next generation and only do our best.”
As Gabriel says, there is a lot of work to be done in protecting Te Moana Nui a Hiva.
Tiaki Moana is a precursor to the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC3) to be staged in Nice, France, in June.
It is anticipated selected YPL participants will travel to France, to present preliminary outcomes from this week’s summit and workshop at UNOC3.
Visit the Tiaki Moana website for more information on the summit and the Young Pacific Leaders website for more details on the US Department of State initiative.
