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What does fa'a Samoa mean in American Samoan culture?
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In American Samoan culture, fa'a Samoa refers to the "Samoan way of life". It is a communal system that serves as the foundation of social organization, centered primarily on the extended family, known as the aiga.123
Despite significant foreign influence and the integration of various aspects of U.S. culture, the people of American Samoa have actively preserved fa'a Samoa. This traditional way of life remains a vital part of their identity, reflecting their deep-rooted Polynesian heritage.4