The Talanoa Series
10/28/2024
11:30 am to 1:20 pm
ADMN 101
De Anza College is delighted to present the 2nd Annual Talanoa Series for fall 2024! The word “tala” in Oceania languages means “story” while the word “noa” means “to tie or to bind.” When the two words are combined, they form the word “talanoa” which translates to “connecting stories together.” The mission of the Talanoa Series is to bring together our students and communities to share and connect stories/experiences about topics and issues that shape indigenous Pacific Islander communities across our vast ocean.
In honor of sustaining oceanic connections, Pacific Climate Warrior, Makerusa "Mak" Porotesano, M.Ed. will be a featured guest. Porotesano (he/him) is a climate activist with the Pacific Climate Warriors (PCW & 350 Pacific) and the Director of Multicultural Services at Portland Community College. Connecting his experiences in Oceania and the Pacific Northwest, he combines indigenous frameworks and multicultural services to engage BIPOC students and Climate Justice.
Makerusa's talk entitled, “Protecting Vāsā (Ocean) - Pacific Climate Justice to Protect Sacred Space,” is a presentation that weaves together conversations about the role of Pacific Islanders and the fight for climate justice. Using VĀSĀ as a framework to create inter-connections between islands, Porotesano uncovers several themes that define the struggles and triumphs of Oceania peoples in relation to climate change work. The themes help us to understand climate change from the perspective of the indigenous peoples of Oceania and helps students, allies and community leaders to enter the conversations that shape climate change policy. It is a talk that centers the connection between climate change work and indigenous Oceania cultural practices which are inseparable and inextricably linked.