Women played an integral part in the Mau Movement which had a domino effect in moving Samoa towards independence, says a senior Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture (M.E.S.C.) official.

The Principal Museum Officer within the Ministry, Sharon Arona, told Samoa Observer in an interview on Wednesday that with the 2023 Mother's Day looming it is also important to remember the role of mothers and "female warriors".

She said that without women in the Mau Movement, Samoa wouldn't have gained independence in 1962, and pointed to various studies which she said proved women were active and present during that period of Samoa's history.

“There were mothers and they named themselves the 'Mau Women's [Committee], they were known as female warriors because they played a very good part in the history of Samoa," the senior M.E.S.C. official said. "So, while many of the men were busy finding ways and in meetings, the Mau women were always there cooking and providing meals of the day, every day. 

"The act of a mother and a wife that is never once forgotten. They also fought in the protest and were always active in looking after the men. 

"Until the imprisonment of the Mau men in Vaimea Prison in the mid-1900s, they were always at home being mothers and were still in the middle of the plans.

"Now that Mother’s Day is near we shall commemorate and salute the mothers, wives, and female warriors that fought for independence."

The Samoa Museum at Malifa, which is part of the Ministry, has archival pictures of all Mau leaders as well as the Mau Women's Committee according to Ms. Arona. 

A letter dated 23 August 1930 from Rosabel Nelson to Olaf Frederick Nelson, which was included in a book on “The Women's Mau”, stated that they had a membership of over 8,000 and received assistance from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

In addition to submitting petitions to parliamentarians as well as raising funds, planning meetings, rallies, and processions they also took up the cause of "Samoa Mo Samoa" and even promoted it overseas. 

Amid the fight for more powers through the Mau Movement, the Mau Women's activities and voices were strong and persuasive. Threats from the colonial government and pressure from religious authorities – who advised the women to resume their roles as mothers, sisters, and village peacekeepers – were unable to quell the women's ambition to reclaim the sovereignty of their country.

“We shall again salute the mothers that fought for Samoa’s Independence,” Ms. Arona said.