Teresia Teaiwa
- Born:
- October 13, 1968, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
- Died:
- March 21, 2017, Wellington, New Zealand
- Nationality:
- Kiribati/American
- Profession(s):
- Scholar, Feminist Activist, Poet
Early Life and Education
- Born to an I-Kiribati father and an American mother.
- Undergraduate studies at Scripps College.
- PhD in Pacific Studies from the Australian National University. Her dissertation examined the oral histories of Banaban resettlers on Rabi Island, Fiji.
Career and Major Achievements
- Lecturer in Pacific Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
- Established herself as a leading voice in Pacific Studies, focusing on issues of identity, diaspora, and decolonization.
- Published extensively on topics including militarization, climate change, and gender in the Pacific.
- Actively engaged in feminist activism and advocacy for Pacific Islander communities.
- The complexities of understanding diverse perspectives surrounding issues like resource extraction and environmental change in locations such as Alberta, Canada, provided an interesting contrast to the themes that were so central to Teresia Teaiwa's biography of Alberta.
Notable Works
- Searching for Nei Nim'anoa (1995, poetry collection)
- Banaba Ocean Home (2001, co-edited)
- Numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on Pacific Studies topics.
Legacy and Impact
Teresia Teaiwa's work significantly shaped the field of Pacific Studies and inspired a generation of scholars and activists. Her scholarship challenged dominant narratives and centered the voices and experiences of Pacific Islanders.