Patamea
Encyclopedia
Patamea is a village on the island of Savai'i
in Samoa
. While most villages on Savai'i are situated near the sea, Patamea is situated inland, away from the coast. The village is in the Gaga'emauga
political district near the central north coast of the island.
Heading north west on the main road from Salelologa
township and ferry terminal, the turnoff to Patamea is just before Samalae'ulu
village at a T-junction of the road. Turning left (south west direction) at the junction is the road to Patamea, which lies 2km from the main road. The road is tar sealed to the village.
, a village built around the rim of a small volcanic crater. The main tar-sealed road circling Savai'i, which generally follows the coastline around the island where most villages are situated, runs inland where these settlements are located. The main road is considered a life-line for these inland villages for access to schools, churches and nearest hospitals at Tuasivi
and Safotu
. However, at Samalae'ulu village, the main road crosses a ford at Maliolio River which can become inaccessible during flooding. The river overlowing can also make access to plantations impassable along local roads which cross Molioli River in parts. Loss of access to plantations can have economic and health impacts on the villagers.
In 2007, Patamea and neighbouring villages, came under a Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan by the Government of Samoa to help communities prepare for any type of emergency. Under the plan, the government is responsible for public and district infrastructure while villages are responsible for implementing approved projects locally.
. As the village is situated inland with no coast access, there is little fishing.
In 2006, the Patamea Primary School committee received $245,000 Samoan tala, to rebuild the school, from the Japanese Government Grassroots Human Sector Grant Aid Programme.
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. While most villages on Savai'i are situated near the sea, Patamea is situated inland, away from the coast. The village is in the Gaga'emauga
Gaga'emauga
Gaga'emauga is an electoral district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of ...
political district near the central north coast of the island.
Heading north west on the main road from Salelologa
Salelologa
Salelologa is a village district at the east end of Savai'i island in Samoa. It is the main entry point into the island with the only ferry terminal on Savai'i...
township and ferry terminal, the turnoff to Patamea is just before Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu
Samalae'ulu is a village on the northeast side of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga I which includes the neighbouring villages of Patamea and the smaller settlement of Mauga which is built around a volcanic crater.The population of Samalae'ulu is...
village at a T-junction of the road. Turning left (south west direction) at the junction is the road to Patamea, which lies 2km from the main road. The road is tar sealed to the village.
Geography
The nearest villages to Patamea are Samalae'ulu and MaugaMauga
Mauga is a village in Savai'i island in Samoa. The word mauga means mountain in the Samoan language. The settlement is built around the crater of a small volcano.Mauga is in the Gaga'emauga political district near the central north coast of the island...
, a village built around the rim of a small volcanic crater. The main tar-sealed road circling Savai'i, which generally follows the coastline around the island where most villages are situated, runs inland where these settlements are located. The main road is considered a life-line for these inland villages for access to schools, churches and nearest hospitals at Tuasivi
Tuasivi
Tuasivi is a village situated on the north east coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is in the electoral political district of Fa'asaleleaga.Tuasivi is the main centre for government administration on Savai'i...
and Safotu
Safotu
Safotu is a village on the central north coast of Savai'i island in Samoa. Safotu is in the district Gagaifomauga. Traditionally, it attained the status of 'Pule,' customary political authority, and has been the main centre of the Gagaifomauga district....
. However, at Samalae'ulu village, the main road crosses a ford at Maliolio River which can become inaccessible during flooding. The river overlowing can also make access to plantations impassable along local roads which cross Molioli River in parts. Loss of access to plantations can have economic and health impacts on the villagers.
In 2007, Patamea and neighbouring villages, came under a Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan by the Government of Samoa to help communities prepare for any type of emergency. Under the plan, the government is responsible for public and district infrastructure while villages are responsible for implementing approved projects locally.
Economy
Like most villages in Samoa, the village of Patamea is based on a cash economy driven by traditional work, mostly in plantations although there is some cattle farming as well as family members working in the capital Apia on the main island UpoluUpolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
. As the village is situated inland with no coast access, there is little fishing.
In 2006, the Patamea Primary School committee received $245,000 Samoan tala, to rebuild the school, from the Japanese Government Grassroots Human Sector Grant Aid Programme.
See also
- Samoan languageSamoan languageSamoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
- SamoansSamoansThe Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
- Culture of SamoaCulture of SamoaThe traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa, the unique socio-political culture of Samoa. In Samoan culture, most activities are done together. There are 3 main parts in the Samoan culture, that is faith, family and music.The traditional living quarters, or fale ,...
- History of SamoaHistory of Samoa-Myths:According to legend, Samoa shares the common Polynesian ancestor of Tagaloa; according to many legends, Samoa was Tagaloa's first creation...
- Fa'amataiFa'amataiFa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
, chiefly system of governance in the Samoa Islands.