• Lotu can mean 'religion, church, pray[er], worship' and so forth.  Presentations on this concept may address some significant aspects of our native belief systems and world-views, or issues that relate to religious diversity, religious intolerance, and the challenges of lotu to islanders in diaspora.
• Tabu (tapu, taboo) can mean 'to prohibit, forbid' or 'sacred, holy.'  Presentations may focus on the relevance (and irrelevance) of cultural tabu to diasporic and overseas-born islanders, and address issues that confront diasporic communities such as sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and so forth. 
• Tikanga is Maori for 'correct, right, way, custom, code'; tikanga Pasifika can mean 'Pacific ways' which includes 'fakaTonga,' 'faaSamoa,' 'vakaViti,' and so forth.  Presentations may focus on the question of culture and identity amongst others.

Presenters are encouraged to address the challenges of global warming and our drifting generations, the realities of dispersion, diaspora and cultural confusions, in relation to vaious areas of interest to PIs, such as:

§ art, handicraft & body-art

§ poetry, lyrics & rhythms

§ performance, dance & storytelling

§ Pacific, oceanic & indigenous studies

§ academic, theological & island disciplines

§ ministerial, cultural & ethnic praxis

§ and so forth

 

Proposals may be submitted electronically to TalanoaOceania@gmail.com and it should include the following information:

1. Name of presenter(s)
2. Home island and current location
3. Title of presentation
4. Short description or abstract of what the presentation will address (200-300 words)
5. Equipment needed for presentation (white board, data projector, DVD or CD players, etc)