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Importance and Cultural Significance of Harvesting Akule in Leone Village
Fishing for akule (bigeye scad) has been a sacred tradition throughout many villages in American Samoa. Fishermen carried knowledge of fish movements and seasonality through the years and were able to determine and predict the return of the akule. Though rituals and practices vary from village to village, some aspects of harvesting akule remain the same. Women weave baskets and traps made out of coconut leaves that are connected together to form a barrier. Chiefs and skilled fishermen position themselves around the bay to keep track of the location of the school. When the school gets close enough to shore, the high talking chief instructs the aumaga (untitled men) and villagers to surround the school and herd the fish to shore with the woven coconut leaves.
People of Leone Village surround a school of akule May 1, 2021, with their woven coconut fronds to herd the fish to shore.
Photo: Natasha Ripley
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This year, the village of Leone gathered around the bay to harvest one of the biggest akule run in recent years. The most recent record of a large harvest in Leone was in 2012, when more than 20 aumaga fished for akule over the course of several days. Before then, the last known harvest was in 1981. Historically, akule season for Leone is at the beginning of the year. This year, the village waited until May to begin the harvest.
The traditional method of using woven coconut fronds was combined with modern kili (thrownets) to trap the school of fish.
Leone residents used kili (thrownets) to trap the fish closer to shore and sort them into coolers.
Photo: WPRFMC
It is believed that a group of uluas (giant trevally) scared the school of akule into the bay. Only one ulua was caught this year, which is customarily gifted to the high ranking chief or clergy. Akule is considered as a gift from God and therefore very sacred to the Leone people.
A village aumaga (untitled man) stands proudly with an ulua he caught during the akule harvest. In American Samoa, ulua is customarily given to high chiefs and clergy.
Photo: WPRFMC
Neighboring villagers and outsiders are not allowed to fish in the village during akule season, and the catch cannot be sold. As a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, prayers of gratitude and blessings are offered before the catch is divided among clans to be enjoyed by all of Leone with hopes of a good harvest in the next akule season.
