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American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of america, so I’m not precisely positive it counts as a rustic, however we’re going with it anyway. The place I dwell there are a whole lot of Pacific Islanders (principally from the Marshall Islands) so it’s significantly necessary to me that youngsters find out about these island teams, which I believe lots of people don’t know are a part of america.
American Samoa Fundamentals
American Samoa is a gaggle of islands that’s the southernmost territory of america (and one among two territories south of the Equator, the opposite being the uninhabited Jarvis Island, which I’ll admit to by no means having hear of till Wikipedia advised me about it). The islands are about 1,600 miles northeast of New Zealand and a couple of,200 miles southwest of Hawaii.
American Samoa is generally made up of 5 islands and two coral atolls, with Tutuila being the most important and most populous. In all of the land is 76.8 sq. miles, or 199 sq. kilometers, which is concerning the dimension of Washington, D.C., and the inhabitants is about 45,500.
Most individuals in American Samoa are ethnically Samoans and converse each English and Samoan.
American Samoa turned a territory of america as a part of an settlement with Germany and Nice Britain in 1899. The islands have nice strategic worth due to their location, and through World Battle II American Marines outnumbered the native native inhabitants. That affect continues to be felt right now, and in 2021 the Military recruiting station in Pago Pago was first in recruitment.
Regardless of this, American Samoans are thought-about non-citizen nationals, who aren’t granted American citizenship at beginning and don’t have any voting consultant in Congress. Regionally they’ve have a structure since 1967 and have a domestically elected governor.
Nationwide Symbols
The flag of American Samoa has a blue background with a crimson and white triangle pointing to the left. Contained in the triangle is a bald eagle holding a conflict membership and a fly whisk (which because it feels like is a workers with cloth or hair tied to the tip that’s used as a fan and to brush away bugs).
This flag was adopted in 1960. Crimson, white and blue are conventional colours of each america and Samoa, and the eagle is a nationwide image of the US (they don’t dwell in Samoa). The conflict membership represents the ability of the federal government and the fly whisk the knowledge of conventional Samoan leaders.
Their anthem is “Amerika Samoa,” which was adopted in 1950.
I can’t verify there are any nationwide animals, however the islands are house to the Samoa flying fox, which has a three-foot wingspan, which sounds fairly cool. In the present day I additionally realized that flying fox is one other identify for megabats, they usually’re the one mammal native to the islands. Sixteen of the 34 species of birds discovered within the Samoan Islands are discovered nowhere else on Earth.
American Samoa Actions for Youngsters
In case your children are into animals, you’ll be able to be taught extra concerning the Samoan flying fox at Animal Variety.
Study Samoan tattooing from the Australian Museum (enjoyable truth: the phrase for male tattoos is pe’a, which implies flying fox and refers back to the darkish colour of the tattoo). You’ll be able to watch a standard Samoan tattooing ritual on this video from Voice of America.
Rugby is a well-liked sport in Samoa, which you’ll be taught extra about with these details and worksheets from KidsKonnect.
You’ll be able to be taught much more concerning the tropical panorama, fruit bats, coral reefs and conventional Samoan tradition on the web site for the Nationwide Park of American Samoa, which is positioned in Pago Pago.
Books About American Samoa
Study extra about Samoan tradition with Rthan Braxton’s Journey to the Land of the Samoans, which describes conventional Samoan life and tradition.
For youthful children, strive Sleepy Time Samoa: A Goodnight Bedtime Rhyme, by Mary C. Aflague.
Or you will get a e-book that features English and Samoan language, like Head, Shoulders Knees, and Toes in Samoan, or this Samoan e-book of colours with English translations.
[Map image via Mapsland]
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