Season ten of the Loading Docs short documentary series is out and the rundown includes ‘Hifi Ulu’, a film made by Samoan Chantelle Burgoyne.
The story is about Chantelle’s nephew Luka and the preparation for his traditional Niuean haircutting ceremony, the ‘Hifi Ulu’.
It’s an important Niuean tradition and is normally reserved for the first-born son where family members and guests of honour are invited to cut a lock of braided hair tied with a ribbon.
In return they offer money, gifts of quilts, tablecloths and cushions, which are then stored away until the child reaches manhood.
For girls, it is the ‘Huki Teliga’, a traditional Niuean ear-piercing ceremony. This is normally celebrated when a young girl reaches puberty, her ears are pierced by a member from both sides of her family.
Envelopes of money and jewellery made in Niue are among many gifts on the day.
Burgoyne’s 10-minute film follows nine-year-old Luka and his family to his ‘Hifi Ulu’ Ceremony.
“The journey starts, started on the film, when he was three, you know, he’s got hair there.” says Luka’s dad Shayne.
“So, all those years, all the sacrifices and all the time that people spend to look after the ulu, the hair. we chose that.”
Shayne is Niuean and Luka’s mum Leilani is Samoan-Palagi. Shayne did not celebrate this tradition growing up, which makes this ‘Hifi Ulu’ ceremony all the more special.
“Perhaps my dreams were lived in my son because I never had one, I never had long hair. I decided to have long hair afterwards, to learn and to have that identification,” Shayne says.
On the day of the ceremony, Luka was seated on a dais while family and friends cut locks of hair tied with blue and green ribbons.
“They tied the ribbons really close to my head so that when they cut it, they had to pull it. But I could feel the hair being really really pulled tight,” says Luka.
Shayne was dressed in Niuean traditional attire on the day, standing behind Luka during the ceremony in support.
“Extremely proud,” Shayne says
“I’m not a man for many words, but I was extremely proud. He was awesome. The family around us was awesome. The support we were able to get from the church, the community…
“I think those who have had haircuts, haircuts or ‘Hifi Ulu’ ceremonies in the past, they’ll know that a lot goes into it.”
Burgoyne, who is Luka’s aunt, says it was a story close to her heart.
“I mean being able to interview my family as well, it definitely gave a deeper insight,” she says.
“I love Luka a lot. He gives me a lot of sass, which is in the film, my little cameo moment. But he’s great, he’s really loving, he’s really smart and he will also, if he didn’t want to do something, he would say so.”
The film highlights the importance of keeping the Niuean language and culture alive for the next generation.
“I’m born in New Zealand, but I was raised by my grandparents and I was blessed with the gift of the language. Certainly, there are a few gaps there of my culture and my tradition, but that’s something that we need to nurture.” Says Shayne
“I hope one day, Luca looks back, that he represented the past and the present and the future of all Niuean boys who go through that journey.”
