Culture Compass

For years, gigantic stone monuments have been hidden underneath forest overgrowth in villages across Samoa. Built by the hands of our ancestors, without tools or machines. Some believe these particular stone mounds were used as a portal to the spirit world, but their original use is still mystifying. Now, modern technology is helping to uncover these ancient structures dotted across the region. "T...

No matter where you are in the Pacific, food always brings us together. But every country does things their own way, even every family adds their own delicious flair! And those special tips and tricks are the things you can only learn by watching and helping. But what do these dishes look like with a modern twist? You'll hear from chef Denzel Sumsum, who spent his early years in Vanuatu learning h...

Like many cultural artforms, the art of weaving is threaded through generations. Their handywork is seen every day in our household items like mats, bags and fans. But if younger generations aren't sitting and observing their elders to learn these intricate inner workings, what could this mean for the future of woven goods? You'll hear from from Nancy Mahuna, a Papua New Guinean weaver from Iokea...

Under the light of the Spring moon, the reefs of Samoa and Fiji come alive. Swarms of mysterious, thin sea worms wriggle out from the coral to mark the changing seasons and bring life to traditional feasts. Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.

Our trees don't tell us what they use to. The elders of Tagaloa Cooper's home island of Niue are noticing big shifts in their surroundings. The trees and plants they once looked to as indicators of weather patterns and animal migrations aren't growing the same anymore. So, what happens to our practices when our access to these valuable resources changes or even disappears completely? Tagaloa's exp...

In a world that's always shifting, the timeless wisdom of our elders becomes more precious with each passing day. Their knowledge and skills aren't something you can study in the classroom or in a book; it's something you learn from sitting with them and observing. But younger generations can't always spend this valuable time with their elders. So if we aren't spending the time to hear their stori...

Stone tools were the foundation of civilisation across the Pacific. They were the instruments used to build homes, craft gardens and protect against enemies. In ancient times you needed a stone tool to survive. In modern times, stone tools have been replaced with other materials and technologies, but in doing this have we lost something along the way? Christopher Tep, an agriculturalist from the W...

Australia alone is holding the remains of almost 1,500 Pasifika ancestors. Remains that were snatched from their homelands — some less than a century ago. Last season on Culture Compass we lifted the lid some of the biggest museums across the world storing these human remains in their archives. Most of our communities weren't even aware. Since then, things have been changing, but is it enough? You...

Standing on ancestral soil and dressed in traditional garments, we channel their mana when we dance. But in a modern world with contemporary influences, how do we keep true to their movements and continue to tell their stories? You'll hear about the Fijian Meke from Simione Sevudredre and the sacred Palauan women's dance from Ikelau Misech. Plus, Sandy Sur and his aunty Cicilia Lolomle from Vanuat...

Cherishing our ancestors is engrained in our culture, so when our loved ones leave this earth, it’s important to help their spirit find peace. And funeral rites have changed dramatically over the years.

In Semisi's Qalica's barber shop, young men want a style that'll turn heads. Bleached mullets, shaved horseys, fades and hair tattoos, they want what their favourite sporting star has. These trending cuts across the Pacific go beyond just looking good— they represent identity, culture, and deeper connection to community. You'll hear from Tongan former rugby star turned hairdresser, Tevita Mailau —...

In the Pacific, land is intrinsically tied to identity, culture and mana. But with international pressure pushing changes to customary ownership, how can locals protect their home and resources in a world pushing expansion? 

John Kanai grew up watching his uncles and grandfathers blow and beat the traditional bamboo panpipes in Malaita, his Solomon Islands home. They've continued panpipe tradition for many years, but in other parts of the Pacific, the sounds of our ancestors were forced to stop when colonial missionaries arrived.

A proposal of marriage has changed so much over the years. For our ancestors relationships were often seen as political alliances, binding certain families or clans together. At the centre of all this was a village matchmaker.

Blackbirding was the forced labour trade that uprooted Pacific Islanders, landing them on ships headed to far away shores. It's a disturbing chapter of history and while Australia's involvement has been somewhat documented, the true scale of blackbirding across the Pacific remains largely unknown. From remote islands to distant lands like Peru, there are still countless untold stories of where our...

From the basalt boulders of Nan Madol to the monolithic moai of Rapa Nui, Pacific stone structures reveal astonishing engineering feats.  Hear from Historic Preservation Officer Augustine Kohler as well as anthropologists Tarita Rapu and Meked Besebes, as we uncover the mysteries behind these ancient Pacific cities.

Dust off your cowboy hat, boots and belt buckles! Think back to your last family gathering. The kava's flowing, the aunties are dancing, and everyone's singing along to the music. What's playing? Possibly Dolly Parton or Luke Combs?

You probably know about the last moments of the Rainbow Warrior. But what do you know about the Greenpeace ship's last voyage before it was bombed by the French in New Zealand in 1985? Where had it come from, why was it there and what was it doing? Find out in The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior.

Our elders are the keepers of our cultural keys. But what happens when they don't share it? Rotuma, an island of Fiji, is home to an ancient traditional headdress called the Suru. But the knowledge of this artefact only lies with a select few elders. They'd never been asked to share their wisdom so this special headdress hadn't been woven or worn for 1000 years. You'll hear from Letila Mitchel, a...

Rising sea levels are swallowing up traditional homes. So, how do you preserve a culture, when the land it’s tied to is slipping away?  Some of the most affected nations like Tokelau and Tuvalu are taking proactive steps to document and record their sacred sites, their language and their cultural practices as a last resort.   And they’re looking to unexpected places – like the metaverse and museum...

Ferocious vocals and loud guitars, metal is the perfect way to let out your frustrations – and it's found an unlikely home in the Pacific.

Papua New Guinea is a country of steep valleys, raging rivers, thick rainforest — and not to mention the Pacific Ocean – that makes traversing the country a precarious task.  So when people migrate from their villages to the capital Port Moresby, sometimes they're leaving for good.  But just because you leave your village for the city, it doesn't mean you can't continue to practice your culture wh...

"Once those drums play, I'm home." It's a long way for Michael Chow to travel to visit his family on Bipi Island in Papua New Guinea. But when he hears the beat of the garamut – the slit drum from his island – it's as if he is really there. Across the Pacific, drumming is so much more than just for entertainment. For Henry Franheim, it connects him back to Rarotonga, and Tiani Liufau's family beat...

"I would love to see young people, after seeing our videos, do videos about their own native language, because we have 800 plus different languages in Papua New Guinea which are slowly dying out because we are not preserving it." Emily Papa has taken to TikTok in an attempt to save the local dialect of Enga Province, her hometown in PNG, the most linguistically diverse country on the planet. Let t...

Across the Pacific, rugby is considered the national sport. But nowhere is this passion more on display than in Fiji. When players take the field, they embody the warrior spirit of their ancestors. Fans travel for hours just to cheer their team on from the stands. Regardless of what side you're on, things always get pretty heated. But why? Is it deeper than just heat of the moment passion? We aske...