The Story of Lataʻs Voyaging Canoe 

As we say, e tala lasi Sāmoa – Sāmoa is full of stories – and the story of Lata has various versions and variations throughout Sāmoa and the Pacific. This version is Unko Jake’s retelling (in English) of one of the many Lata stories. 

You come from people who looked at the impossible and found a way through it. That same instinct and ability and intelligence are literally in the DNA that courses through your veins right now.

This weekend, SAILI honors the first Samoans laid to rest in Utah by sharing their names and encouraging Samoan language learners to practice basic expressions of condolence. 

This publication expands the historical record while honoring the resilience, mobility, and cultural strength that have shaped Samoan communities across the Pacific and in Utah.