Samoa is a traditional society governed by Fa’a Samoa. It has three key elements 1)the matai (chiefs), 2)aiga, the extended family and 3)the church. Samoa is a distinctive Polynesia culture over 3000 years old

Matai are the heads of the extended family unit and their role in very complex covering family, civic and political duties in the village. There is 362 nu’u or villages throughout the islands with a total of 18,000 matai.

Family is most important, respecting one’s elders is strictly adhered to and being of service to your family is your duty. The aiga or extended family is made up of parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, and all other extended family living together within the village. In all times of happiness or sadness Samoans come together to share in the responsibility for caring for one another. It is ones duty to be of service to our aiga.

Christianity has been one of the few western influences that have been accepted unto Fa’a Samoa. John Williams from the London Missionary Society arrived in Savaii in 1830 with eight Tahitian and Rarotongan teachers to spread the word. Today the motto on Samoa’s crest reads Fa’avae I Le Atua Samoa, Samoa is founder on God. In every village there are churches of various denominations. Samoans are devoted Christians and Sunday is a day of worship, family and not physical works.