Reclaiming wisdom

I say, break the pipeline completely, rip it out of the earth – it is not only the knowledge of ‘humans’ that matter, but the earth, the water and cosmos (collective ancient wisdoms of knowing and being). The current pipelines are narrowing, and the constraints of the neoliberal university only serve a few. As tangata o le Moana – the life force of great oceans flow through us and thus we will never fit within these narrow pipes (neither should we).

– Baice et al., 2021, p.83

There is an urgent need to value Indigenous ways of knowing and thinking in universities. This means including Pacific peoples’ voices, knowledge, and worldviews in educational curricula. Including Indigenous Pacific knowledge in higher education can lead to a more inclusive and holistic educational philosophy that values community, relationships, and the interconnectedness of all things. This approach enriches the academic discourse and makes education more meaningful for Pacific students by validating their cultural identities and experiences. This paradigm shift requires critically examining existing educational structures and a commitment to creating space for Indigenous epistemologies and methodologies.