Polynesian Background Resources
While Disney’s Moana movie helps us learn some about Polynesian culture, it is important to understand that this is a theatrical production that uses Polynesian artifacts to tell their own story. There are some things that the movie did well and honored Polynesian culture (ie, their clothing and celebrating wayfinding) and some things that were very offensive to Polynesian people groups (ie, the Kakamora and Maui’s image). Here are some resources that can help you have a better perspective as a parent for Polynesian culture so that you can present these activities and lessons in a way that respects pacific islanders rather than rely on a western “tiki bar” cultural perspective.
Links to Polynesian Cultural Background sites
Smithsonian Magazine’s comparison of the Moana story to true Polynesian culture
“What Pacific Islanders Want You to Know” a cultural perspective video (~5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoOMZ5HLg9w
Encycolpedia Polynesian overview
https://www.britannica.com/place/Polynesia/Traditional-Polynesia
Polynesian center’s overview of cultures from different polynesian islands
https://www.polynesia.com/polynesian-cultures
Personally, I loved this study because it opened my eyes to the beauty and culture of so many diverse, indigenous populations that live in Polynesia. It also opened my eyes to the detrimental influence of colonization and westernization that has taken place in these islands. Many traditional practices were discouraged or even outlawed when western people groups moved into the islands and people lost their ancestral practices or languages. There is a currently a cultural resurgence for native pacific island culture in many Polynesian islands. Doing this study made me feel like we were honoring Polynesian culture and celebrating their place in the world.
