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The Spinoff
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Life as a Māori librarian in Trump's America
Poet and librarian, Nicola Andrews (Ngāti Paoa, Pākehā), unfurls her life as an open education librarian at the University of San Francisco in the age of president Trump. I work as the open education librarian at the University of San Francisco (USF), on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone territory. USF is a private, Jesuit, R2 (high research activity) university, situated in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. It was recently ranked as the number one most ethnically diverse campus in the country, and officially designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI); making our campus eligible for grant funding to support Asian American and Pacific Island students. We have just under 10,000 students, and most require financial aid to attend the university. Class sizes are small – usually around 20 students in a class section, which means we get to know our students pretty well. It's a unique campus, and I've worked here just over five years. It's summer over here, and we have just had our commencement ceremonies and graduation celebrations. Students are drawn to USF for its social justice focus, and they embody its value of 'cura personalis', as well as its tagline, 'change the world from here'. During the closing remarks of the ceremony, a small group of students chanted in protest, pleading with the university to divest from investments in military contracts. Last year, students declared a 'People's University' in support of Gaza, peacefully occupying campus for a month with an encampment of up to a hundred tents. I am proud of our students who stand up against violence and genocide, and who think of others even during their own final exams and end-of-semester preparations. In response to increasing demands from students, USF recently announced it would divest from four companies with ties to the Israeli military. My favourite part of graduation is the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania Commencement Ceremony, which began when Pasifika students on campus advocated for their own ceremony. I've helped organise the event for the last several years, and this year we have seven graduates – as the whakataukī goes, 'ahakoa he iti, he pounamu'. Unlike the mainstream graduation, we are in a small conference space instead of a huge cathedral. We decorate the space with flowers, and flags of Pacific nations. In addition to a unique graduation stole, we also gift students a lei made of purple orchids. It is a beautiful ceremony and everyone gets a bit misty-eyed. Tkaronto During summer, I get a break from teaching, and our reference desk hours are reduced. As a tenured faculty member, my role includes conducting and presenting research, and providing service to the profession, so I get to focus on these parts of my job a bit more. First off, I head to Tkaronto (Toronto) for the International Indigenous Librarians Forum (IILF), a convening of delegates including Aboriginal, First Nations, Kanaka Maoli, Māori, Native American, Sámi and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Anishnabeg and Haudenosaunee hosts do a wonderful job, including hosting us at the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail for the traditional Day on the Land. The conference offers free registration for First Nations, Métis or Inuit students; but in general I wish there were more people who had this opportunity as students or early-career professionals. My colleagues Neil, Steve and I present on our work as Pasifika in the diaspora – how we get compressed into and diluted by Asian American Pacific Islander spaces; the need for nuance and representation for Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian literatures; how there are so many other communities that also need uplifting within libraries. We have a good turnout, and we receive a tentative invitation to present for a university later in the year. I hope we can build more conversation – and really confront the decisions we grapple with as diaspora or migrants living outside of our islands. I'm excited to attend the conference with my Te Rōpū Whakahau colleagues, but I'm always a bit shy and standoffish, too. At the last conference I silently streamed with tears as a University of Auckland team presented on allowing their Māori library staff time to study te reo, and organised visits to staff members' marae. Academia can be a really cold institution to operate in, and I know there's a lot I continue to miss out on over here. On the final day of the conference, we discuss ideas for the next host nation. Someone suggests our Native American relatives host, and immediately many delegates declare that they refuse to cross into the United States border, 'for at least the next four years'. I flinch, noting the multitude of other delegates who braved crossing that border to gather here, and my own discomfort as a green card holder who is regularly pulled aside by customs. Someone helpfully suggests Hawai'i as an alternative location to the United States, and there are facepalms all around. My own suggestion to bring the conference back home is swiftly vetoed. Eventually, we reach a tentative decision, and the forum concludes. The next day is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and many delegates celebrate at the Na-Me-Res Pow Wow downtown. I'm flying back to San Francisco today, so I spend the morning