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Ethnobotany Track
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Audio (in production)
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Presentation
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Documents
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| The Meaning of Food: Saying Goodbye - Fa'a Samoa |
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The Meaning of Food is a PBS production (2005) which presents an exploration of culture through food. What we consume, how we acquire it, who prepares it, who’s at the table, and who eats first is a form of communication that is rich with meaning. Families communicate through what they eat. In the Samoan culture, the language of food is a formal ritual. It cements family bonds, reinforces family structure and speaks of love. Gifts of food, whether a casserole or a tin of homemade cookies, has always been part of the healing process after a death. It is one of the most ancient forms of giving. But there are also traditions where food is more than a simple expression of sympathy, it can serve as a tribute to the dead and it can make both family and community whole again. This episode presents the role and importance of food in a Samoan funeral, the Fa'a Samoa or Samoan way.
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Production Credits
Used with Permission from:
- Public Broadcasting Corporation
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Readings |
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Abbott, I.A. 1992. La'au Hawai'i: Traditional Hawaiian Uses Of Plants. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. Pages 23-32
Balick, M. & P.Cox. 1996. Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. Scientific American, New York. Pages 63-98
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Supplemental Readings |
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On-Line Resources |
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