Samoan community group signs ‘resolution of understanding’ with Anchorage city leaders

A group of Samoan tribal members held a traditional ceremony Tuesday with Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and Police Chief Sean Case, aimed at growing a “strong and harmonious relationship among governments and the communities they represent,” according to a resolution signed at the ceremony.

The kava ceremony, an ancient Samoan practice performed before important gatherings to promote unity, came about a month after 16-year-old Easter Leafa was shot and killed by an Anchorage police officer at her family’s apartment. Leafa — who had recently immigrated to Alaska from American Samoa, and was learning English — was holding a knife as she approached police and did not obey their commands to drop it, according to the department.

Alaska Samoan Tribal, a group that organized in recent years under its CEO, the Rev. Sam Unutoa, initiated Tuesday’s ceremony to lay the groundwork for better communication between Samoans and city leaders.

“Instead of going in and shooting, call us first,” Unutoa said in an interview ahead of the ceremony. “I will interpret. Easter didn’t understand English.”

Dancers from the Ladies of the Pacific Dance Academy — dressed in traditional Samoan regalia — led the ceremony on the eighth floor of City Hall. The dancers methodically mixed the dried roots of the kava plant with water, then presented the drink to LaFrance, Case and their staff in order of rank.

“I accept the kava,” LaFrance said, wearing a red and brown ‘ula of dried and painted fruit, a gift Unutoa lifted off his own neck to denote the highest-ranking chief in the room. Then, reading from a prepared statement, LaFrance said, “I’m honored to be here and to learn more about the foundation of peace and respect that is Samoan culture.”

Case said that he was “grateful for friendship and continued relationship with the Samoan community.”

Following the ceremony, LaFrance signed an official Municipality of Anchorage resolution, a document her office had worked with Unutoa to draft for weeks prior. The resolution calls for “acknowledging the importance of mutual understanding,” ensuring that “policies reflect a commitment to the health, safety and care of each person,” and “engaging in open, honest, and continuous dialogue.”

Following Leafa’s death in August, Samoan community members in Anchorage held a march to honor the 16-year-old’s life, and demanded answers after the sixth fatal shooting in a period of three months. Community anguish led LaFrance and Case to announce that same month a series of reforms aimed at reducing the number of officer shootings in Anchorage. Among them was a promise to establish a community advisory committee to “provide the community a formal role in advising APD.”

After the ceremony, Case said while he’s not sure if the signed resolution will lead to direct action within the police department, building relationships with the Samoan communities will better inform his officers.

“We have such a diverse culture in Anchorage, and certainly this relationship we’ve built has helped establish what the Samoan culture is in Anchorage,” Case said. “Understanding that culture is going to help us respond better.”

Samoans in attendance said that while there are still open wounds surrounding Leafa’s death, Tuesday’s ceremony was a step toward healing.

“There’s still so many unanswered questions in the community right now,” said Christine Luafulu, the owner of Ladies of the Pacific Dance Academy, who led the ceremony. “(But) what happened here today is going to help connect to our people and our law enforcement. It’s such a great honor to make this happen.”

The mayor’s office said it welcomes “all residents” to connect with them for collaborative partnerships, through written resolution or otherwise.