doing some light digital spring-cleaning – scrubbing a couple of spicy activist posts, deleting social media from my phone, making sure my papers are secure, yet easily reached. After clearing security, I spot an empty queue for 'Mobile Passport Control'. In the time it takes to move forward three spots, I download the app, scan my ID, take a selfie, and am prompted to 'go to Mobile Passport Control'. The border agent is polite – taking my photo and asking the purpose of my trip. He doesn't hesitate to let me cross – and I chuckle as I walk away, having noted his full tattoo sleeves on display while I had deliberately covered mine up. San Francisco A few days later, I walk through San Francisco's Panhandle on my way to a coffee shop to chat with Ruby Leonard, who is over here on holiday. Ruby works in publishing with Te Papa Press, and was also the typesetter for my new book with Āporo Press, Overseas Experience. Ruby has kindly agreed to deliver some pukapuka to me to save on shipping, and we spend some time exploring the indie bookstores of Haight Street and discussing the joys of writing and editing without engaging with AI. We spot Rebecca K. Reilly's Greta & Valdin at Booksmith, but Hera Lindsay Bird's Juvenilia is only available across town at Green Apple Books. I make a note to order it later, and walk home to pack my suitcase again – next stop, Lenape territory, Philadelphia. Philadelphia The American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference brings about 15,000 library workers together – this year, in Philadelphia, it takes place during a 'heat dome' event that includes thunderstorms and an average temperature that feels like 40 degrees. It's a fraught time to be a librarian in the United States, but as American Library Association immediate past-president Cindy Hohl (Santee Sioux Nation) says, there's never been a more important time to be a librarian, too. In March, the president issued an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), the main source of federal support and funding for American libraries. A month later, hundreds of IMLS grants were terminated, ending services such as accessible museum programmes, scholarships, and initiatives for Indigenous peoples. In May, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden (the first Black person and first woman in this role, also the first actual librarian since 1974) was abruptly fired in a two-sentence email. Amid all this, librarians fight for people's freedom to read as conservatives push to ban books pertaining to queer rights, race, sexuality and social justice. Last year, more than 15 states introduced or passed laws that would criminalise librarians and teachers for including 'harmful' content in library collections, with penalties including hefty fines and imprisonment. I've seen conservative protests that accuse librarians of 'grooming' at the last two ALA conferences I've attended, and I anticipate this will be the case in Philly too. As if that weren't enough, librarians are constantly being told that AI will take our jobs, and every librarian I know reports their institution is understaffed and underfunded. There are a couple of events I am really looking forward to. I'm on the executive board for the Asian Pacific American Library Association (APALA), which advocates for Asian American and Pacific Islander library workers and communities. I've helped pull together the APALA President's Program – APALA Celebrates The Whale Rider: Pacific Island Literature with Witi Ihimaera and Friends. Penguin Random House USA is re-releasing The Whale Rider as a Penguin Classics hardcover in a few months, including a foreword by Lily Gladstone, introduction by Shilo Kino, and contributions by librarian Dr. Loriene Roy (White Earth Anishinaabe, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe). US library programming is rarely this Pasifika-focused. Before I joined the board, I was part of a group of five librarians who wrote to APALA to protest the Asian Pacific American Awards for Literature, which had not awarded or honoured a single Pacific Island author or illustrator, in the almost 25 years of the awards programme. We were not the first ones to raise this issue, but we managed to get some traction. After much advocacy, APALA agreed to establish new award categories for Pacific Islanders, although this act of inclusivity has drawn criticism from the membership. In any case, the award juries for this year selected our first ever Pasifika award winners and honourees: Drew Afualo, Alfred Perado Flores, Makiia Lucier, Kristiana Kahakauwila, and Kaylin Melia George. Returning to the city Back in San Francisco, there's a lot of day-to-day work to catch up on, and a lot to mull over. During my travels, I was often asked if I'll ever come back home to Aotearoa – I'd like to, but I'm not sure how things will ultimately play out. I miss my whānau, the manu, and the whenua, but from what I can tell, it's hard to make ends meet back home, moreso with librarians among those impacted by proposed changes to the pay equity process. Moreover, we cannot flee the communities that support us at the first sign of discomfort. I've worked hard to build a community here, including as a member of Māori Mo Ake Tonu, a Bay Area-based kapa haka group. This weekend, the recently-declared Pacific Island Cultural District – the first in the nation – is holding a summer gathering downtown. I don't need to make any decisions today, but it will be good to get out beyond the world of writing and libraries. Just for a bit.
