2009

Chauka Calling

Review

Presented at:

The South Pacific Beauty Pageant in Suva, Fiji 2009

Climate Change - Melanesian Night

Pacific Storms in Brisbane, 2009

Pasifika Festival in Auckland, March 2010

"The water used to be 15 metres from Chachu's door, now it's only 4 metres away" The sea at Mata'an (the eye of the water) Beach in Loniu, Manus Islands (PNG) is rising.

Sunameke Productions debuted "Chauka Calling" at the 2009 Miss South Pacific Pageant in Suva, Fiji. The performance was televised across the Pacific to an audience of 6 million people. "Chauka Calling" was created to raise awareness of climate change and it's effects in Oceania. Using traditional stories, dances and songs from across Oceania in a contemporary context; Sunameke illustrated the links between pacific islanders and the sea and highlighted the future adversity that awaits them in the form of climate change.

The legend of "Leveyam" tells the story of a young man and his new wife, whom the Chauka, the gaurdian bird of the village discovers is a masalai or spirit. The Chauka bird warns the villagers of the imminent danger Leveyam's wife represents, and in response the villagers take to their canoes and leave their village behind to start new lives. "Leveyam" was the inspiration for "Chauka Calling" as the Chauka warned the villagers of a threat, Sunameke uses the symbol of the Chauka to warn the world of the danger our Pacific Islands are now facing.

Heed the call of the Chauka and plan and act for the future.

HEED THE CALL OF THE CHAUKA

Presented by Sunameke (from Darwin)

at Western Springs Lakeside, Auckland

13 Mar 2010

Reviewer: Raewyn Whyte

Aucklands popular Pasifika Festival day arrives Saturday 13 March 2010, bringing together thousands for a great day out at Western Springs. The non-stop entertainment is across 12 stages, but focused on the two main stages, which are the Emerging Stage, and the Air New Zealand International Stage.

The first group on the international stage is Sunameke, a unique Pacific Island dance company based in Darwin and directed by PNG Hapakasi (half-cast) Julia Gray. Sunamake debuted todays piece, Chauka Calling, at the 2009 Miss Pacific Pageant in Suva, Fiji. Chauka Calling was created to raise awareness of climate change and its effects in Oceania. Chauka was the guardian bird of the village in the legend Leveyam and warned the villagers of a threat.

The Pacifika audience is reminded to heed the call of the Chauka.

Using traditional stories, dances and songs from across Oceania in a contemporary context; Sunameke illustrates the links between Pacific Islanders and the sea and highlights the future adversity that awaits them in the form of climate change.