Reconnecting to my culture through song

Taputukura Raea shares her Cook Islands language journey and highlights the Viking Seven Seas song collection on Digital Pasifik — a cultural treasure helping Cook Islanders reconnect with heritage through traditional imene (hymns) and storytelling.

Setting an annual intention

Each year, in preparation for Cook Islands Language Week, I set myself a personal goal to learn something new about my Cook Islands heritage. In previous years, I’ve learned my aravei’anga (introduction), pure te kai (prayer for food), and an opening prayer. Last year, I challenged myself to learn the Cook Islands Lord’s Prayer—something I had long struggled to memorise, which had kept me from fully participating in church singing.

I joined a Cook Islands language class, Te Reo Tupuna, and connected with the Wellington Akatokamanava group. Together, we filmed E Reo Noku, a project that shares stories and songs from the Cook Islands. These experiences deepened my understanding of how song and storytelling are woven into our cultural identity.

Cook Islands singing is expressive, passionate, and celebratory — it’s a powerful way to connect with our culture.

Songs as cultural taonga

The Viking Seven Seas collection includes 85 Cook Islands songs, featuring artists like Will Crummer and traditional imene (hymns or church songs) from the Pa Enua, dating back to the early 1970s. My next goal is to learn Imene Tuki — Sacred Song, a traditional Cook Islands hymn.

The Viking Seven Seas Cook Islands collection is a cultural taonga (treasure). For those of us who didn’t grow up immersed in Cook Islands culture, these recordings are a gift. They offer a bridge back to our roots and help us stay connected, even when we can’t be physically present at gatherings.

One song can begin the journey

I encourage other Cook Islanders to listen to these songs and reconnect.

Revive them.

Sing them with your mamas and papas.

Let them spark memories and stories.

These songs are more than music—they’re windows into the lives of our people.

Access to these imene reminds us that reconnection is always possible.

Sometimes, all it takes is one song to begin the journey.

Listen to songs in the Viking Seven Seas collection on Digital Pasifik

More about the Viking Seven Seas collection — National Library blog post