<
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/hawaiian-airlines-employee-terminated-for-her-samoan-tattoo/104735940>
'A Samoan woman is calling for greater acceptance and awareness around cultural
tattoos after she was terminated from her workplace due to her tualima, a
traditional hand tattoo.
Samoan-American Tracy Sialega-Fili worked with Hawaiian Airlines for nearly
four years but was terminated this month after getting the tatau in May to
honour her father, who has been seriously ill.
The tualima is an important part of Samoan culture, signalling lineage and
family. For the Samoan diaspora, it holds an even more special meaning — a
reaffirmation of identity and a tribute to one's ancestral homeland.
"The tualima is basically a tatau that we get," she told
Pacific Beat.
"It holds a lot of significance, a lot of importance. It could represent
anything as far as your journey, your ancestors, where you came from.
"Mine in particular speaks on the journey my dad takes with his medical
struggles, his health struggles, as well as my journey in taking care of him
throughout his entire journey with his health."
The dismissal has sparked public debate around cultural appropriation,
particularly in Hawai'i, where Polynesian tattoos play an important role in
native Hawaiian culture.'
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
