When I Say I Am Samoan, I Encompass A Value
About Our Podcast – SameSame Different – This Is Western Sydney
This podcast series leverages the beauty, richness and uniqueness of cultural diversity, and highlight the triumph and strength of participants who represent cultural diversity. We seek to highlight the triumphs and shared humanity across cultural groups through our podcast series, to break the stereotype of the quintessential Australian, and strengthen and improve attitudes towards cultural diversity.
MaryJane is Co-Director of Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts, a Pacific Cultural Centre based in Liverpool. She is a Mother of 3, and wife to Fred. She shares with us her experience of representing Samoa as Miss Samoa and Miss South Pacific in the late ’90s, an actress, radio producer and broadcaster, and a passionate advocate for Pacifica people and climate change.
Her presence in the room is one that you can find yourself being naturally drawn to, and as her journey unfolds we hear about the Pacific culture and region, their beliefs and values.
Throughout it all, she has remained grounded in her cultural values. The beauty of Western Sydney is represented by this strong woman, and once again we come away feeling empathy, connected by stories and experiences that resonate – regardless of race, culture, religion or belief.
We listen to her experiences of colonisation and climate change and its effects on culture, people, environment. She has faced racism in both her island community and outside.
