Our mission is to support community projects which foster the
individual’s understanding and appreciation of the humanities.
The Amerika Samoa Humanities Council has served the
American Samoa community for almost two decades. On our
website, we hope to give you a bit of history, and some
understanding of the different programs that we offer. Please
feel free to contact us if you’re interested in more
information. After all, the Humanities will always bring us closer
to the world of ideas.
The Individual of Yesterday and Today will Enrich the Individual
of Tomorrow
O le Tagata o Ananafi ma le Asō e Fa’atamāoaigā le Tagata o a
Taeao
Programs
History Day
 Teachers’ Summer Institute
 Children’s Reading
 National Month Recognition
 Radio and TV Program
 The 100 Women of American Samoa
 We the People Project – A History of American
Samoa
 We the People Project – Pictorial Atlas
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Regrant Projects
Futiga Methodist Youth – “Utilizing 21st Century
Technology”
-making simple and inexpensive floral arrangements
for church and house decorations
-elei, uluuluina (mending) le toga
-re-upholstering old furnitures
-learning how to read “notes” and teaching church
music
-kolosē
 Vailoatai CCCAS Youth – “Siva Samoa Moni”
-teaching proper Samoan dances
-learning the words/lyrics of songs that should go
together
with the movements of the whole body.
 ‘Au Uso Fealofani Fagatogo Methodist Church
 ASCC – Book Writing based on Historical Sites in Fagatogo
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Grants
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Development and Planning Grant
Guidelines and Forms
Major Grant
Mini Grant
Resource Center Grant
About Us
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Chairperson, HC Faiivae Iuli Alexander Godinent
Vice-Chair, Dr. Fa’auma Se’ui
Secretary, Dr. Oreta Togafau
Treasurer, Dr. To’afa Vaiaga’e
Delegate At Large, Mr. Leo’o Va’a Ma’o
Rev. Dr. Si’ulagi Solomona, Member
HTC Fau’a’a Kataferu Pita Elisara, Member
Mrs. Christine Groshe, Member
Mrs. Va’asa Simanu, Member
STAFF:
HTC Tauaisafune Niualama Taifane, CEO
Ekitoa M. Sopoaga, Program Officer
Alfred Tinitali, Information Technician and Development Officer
Leutuva Pala Lokeni, Fiscal Officer / Secretary
ASHC Supports All Humanities Issues
What are the humanities?
The humanities can be described as the study of the
myriad ways in which people, from every period of
history and from every corner of the globe, process and
document the human experience. Since humans have
been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion,
art, music, history and language to understand and
record our world. These modes of expression have
become some of the subjects that traditionally fall under
the humanities umbrella. Knowledge of these records of
human experience gives us the opportunity to feel a
sense of connection to those who have come before us,
as well as to our contemporaries.
Cont’d
Why are the humanities important?
Insights Into Everything
 Through exploration of the humanities we learn how to think creatively and
critically, to reason, and to ask questions. Because these skills allow us to
gain new insights into everything from poetry and paintings to business
models and politics, humanistic subjects have been at the heart of a liberal
arts education since the ancient Greeks first used them to educate their
citizens.
Understanding Our World
 Research into the human experience adds to our knowledge about our world.
Through the work of humanities scholars, we learn about the values of
different cultures, about what goes into making a work of art, about how
history is made. Their efforts preserve the great accomplishments of the past,
help us understand the world we live in, and give us tools to imagine the
future.
Bringing Clarity to the Future
 Today, humanistic knowledge continues to provide the ideal foundation for
exploring and understanding the human experience. Investigating a branch of
philosophy might get you thinking about ethical questions. Learning another
language might help you gain an appreciation for the similarities in different
cultures. Contemplating a sculpture might make you think about how an
artist's life affected her creative decisions. Reading a book from another
region of the world, might help you think about the meaning of democracy.
Listening to history course might help you to have a better understanding of
the past, while at the same time giving you a clearer picture of what the future
holds.
Cont’d
Who’s involved in the humanities?
Not Just for Professors
Many people who study the humanities are not only professors
at colleges or universities, they are also students, independent
scholars, authors and artists.
Humanities Research - Raising Questions
 Professors in the humanities are often associated with their
teaching, which is an important part of their work; but they
also conduct research and publish their findings in academic
journals and books.
 Whether written for a small academic community or for a
broad public audience, humanities research maintains the
common purpose of contributing to an on-going dialogue in an
area of study. Unlike scientists, humanists are interested in
raising questions, rather then providing absolute answers.
Why do we have to learn history?
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Why is it important for us to re-learn what our forebears
have used and practiced many years ago to lead their
lives the way they did?
Why were rules and regulations established in the first
place within in our and/or in any other cultural setting?
-e.g., in Samoa you are not supposed to eat or drink
and walk around in your village, in your own home, and
anywhere else like your in your church…
-’Aisea e sa ai ona so’ona ‘e’e se tagata i totonu o se
nu’u, aiga, ma so’o se isi lava nofoaga?
-’Aisea e tatau ai ona iloa e le tama po’o le teine ona
ava ma fa’aaloalo i so’o se tagata i totonu o le aiga, nu’u,
ma le ekalesia, ma so’o se isi lava nofoaga?
What do you think would happen to us if
we fail to properly learn our own history?
…What is your take on this important question?
Happy landings with your studies throughout this school
year?
Alofa’aga o le Amerika Samoa Humanities Office
Contact Us, Let’s Connect
Our office hours are from Monday to
Friday 7:30am to 4pm
 P.O. Box 5800, Pago Pago, AS 96799
Phone: (684) 633-4870 / 4871
 Email: ashc.office@ashcouncil.org
 www.ashcouncil.org
 www.facebook.com/ashcouncil
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