Kia Ora, Fakalofa Lahi Atu , Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei and other warm Pasefika greetings from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, the capital of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Welcome to Tala Wiki, a website created to document Paseifika Wikipedia interactions, as well as encourage others to join in the fun! This website is created by Sophia Coghini as part of research and learning about Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation and the many sister projects.
Read about the journey since 2022 from the first edits as part of the Creative New Zealand Wikipedian in Residence to a performance by some Pasifika Wikipedians at the Wikimania Singapore 2023 conference.
NAU MAI HAERE MAI
NAU MAI HAERE MAI
A New Beginning
Wikipedia: WikiProject New Zealand/Pasifika Arts Aotearoa.
Sophia Coghini
In 2022, a remarkable project took place in Aotearoa New Zealand, aiming to explore the value of Wikipedia within the Pasifika community. The project had three main objectives: to enhance the representation of Pasifika arts on Wikipedia, to educate Pasifika individuals on editing Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata, and to gauge the community's perception of Wikipedia.
Throughout the research, the pilot projects Pasifika Wikipedians shared their fascinating discoveries and personal reflections. Including some challenges encountered along the way. One major hurdle was the limited availability of secondary sources that documented Indigenous artists, making it difficult to create Wikipedia articles about them. This highlighted the need for increased recognition and coverage of Pasifika artists in the wider media landscape.
Another thought-provoking aspect of the project was the exploration of how to incorporate Pasifika concepts of talanoa (meaning conversation or dialogue) and Vā (meaning the relational space between people) into the journey of learning and contributing to Wikipedia. This raised important questions about the cultural relevance and inclusivity of the platform, and how to navigate between Western knowledge systems and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Biographies of Pasifika artists are being researched and created by young and emerging Pasifika artists.
Despite the challenges, the project received validation and support from the Pasifika arts communities, who recognized the importance of having Pasifika content on Wikipedia. However, there was also a sense of sadness expressed by older generations, as they lamented the fact that notable Pasifika artists were not easily able to be added to the platform.
This project shed light on the complexities and intricacies of representing Pasifika arts on Wikipedia, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to increase the visibility and recognition of Pasifika artists within the digital realm. By embracing diverse perspectives and engaging in meaningful dialogue, we can work towards a more inclusive and comprehensive representation of Pasifika culture and heritage on Wikipedia.
I was lucky enough to be one of the three Pasifika editors involved in this pilot project. Alongside Kasi Valu & Leilani Sio.
The journey continues with three more Pasifika editors joining in 2023 and a strong presence at Wikimania Singapore in August in a showcase that weaves arts disciplines and Pasifika identities arts in the entertainment programme.