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- Science
- The Mainichi
Rising seas could put Easter Island's moai at risk by 2080, study warns
(AP) -- By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island's 15 iconic moai statues, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About 50 other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. "Sea level rise is real," said Noah Paoa, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. "It's not a distant threat." Paoa, who is from Easter Island -- known to its Indigenous people as Rapa Nui -- and his colleagues built a high-resolution "digital twin" of the island's eastern coastline and ran computer models to simulate future wave impacts under various sea level rise scenarios. They then overlaid the results with maps of cultural sites to pinpoint which places could be inundated in the coming decades. The findings show waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on the island, as early as 2080. The site, home to the 15 towering moai, draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and is a cornerstone of the island's tourism economy. Beyond its economic value, the ahu is deeply woven into Rapa Nui's cultural identity. It lies within Rapa Nui National Park, which encompasses much of the island and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The roughly 900 moai statues across the island were built by the Rapa Nui people between the 10th and 16th centuries to honor important ancestors and chiefs. The threat isn't unprecedented. In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded -- a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile -- sent a tsunami surging across the Pacific. It struck Rapa Nui and swept the already-toppled moai further inland, which damaged some of their features. The monument was restored in the 1990s. While the study focuses on Rapa Nui, its conclusions echo a wider reality: cultural heritage sites worldwide are increasingly endangered by rising seas. A UNESCO report published last month found that about 50 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to coastal flooding. In an email to The Associated Press, a UNESCO spokesperson said climate change is the biggest threat to UNESCO's World Heritage marine sites. "In the Mediterranean and Africa, nearly three-quarters of coastal low-lying sites are now exposed to erosion and flooding due to accelerated sea level rise." Possible defenses for Ahu Tongariki range from armoring the coastline and building breakwaters to relocating the monuments. Paoa hopes that the findings will bring these conversations about now, rather than after irreversible damage. "It's best to look ahead and be proactive instead of reactive to the potential threats," he said.
6 days ago
- Science
Rising seas could put Easter Island's moai at risk by 2080, study warns
By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island's 15 iconic moai statues, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About 50 other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. 'Sea level rise is real,' said Noah Paoa, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. 'It's not a distant threat.' Paoa, who is from Easter Island — known to its Indigenous people as Rapa Nui — and his colleagues built a high-resolution 'digital twin' of the island's eastern coastline and ran computer models to simulate future wave impacts under various sea level rise scenarios. They then overlaid the results with maps of cultural sites to pinpoint which places could be inundated in the coming decades. The findings show waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on the island, as early as 2080. The site, home to the 15 towering moai, draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and is a cornerstone of the island's tourism economy. Beyond its economic value, the ahu is deeply woven into Rapa Nui's cultural identity. It lies within Rapa Nui National Park, which encompasses much of the island and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The roughly 900 moai statues across the island were built by the Rapa Nui people between the 10th and 16th centuries to honor important ancestors and chiefs. The threat isn't unprecedented. In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded — a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile — sent a tsunami surging across the Pacific. It struck Rapa Nui and swept the already-toppled moai further inland, which damaged some of their features. The monument was restored in the 1990s. While the study focuses on Rapa Nui, its conclusions echo a wider reality: cultural heritage sites worldwide are increasingly endangered by rising seas. A UNESCO report published last month found that about 50 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to coastal flooding. In an email to The Associated Press, a UNESCO spokesperson said climate change is the biggest threat to UNESCO's World Heritage marine sites. 'In the Mediterranean and Africa, nearly three-quarters of coastal low-lying sites are now exposed to erosion and flooding due to accelerated sea level rise.' Possible defenses for Ahu Tongariki range from armoring the coastline and building breakwaters to relocating the monuments. Paoa hopes that the findings will bring these conversations about now, rather than after irreversible damage. 'It's best to look ahead and be proactive instead of reactive to the potential threats,' he said. ___ ___
