Still tired from our premiere of FANHASSO the night before, we slowly got ready for the closing ceremony at Paseo Stadium. Dressed in the regalia of I Fanlalai’an and the Guåhan delegation, Toni and I with our all access passes unofficially/officially joined Dåkot-ta and headed into the packed stadium, with all the other nations, mingling backstage.

There was an air of something about to happen. The USA flag was heavily and mightily hoisted ABOVE the submissive (and physically smaller) Guam flag in an ostentatious display of colonial cockery. It is an utter disgrace that the USA is allowed to flex its ball size and more than that during a Festival of Pacific Arts – the only time Guam will host this Festival in our lifetime.

Arm bands were being handed out saying either “Free Guåhan” or “Decolonise Oceania”. In the midst of it all, the Pacific Islands delegates were having their last selfies with each other, making their final cipher group song and dance circles.

The parade of Nations happened again and the borefest that was a hallmark of the opening ceremony replayed itself at the closing. The delegations were individually asked to assemble, the delegate leaders were each handed a gift from Guåhan and then each nation walked the worlds longest runway for the last time to perform an impromptu song or chant or dance. Whereas there was a vibe of electricity two weeks ago, there was a tiredness and a sense that people were just going through the motions. Palau interestingly had already left earlier in the week and so any Palauans residing in Guam marched on their behalf and even sang a song.

Guam walked down, there was an uneasy sense in the group. An unspoken tension between the two major chant groups, privileges given to one and not to the other creating an atmosphere that also spoke to the ACTION that unfolded. During that moment, members of the delegation appeared with giant red lava lava banners with the words “Decolonise Oceania” and “Free Guåhan” and stood in front of the delegation before moving around the entire stage. I will admit I felt a sense of nervousness, concern and curiosity for all that will come from this moment. What are the implications of saying these words that are so true yet so amazingly denied? The audience were unsure of how to react, the delegates were surprised and the other nations in support made themselves known. The media today hasn’t responded and I am curious to see what ripples come from this show of indigenous solidarity.

Meanwhile, the pageant just rolled on, rain showers forcing the entire Aotearoa delegation to leave after their entrance. Made notable by the way Aotearoa was hand scribbled in black vivid marker on the New Zealand banner, and the Tino Rangatiratanga flag was flown proudly by Horomona Horo. I do feel that not being a delegate of my own country actually allowed me to voice my opinions freely and authentically, that I wasn’t compromised by this notion of being an ambassador of the Government of New Zealand. I do believe we as a nation have so much to offer and yet sometimes we aren’t able to because of the partisan role we play in international politics.

Finally the speeches happened and omg was I just so over all the archaic rhetoric by then. In my mind there is nothing worse than false words, insincere public relations. Honestly the Governor and First Lady of Guam were so highly scripted it reminded me of the Hunger Games and the way that large masses are mind controlled by these puppets of the STATE. The way politicians are thinking about the Pacific and the way the artists are thinking about the Pacific are two totally different things. From the political perspective, the Festival is an opportunity to grandstand on the subject of moving past differences to finding a mythological “Unity”. Or “The best way is the traditional way” or “We should be who we are”. Not taking into account the vast majorities of Pacific people living dispersed throughout the planet, not changing the terminology for describing Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia (French explorer terms not created by the people’s themselves), and this crazy depiction that we are in danger of losing our traditions.if anything we are in danger more of becoming irrelevant if we don’t successfully capture the moment, we don’t respond and live in our times now, we don’t continue to navigate the parameters that define our own self determination.

On the subject of Decolonise Oceania, I was struck by the way most of us, if not all have been historically colonised. Everyone with a British accent or speaking French. The Chilean flag still flying over “Easter Island” I mean Rapa Nui. The way also that we were “God Blessed” by all the presidents of everywhere. I do not think that religion should be enforced on everyone, as it determines the values and conduct that is allowed and perpetuated.

This clusterfuck of the Pacific Islands was enhanced by the final dances of the host nation. Drowned in a sea of green and white mestiza dresses, the agonising conversation between what is an ancestor? Is it the grandmother you recall wearing the colonial Spanish dress, indigenised by the Chamorro and held somehow in esteem? Is tradition further back in time? What is Chamorro?

From my seat, there was disney-ish music from the 60’s maybe, a type of time warp, and fireworks and then the whole charade was dispensed with and a band played classics like “Lost in Emotion” by Lisa Lisa and the Cultjam, “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey and my personal favourite, the “Electric Slide”. Don’t get me started, since I arrived a month ago I didn’t realise how much of a national obsession this dance is for the island of Guåhan. Every single person LOVES dancing to it and they go hard out. I am completely the Divergent when it comes to these types of dances.

So another Festpac is done and dusted and we’re ready for Hawaii 2020.

I REALLY hope that Hawaii brings the Festival into the new millennium, please don’t get caught up in the image of perpetuating postcard perfection, please bring the debate, please remember the energies of Pele that lead to one of the most important cultural movements this century, Ku Kia’i Mauna, should be rumbling away to ensure that all nations can be strengthen by each other, by strength I mean have the ability to speak the truth and Decolonise Oceania. Enough of the French translations, it is unneccesary and as my friend so succinctly put it “the mauri is gone”. My suggestion is the only languages spoken at the official ceremony should by those of the host nation.

I am also laying down my take, my challenge, that I want Hawaii to start thinking about contemporary dance process and protocol and practice within the frame of the next Festival. I urge all Universities to start thinking about Indigenous Dance Studies as a course, so that the things that are being brought to the surface by our dancemakers – whose art is to reflect and capture humanity – can be encouraged and pushed to the edge.

We need and are ready for radical change, Oceania, Aotearoa and all. Let’s revolutionise the way we see ourselves in the world today!