Tongan mother, Viola Tuakimoana, is a sign language interpreter who was so determined to be a voice for the Pacific deaf community that it took her ten years to be accepted into the training course for sign language interpreters.
Viola had previously spent 13 years as a care worker in an Auckland residential home for the deaf and during her time she saw how important it was for someone like her to help Pacific individuals and their families.
“Sign language interpreters would come into work and they were never Pasifika or Māori . Working in this industry for 13 years and being around deaf residents and staff, I was able to pick up sign language very quickly.
I had a desire to become a sign language interpreter because I wanted to represent my culture in this space.”
As a child, Viola befriended a deaf girl at her church but didn’t have the knowledge to communicate with her.
“There was a lot of gesturing with each other. I always remembered this experience. It helped influence my journey.”
Viola faced obstacles in her journey to becoming sign language literate. Her application was turned down on multiple occasions for various reasons that seemed superficial but despite this she persevered and eventually got into the programme. Once Viola was in the programme, she worked hard to graduate and put herself in a position to serve the deaf community.
“I was studying, raising four children on my own, and still working part time in residential care. During this experience I was able to show my children and grandchildren that education is important.”
Viola has been working as a sign language interpreter for the past 16 years. She works with the deaf community across a wide spectrum of activity from call centres and prisons to courts and family occasions. She encourages more Pacific people to become sign language interpreters.
“I feel like a minority within a minority. I let the agency know to put me in Pacific settings. If a Pasifika family has a deaf member, I can come in to bridge that gap.”
This week, New Zealand celebrates sign language week. Viola says it is the perfect time to acknowledge how important sign language is and the difference it makes to the lives of deaf people.
“I love my job because I make communication accessible for the deaf and hearing world. One cannot grow without the other.”
#pmafamily
Date: Friday 14 May 2021