Te Mana O Te Moana

Winners of the Manareva contest, A polynesian tale in Space….

helene.duran — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 21:41:56 +0000

A few months ago, our non-profit organisation, in partnership with french astronaut Thomas Pesquet (from the European Space Agency (ESA)), initiated a Great tale production contest, from which the winning production will be brought into space. It will then be read from space so that the slogan, « from ocean to Space, let’s preserve our blue planet », can resonate on earth and into the whole universe.

Thanks to Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin and Pacsafe support, the organisation was able to undertake this project, which holds a message of hope towards sea turtles protection, these symbolic species in our polynesian waters.

In total, 14 tales were received : 13 from French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea, Fakarava and even Rurutu in the Marquesas Islands) and 1 from France –

A few weeks ago, the judging panel – composed of an artist, two environmental actors, a teacher, the Moorean educational district advisor, a representative of Moorea Maio municipality and members of the organisation – met to deliberate on the received productions. The panel selected the tale that will leave for space in November 2016 alongside with Thomas Pesquet, and will be read from aboard the ISS (International Space Station). Criterias included illustrations’ quality, polynesian cultural assets’ references, tale main aspect (magical, enchanting, etc), overall presentation, and also structure, grammar and spelling. After more than 3 hours of uninterrupted reading and discussions, it is « Le vœu de Mana » (“Mana’s wish”) which received unanimity. This tale was realized by a mother, Miriama and her daughter Papehau Seveno (11 years old), both originating from Moorea and living in Papetoai.

Miriama and her daugther Papehau wished to participate in the contest not only to better inform the readers on the necessity to protect sea turtles in Polynesia but also to expose and promote the richness of polynesian culture. Indeed, during her childhood, Papehau had participated many times in actions undertaken by the organisation, and had come with her class for educational programs.

Inspired by polynesian legends being passed down at all times by elders, they narrated Mana’s story, a polynesian young boy whose father Roimata, chief of a village, considered sea turtles’ meat a delicacy very much appreciated. Mana, who had ealier on befriended with a sea turtle, fights against his father to make him stop hurting this innocent species… but in vain… his father refuses…

One day, when Roimata was fishing, he brought back in his nets the largest sea turtle ever seen. He called his son to show it to him, but Mana was nowhere to be found. The chief of the village started spearing the poor sea turtle with all his strength… while the sea turtle was slowly dying, she started to turn into Mana’s body lifeless and blood-stained… Roimata realized he had just speared his own son, and fell on his knees crying and begging Mana to forgive him. He then promised in front of the entire village that if gods would give him back his son, he would never kill a sea turtle again. His tears, running down Mana’s body, healed up his injuries and brought him back to life. « To this day, and thanks to Mana, we never heard about sea turtle hunting again on the island ».

<< To read the tale Mana’s wish (only in French) : Le voeu de Mana

This is how the work « Mana’s wish » was awarded « œuvre lauréate du concours ». Invited at the organisation, in the company of jury members, Papehau and Miriama received their prize : not only will their creation be read from space, but also, they will discover the mainland and the Cité des Sciences thanks to the airline company Air Tahiti Nui’s support, an organisation willing to protect, preserve and save living species composing the richness of our polynesian natural environment.

Thomas Pesquet will leave for a mission aboard the ISS in November 2016 – the exact day will be communicated at a later date. He will then come to Polynesia in 2017 to meet with the winners and share his experience as an astronaut with polynesian kids during interventions he will perfom with the organisation. He will also give a general public conference to which we will not miss to invite you.

We deeply acknowledge all our partners, who allowed us to initiate this wonderful project aiming to help sea turtle conservation, all those who participated in the production of tales and entities who allowed us to organise the award ceremony : Air Tahiti Nui, Vilebrequin, Pacsafe, the Moorea Dolphin Center and the InterContinental Resort and Spa Moorea

Let’s celebrate the World Environment day and the World Ocean day…

helene.duran — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 00:21:30 +0000

For the fifth one year, te mana is participating with the Brigade Verte of Tahiti to a special awareness raising day aboard of the ferry that links Tahiti to Moorea, as part of the celebration of the World Ocean Day and the Environment days.

For this year, Matthieu, our marine biologist went on board to encounter 200 children aged from 6 to 8 years old. Using gameboards, cuddly toys, memory games, posters…, booklets, he help the the children learn about the marine animals such as sea turtles, marine mammals…. to help at a better understanding of why we need to protect them…

Children from Manotahi celebrating the International day for the Sea turtles…

helene.duran — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 22:17:12 +0000

On May 23rd, to celebrate the International day for the sea turtles, we welcomed a classroom from Manotahi Elementary school for an educational program oriented on marine mammals and sea turtles called “The Moana récré”. After an information part into our educational room, children enjoyed playing per groups on game-boards before visiting the Sea turtle Clinic and learning to recognize the different species of French Polynesia and to discover the boarders of the moment.

