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How wearable art designer Elayne Tukuafu challenges the "plastic Tongan" label
Description
Elayne Tukuafu grew up being called "plastic" for not speaking her Tongan language. But as she moved through life, she reflected on how to stay connected to your culture and family in other ways — like continuing cultural traditions with creativity.
Elayne traces how Pacific identity is shaped through everyday acts of listening, remembering and passing knowledge between generations. The conversation moves between home, migration and creativity, revealing how language can be both a shelter and a responsibility.
Elayne, the wearable art designer behind family-owned business Talavou, speaks with care and honesty on the power of language, family memory and cultural continuity.
This episode centres on what it means to hold culture gently, and to carry it forward with intention.
Listen to the conversation with Stories From the Pacific presenter Bobby Macumber on ABC Radio Australia.