Bringing Pacific legends to life

Amy used materials such as sand, water, and textured fabrics to represent different parts of the ocean and the fisherman’s journey.

Amy Faapoi is doing her dream job.

A speech and language therapist of eight years, Amy – who is of English and Samoan (Saleapaga) descent – first started out with the Ministry of Education and is now a speech and language therapist at Mt Richmond School in Ōtāhuhu.

When planning her approach to Samoan Language Week this year for her students, Amy chose to take the path that many Samoans will be familiar with – storytelling.

Particularly close to Amy’s heart is a Samoan legend told to her by her father when she was young, Losi the Fisherman and the Food of the Gods.

It’s a legend rich in cultural significance and vivid imagery. Losi, a skilled fisherman, brings back a prized catch from the ocean depths, believed to be a gift from the gods. It is an integral part of Samoan heritage, filled with lessons about respect, gratitude, and the interconnectedness of life.

“Samoan people, from generation to generation, have passed down our histories orally, so I wanted to pass down our ancient stories to our students but in a way that is accessible to them considering where they are at in terms of their language ability,” says Amy.

Recognising the potential of this legend to captivate and educate, Amy set out to adapt it into a sensory story. Sensory stories are designed to include elements that engage multiple senses, such as touch, smell, and sound, making them particularly effective for students with diverse learning needs.

By incorporating sensory elements, Amy’s goal was to allow her students to engage meaningfully with the legend, making the experience both educational and enjoyable.

“As the only Samoan within our Mt Richmond School therapy team, it’s very important to me that I deliver the stories and pass them down. These are all stories that I know from my father, so it’s been very special to me to be able to share them with our tamariki,” she explains.

Losi the Fisherman and the Food of the Gods is a traditional Samoan legend about a skilled fisherman who brings back a prized catch from the ocean depths, believed to be a gift from the gods.

A multi-sensory approach

Mt Richmond School is a special school that supports students who have significant disabilities, from the time they turn five through to 21 years old.

“All of the students within the school have some form of language delay,” says Amy. “This means they’re completely nonverbal and communicate with sign language, gesture visuals or they are verbal but require support to understand things fully and to socialise with their peers.”

Sensory elements provide a way for students with diverse learning needs to engage meaningfully with stories and legends.

In her adaptation, Amy incorporated sensory elements – touch, smell and sound – to bring the story of Losi to life.

For touch, she used materials such as sand, water, and textured fabrics to represent different parts of the ocean and the fisherman’s journey. These tactile elements helped the students physically connect with the story, enhancing their understanding and retention.

For smell, Amy included scents like coconut, saltwater, and tropical flowers – all deeply evocative of the Samoan environment. These smells helped transport the students to the world of the legend, creating a more immersive and authentic experience.

For sound, she used recordings of ocean waves, seagulls, and traditional Samoan music to create an auditory backdrop for the story. These sounds enriched the narrative, making it more engaging and dynamic for the students.

“A lot of our students struggle to pay attention,” says Amy about the sensory elements. “If I was to read a story, I might get two seconds of attention or 10 minutes if I’m lucky. Having interactive components makes it much easier for the students to pay attention and engage with the story.”

A lasting impact

Adapting the legend of Losi into a sensory story is just the beginning for Amy and her fellow therapy team at Mt Richmond School.

Sensory elements provide a way for students with diverse learning needs to engage meaningfully with stories and legends.

Amy says that she is looking into other Pacific stories to adapt by working with other Pacific staff at school, to highlight their indigenous knowledge alongside her own. One of her goals is to help make this opportunity accessible to all Pacific children in special school environments.

“I’m aware that we’ve got many Pacific children elsewhere in New Zealand who don’t have the same access to the same opportunity. I would really love for this to be something that helps other practitioners think about when they are planning for their Pacific language week celebrations,” she says.

Amy’s innovative approaches and collaborative efforts are paving the way for a more inclusive and culturally sensitive future in speech and language therapy. Through her work, she is enriching the lives of her students at Mt Richmond School and contributing to the broader goal of equitable and effective therapeutic practices for all.

“I hope the success that Mt Richmond has found with this is inspiring to other practitioners to give it a go!” 

Leo Moana: A vision for Pacific speech and language therapy

Amy’s innovative work extends beyond her classroom at
Mt Richmond School. She is also a founding member of Leo Moana,
a collective of eight Pacific speech and language therapists from across Aotearoa.

Leo Moana is a collective of Pacific speech and language therapists from across Aotearoa whose mission is to increase the representation of Pacific individuals in the field.

“Leo Moana covers a broad range of work environments, from the Ministry of Education and special school environment to the health sector and youth courts, which I think is great,” says Amy.

“I can only speak to my experience with working in education –
I don’t know what it’s like to be a Pacific speech therapist in the health sector, for example. It’s great to have all our different perspectives and opinions around the table.”

Leo Moana was established with the mission of increasing the representation of Pacific individuals in the field of speech and language therapy and enhancing the cultural responsiveness of the current workforce. It’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that more Pacific-trained therapists are needed to address the unique needs of Pacific communities effectively.

It has been instrumental in providing training within universities across Aotearoa, emphasising the importance of culturally appropriate practices in speech and language therapy.

“It’s not acceptable to us that there are eight Pacific speech and language therapists for the entire country. When you think about the population of our Pacific people in Aotearoa that is simply not enough,” she says.

By offering training and professional development opportunities, Leo Moana aims to upskill the current workforce and ensure that therapists can work with Pacific people in a way that respects and honours their cultural backgrounds.

The group’s efforts have had a significant impact on the field, fostering a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to speech and language therapy.

If you would like to contact the Leo Moana team, email
admin@leomoana.org.