Tēvita O. Ka’ili invites BYUH community members to research and learn the cosmogony of their own culture
By knowing the cosmogony of one’s own culture, “[one] will uncover the unique fatongia, or cultural responsibilities, bestowed upon [us] to nurture and protect God’s Creation,” said Tēvita O. Ka’ili during his devotional on Feb.13.
Tēvita Ka’ili, the chosen David O. McKay lecturer and a professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said, “Cosmogeny is a creation story of people." It serves as a historical and cultural narrative that profoundly shapes society’s relationality and its ecology.
He started and ended his lecture with an invitation to the audience to reflect on the cosmogony of their society and consider how it shapes their relationship with the environment. With Ta meaning time and Vā meaning space, he said, “This philosophy revolves around the concept of foundational elements that delineate and constitute reality.”
He also explained Fonua, a Tongan concept that describes land, people and ongoing relationships. He said, “Consequently, humans are born from the first fonua (mother’s womb), live on the second (Mother Earth) and upon death, return to the third (the womb of Mother Earth).”
Josh Barrick, a freshman majoring in biology from Idaho, said “Even when spoken in different languages, which is Tongan, you can still feel the mana (power) and be able to listen to cosmogony and ecology lectures. I also like how we’re all a part of Mother Earth.”
David Fonua, a freshman from Tonga majoring in computer science, said, “I learned that the Ta and Vā play a huge role in Tongan culture in how we see the world. It is like looking through a new lens.” He added, “Actually my last name is Fonua, and I think it also represents my culture and identity.”
Joshua Walker, a freshman from Australia majoring in biology, said, “I thought it was very good how the lecture combined culture and our understanding of the world. It helped me with my understanding of the people and my place in the world.”