Page 24 - Islands Business March 2022

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NAVIGATING THE PACIFIC

STUDIES CANOE

By Geoffrey Clark/ANU students’ critical thinking skills and ability
to see and value their world from many
“The Pacific is in my blood, as is my great passion for diverse perspectives.
teaching and learning in ways that empower our students.” Katerina’s own life balancing many
Professor Katerina Teaiwa roles as a mother, community activist for
the Banaban people, artist, scholar, Vice
The Pacific covers one third of the Earth’s surface. It is President for the Australian Association for
home to approximately 15 million people (excluding Austra- Pacific Studies, and university administra-
lia). It features 20 percent of all the world’s languages. And it tor supporting over a hundred PhD scholars
hosts around 25 nations, states and territories in an ocean of Professor Katerina in our school, is not lost on her students.
Teaiwa
25,000 islands. So, needless to say, the significance of Pacific As one of Katerina’s students, Tom Ras-
Studies cannot be understated. Australia’s closest neighbour mussen, aptly described of his course experience, it is like
has connections going back thousands of years amongst its “navigating across an expansive ocean, where each student is
Indigenous peoples and those of the Western Pacific. a member of a canoe voyage with a role to ensure the vessel
Interdisciplinary Pacific Studies seeks to understand this stays afloat. On this learning journey Katerina acted as the
diverse, complex region, and Professor Katerina Teaiwa is a head-navigator making sure the boat remained on course.
pioneer in this area of study. She’s taught Pacific Studies for Katerina’s pedagogy embodies this metaphor and brought to
20 years now, and has recently been rewarded for her path- life the idea of learning as a collaborative journey.”
breaking efforts in this space. This visionary teacher, mentor According to Katerina, while she’s made significant national
and leader has made an outstanding contribution to Pacific and global impact in Pacific Studies education, her leadership
Studies in Australia and globally. values are best expressed through her students’ achieve-
Katerina contributes to diverse aspects of Pacific affairs, ments. “I never know for sure which destinations our canoe
climate change, the arts, and environmental justice, both in journey will take them, I just guide with passion and purpose.
and beyond the classroom. Late last year, she became the first I’m often delighted and proud of where they land.”
Indigenous Pacific Islander and first Pacific woman to become
Professor at ANU, and just a few weeks ago, she was recog- Continuing to make waves
nised as the 2021 Australian University Teacher of the Year. Katerina started her journey as an educator at ANU in 2007,
building Australia’s first undergraduate program in Pacific
The metaphorical canoe Studies. She has since stoically captained the course of Pacific
Katerina’s approach of collaborative and creative teaching Studies at ANU, but the ocean is vast, so she’s only just get-
is predominantly guided by her late sister Dr Teresia Teaiwa’s ting started.
concept of the classroom as a ‘metaphorical canoe.’ Their The clear direction she’s steering towards is creative Pacific
grandfather’s name ‘Teaiwa’ was translated by their father as Humanities, so she can bring her arts practice to achieve
‘fiery canoe’ in the Kiribati language, so the metaphor is apt. education and research with impact. She’s co-leading an ARC
“The ocean is not a barrier but a connector, a highway be- Indigenous Discovery Project where she will get to work with
tween islands and continents, and every student embarks on other Indigenous artists and creative producers.
their learning journey as a member of a collective with spe- Further, she is now most recently part of an international
cific roles and responsibilities. They are ‘wayfinding’ through team that’s been successful with an Andrew W. Mellon grant
the field of Pacific Studies in Australia and internationally.” of US$199,152.00 for a Global Humanities Institute program
The journey across the waters entails students to be en- beginning in 2023. Her Australian University Teacher of the
gaged in diverse learning through dance, art, song, storytell- Year and national Teaching Excellence awards came with
ing, critical analysis, and reflective thinking. When students $45,000.00 in prize funds to help her disseminate and share
learn about the Pacific in these inclusive ways, they have her Pacific pedagogies and teaching passions.
powerful, transformative experiences regardless of their So onward Ho! We look forward to embark on many more
background or career plans. voyages with Katerina and her crew on board the Pacific
The fundamental principles of learning as a journey with canoe!
collective kinship towards other students, being humbled by
the depth and complexity of Pacific knowledges and arts, This is an abridged version of an article first published by the
asking questions about the construction of disciplines and hi- Australian National University.
erarchies of knowledge, and reframing Australia’s place within
and relationship with the Pacific Islands, transforms and hones editor@islandsbusiness.com

24 Islands Business, March 2022