Then, to celebrate this International day for the sea turtles, our animator Magali proposed them to participate to a “Land-art” creation for the preservation of sea turtles in French Polynesia. Children have done beautiful creations with kind messages of hope for the sea turtles. Before leaving, each child received in souvenir a “Booklet of sea turtles in French Polynesia”.

An artist to the rescue of sea turtles…

helene.duran — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 20:59:27 +0000

Agatha, is a talented drawer, coming from France as part of her projet “To the outsides of the Science”. Thanks to the support of Air Tahiti Nui airline company and the support of the Princely Government of Monaco and the Oceanographic Museum from Monaco, she came to our foundation to create frames, watercolour and sketchs regarding our boarders from the Sea turtle clinic and the educational programs delivered. She will exhibit her work next year at the Oceanographic museum of Monaco.. Follow our news to discover her splendid work.

<< To see more creations from Agathak (artist name).

Let’s celebrate the Endangered species day…

helene.duran — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:06:55 +0000

On May 20th, we celebrated the Endangered species day in providing a special educational program for the teenagers of the Collège La Mennais school. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect them. Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day is a celebration of the nation’s wildlife and wild places. Every year on the third Friday in May (and throughout the month), zoos, aquariums, parks, botanic gardens, wildlife refuges, museums, schools, community centers, conservation groups and other organizations throughout the country hold tours, special speaker presentations, exhibits, children’s activities and more to celebrate Endangered Species Day.Accompanied with Magali, they first get information about corals, reefs and its fauna and flora. Then, children divided in groups of 8 discovered the underwater of Moorea, learning about the species of fish from French Polynesia, their names in both French and Tahitian…

The end of the program was dedicated to the preservation of the marine mammals, the necessity of respecting the Sanctuary held in 2002 and to the visit of the Sea Turtle Clinic, learning the rules applied and the giving them information about the species, their life cycle, etc… Before they leave, each teen has got either a booklet “Tohora, baleine à bosse, qui es-tu?” or a “Sea turtles from French Polynesia” one’s.

<< Click here to get more information about the Endangered species day

April 22nd : Let’s celebrate the Earth Day…

helene.duran — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 21:15:47 +0000

Recovery by the United Nations as a strong calendar date, the Earth Day nevertheless became a worldwide event in 1990, in about 140 countries, mobilizing lore than 200 million people. The Earth Summit, another founding event in Rio in 1992 and Kyoto conferences ancestor or COP21, should also be celebrated on April 22. Over the editions, and with some notable years as the 2 000 or 2006 one’s, Earth Day, now recalled “International Day of Mother Earth” has gradually become the main environmental event in the world. Every single action towards our Earth is important : turn off the lights for 1 hour, reuse bags or papers, make compost, set up a vegetable garden or participate to a clean up, as examples of actions that help to preserve our mother Earth… Think about it on the 22nd and relay the event.

Participate to the ORP Shark Observatory in French Polynesia…

helene.duran — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 18:37:34 +0000

To contribute to the sharks conservation and get more information about the species from French Polynesia, an Observatory dedicated for sharks has been set up by by Nicolas Buray. Goals of the Observatory (ORP) are to compile and collect any available information on the different species of sharks and rays found in French Polynesia, to estimate their stock, map their distribution and monitor the various island populations in the long term.

<< Click here to get more information about the ORP.

The “Ocean Heritage” toolkit…

helene.duran — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 21:23:38 +0000

Thanks to the support of the PEW Charitable Trust, we elaborated, as part of the “Heritage project” held for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school year, a special toolkit for the preservation of the environment and on the need to set up protection plans such as marine areas or Rahui in French Polynesia. As part of the huge campaign held last year in the Austral islands and on Tahiti and Moorea, more than 700 students from 9-11 years old have been received the visit of an educator for a special program using many educational tools. Since the beginning of the new school year, educators are travelling all over the Austral Islands to deliver the toolkit created as part of the project and that includes :

A teacher guide giving to them all the informations they need to know to develop the thematic;

A brochure of Projet;

A special game board “Investigations in the Austral islands”

4 posters on the benefits of the Protected Marine Areas;

1 Charter realized by the school children of the CM2 Apara from the Teina-Mahu Elementary school from Tubuai and a poster created by the students from the Elementary school of Taharu’u, Papara, Tahiti; those two classrooms have wined the school contest organized last year on the project. Till now, mire than 500 school children from Tubuai, Raivavae, Rimatara and Moorea have received the case.