The Hill
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hill
Rising seas could put Easter Island's moai at risk by 2080, study warns
By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island's 15 iconic moai statues, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About 50 other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. 'Sea level rise is real,' said Noah Paoa, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. 'It's not a distant threat.' Paoa, who is from Easter Island — known to its Indigenous people as Rapa Nui — and his colleagues built a high-resolution 'digital twin' of the island's eastern coastline and ran computer models to simulate future wave impacts under various sea level rise scenarios. They then overlaid the results with maps of cultural sites to pinpoint which places could be inundated in the coming decades. The findings show waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on the island, as early as 2080. The site, home to the 15 towering moai, draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and is a cornerstone of the island's tourism economy. Beyond its economic value, the ahu is deeply woven into Rapa Nui's cultural identity. It lies within Rapa Nui National Park, which encompasses much of the island and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The roughly 900 moai statues across the island were built by the Rapa Nui people between the 10th and 16th centuries to honor important ancestors and chiefs. The threat isn't unprecedented. In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded — a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile — sent a tsunami surging across the Pacific. It struck Rapa Nui and swept the already-toppled moai further inland, which damaged some of their features. The monument was restored in the 1990s. While the study focuses on Rapa Nui, its conclusions echo a wider reality: cultural heritage sites worldwide are increasingly endangered by rising seas. A UNESCO report published last month found that about 50 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to coastal flooding. In an email to The Associated Press, a UNESCO spokesperson said climate change is the biggest threat to UNESCO's World Heritage marine sites. 'In the Mediterranean and Africa, nearly three-quarters of coastal low-lying sites are now exposed to erosion and flooding due to accelerated sea level rise.' Possible defenses for Ahu Tongariki range from armoring the coastline and building breakwaters to relocating the monuments. Paoa hopes that the findings will bring these conversations about now, rather than after irreversible damage. 'It's best to look ahead and be proactive instead of reactive to the potential threats,' he said. ___ ___
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rising seas could put Easter Island's moai at risk by 2080, study warns
By the end of the century, rising sea levels could push powerful seasonal waves into Easter Island's 15 iconic moai statues, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage. About 50 other cultural sites in the area are also at risk from flooding. 'Sea level rise is real,' said Noah Paoa, lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. 'It's not a distant threat.' Paoa, who is from Easter Island — known to its Indigenous people as Rapa Nui — and his colleagues built a high-resolution 'digital twin' of the island's eastern coastline and ran computer models to simulate future wave impacts under various sea level rise scenarios. They then overlaid the results with maps of cultural sites to pinpoint which places could be inundated in the coming decades. The findings show waves could reach Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on the island, as early as 2080. The site, home to the 15 towering moai, draws tens of thousands of visitors each year and is a cornerstone of the island's tourism economy. Beyond its economic value, the ahu is deeply woven into Rapa Nui's cultural identity. It lies within Rapa Nui National Park, which encompasses much of the island and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The roughly 900 moai statues across the island were built by the Rapa Nui people between the 10th and 16th centuries to honor important ancestors and chiefs. The threat isn't unprecedented. In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded — a magnitude 9.5 off the coast of Chile — sent a tsunami surging across the Pacific. It struck Rapa Nui and swept the already-toppled moai further inland, which damaged some of their features. The monument was restored in the 1990s. While the study focuses on Rapa Nui, its conclusions echo a wider reality: cultural heritage sites worldwide are increasingly endangered by rising seas. A UNESCO report published last month found that about 50 World Heritage sites are highly exposed to coastal flooding. Possible defenses for Ahu Tongariki range from armoring the coastline and building breakwaters to relocating the monuments. Paoa hopes that the findings will bring these conversations about now, rather than after irreversible damage. 'It's best to look ahead and be proactive instead of reactive to the potential threats,' he said. ___ ___
