Bruce Satchell, 11, says his Solomon Islands heritage is his identity. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance
Feature - A student from St Pauls primary school in Auckland says his Solomon Islands heritage is his identity.
Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week is being celebrated across New Zealand, under the theme "Protektim langguis an kalsa blong yumi - Protect our language and culture."
To mark the occasion, the Solomon Islands Auckland Wantok Association Inc visited Bruce Satchell's primary school to share a cultural showcase with his classmates.
The Solomon Islands Auckland Wantok Association Inc visited Bruce Satchell's primary school to share a cultural showcase with his classmates. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
Eleven-year-old Satchell is proud to hail from seven different cultures, including the Solomon Islands.
He said learning about his indigenous heritage is how he connects to his identity.
"It's really important because I get to know my family history and my indigenous part of my life. It's just very important to know where you're from, and like, you're not a nobody. So like a somebody, yeah."
Satchell's cousins were amongst the performers sharing traditional Solomon Islands dances for the students of St Pauls primary.
For the sixth grader, sharing his culture makes him feel proud of who he is.
"Well, today was like, magical, seeing everyone like perform and give their best. Yeah, it was really good... I feel powerful and proud and glad to be here."
The chair of the Auckland Wantok Association said it is vital to encourage young ones to connect with their heritage.
Florie Dausabea was proud to support Bruce in sharing his Solomon Islands culture with his peers.
"It reinforces and reaffirms who he is, his identity and his culture and custom. And I think that is very important. It is the essence of why we celebrate Solomon Islands language week."
The Solomon Islands Auckland Wantok Association Inc were proud to perform for the students of St Paul's primary school. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
St Pauls primary caters to students between five and eleven years old.
With a roll of 470, the school hosts a diverse spread of cultures.
Principal Mary Zellman said it is vital the school takes every opportunity to celebrate everyone's heritage.
"I really feel very strongly that we need to celebrate different people's cultures and have pride in our own cultures by celebrating everybody's cultures."
"It's really important that we know who we are and where we come from, and that needs to be, that has to be acknowledged, because we're all human beings, We're all Special. We're all unique."
St Paul's Primary School deputy principal Angelina Brayne (left) and principal Mary Zellman (right). Photo: RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance
Deputy principal Angelina Brayne echoed her sentiments, saying they want to foster cultural pride amongst all their students.
This was something she saw in action as former students were amongst the performers on stage.
"It was a privilege, an absolute honor, and to see our past pupils, also to be part of the cultural group and to go on from St Paul's School and to be proud of who they are, strong and their identity. That's what we want for all our tamariki."
The Deo sisters performed for the students of St Paul's Primary School. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Coco Lance
The Deo sisters have fond memories of their time at St Pauls primary.
They said the teachers always encouraged them to be proud of their heritage.
Ebony Deo was excited to return to embrace and show off their culture.
"I'm very happy to show my culture to… my past teachers as well, to see like, how well I've done and how proud I am."
Her elder sister Jolenna said being able to encourage the young students to embrace their indigenous languages is vital.
"I think it's fundamental. I think it's incredibly important. I think language tells you a lot about who you are and the people that you come from, and gives you a sense of belonging... so language, to me, is like at the core of a lot of our culture."
Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week is being celebrated across New Zealand, under the theme "Protektim langguis an kalsa blong yumi - Protect our language and culture." Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton
Solomon Islands is a predominantly Melanesian nation that has more than 70 indigenous languages and dialects on Melanesian and Polynesian origin.
In this culturally diverse context, Pidgin has a unifying effect in that it is spoken by Solomon Islanders throughout the country.
This year is only the second-edition of the Solomon Islands Pidgin Language week runs through until Satruday.
It is the last event on the Ministry of Pacific Peoples New Zealand language week series calendar.
