Te Mana o Te Vaka

Te Mana o Te Vaka is a project in partnership between Gallery Tavioni and Vananga with Ta’unga Tutara Michael Tavioni BEM knowledge holder of traditional vaka, The Cook Islands Voyaging Society (CIVS), and funded by the University of the South Pacific (USP) Maritime Institute. New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade also contributed towards this project by bringing up artist from New Zealand to help out with the programme.
The goal of this project is to revitalize and celebrate our traditional life skills through aspects of vaka culture.
The objective is to perpetuate the traditional process of vaka making in the Cook Islands, from the gathering of resources, carving the vaka, demonstrating its use through fishing demonstrations and providing opportunities to our children, community and visitors alike to learn about them and sail them in our lagoon with qualified instructors.
This project will go on to contribute towards the Certificate in Cook Islands Studies programme that USP is excited to be launching in 2025.

[@toko631]

Very cool 👍 with the technology we have now we can make vakas better stronger and add elements to sail of the ocean even better. Thank you to all the old Mamas and Papas for teaching us the knowledge of our Tupuna...

[@Paka-t2]

Thank you for showing it to the world,kia orana e kia manuia

[@jeffratu7567]

I met Papa Michael Davioni a few years ago, he was going to Aitutaki to help out with the canoe project being developed in Aitutaki. He told me about the projects that he's doing In Raro. I'm glad to see this is now being developed in a few short years since I last spoke to him. The canoe is our four fathers' way of travelling the ocean. Thank you to Chief Taunga and those involved in developing this project. I believe the next generation will be able to learn and carry on this legacy to the future generation. Thanks a lot.♥♥♥🎉🎉🎉🌐🌏👍👍

[@uspck]

Thats the goal! Thanks for sharing.

[@uspck]

The University of the South Pacific Cook Islands is excited to announce that we will begin offering a new qualification in Cook Islands Studies in 2025.
The Certificate comprises of six tertiary level papers and will provide students with an introduction to Cook Islands culture, history, arts, sciences, land tenure, and Māori language. The programme will be offered as 10 weeks of online lectures and activities alongside a compulsory two-week immersion experience in Rarotonga, at the University of the South Pacific. During this two-week period students will be involved in practice and experiential learning, putting to work their learning from the ten weeks online. Only one paper per semester will be offered to support Cook Islanders in the diaspora the chance to take advantage of this first in the world opportunity.
If this kind of course interests you, please register your interest by emailing [e-mail]