Tracing Knowledge in Samoa Insights from Solamalemalo Dr Hai-Yuean Tualima’s Fieldwork
Solamalemalo Dr Hai-Yuean Tualima, Senior Lecturer at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, conducted 57 in-depth interviews across Upolu and Savai‘i (2019–2022) using the Talanoa Research Methodology to understand how custom and knowledge is lived, practiced and disseminated in Samoa.
Current international regimes (from WIPO, UNESCO to CBD) often impose conventional intellectual property frameworks on Pacific communities without adequately accounting for local context and cultural nuances. Solamalemalo’s research findings highlight the importance of custom as a fundamental component in any framework aimed at protecting traditional knowledge or knowledge in the Pacific. The research underscores the importance for policymakers to consider the role of custom and customary institutions, including the village councils.