Not A U.S. Citizen

This film explores American Sāmoa and the unique legal status of its residents as non-citizen nationals of the United States. It follows two American Samoans who are not U.S. citizens but U.S. nationals. On the one hand is Salaivai Seiuli Elinor “Eli” Lutu-McMoore who is a federal employee and traditional chief who wants to maintain the status quo. She reflects on how her father, Afoafouvale “Afoa” Leulumoega F. S. Lutu, fought to preserve communal land in the Territory and how he inspired her to maintain her language, culture, and connection to her ancestral homeland. On the other hand is Ret. U.S. Marine SGM Palaita Tusipasi “Tusi” Suiaunoa, who wants birthright citizenship for his people. Both explore relationships with the land in American Sāmoa and its importance to their family, identity, and legal rights. Tapa‘au Dr. Daniel Aga, Director of the American Sāmoa Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review, and Federal Relations, explores the historical and political contexts of the citizenship issue. They all must navigate the potential impacts of citizenship not only in their daily lives, but on their rights to the land as the Indigenous people of American Sāmoa.

Credits
Writer: Gabby Alafagamalufilufi Faʻaiʻuaso, John Niko Pātū
Producer: Gabby Alafagamalufilufi Faʻaiʻuaso, John Niko Pātū
Executive Producer: Stanley Nelson, Marcia Smith, Leticia Peguero, Chloe Walters Wallace, Cheryl Hirasa
Director of Photography: Gabby Alafagamalufilufi Faʻaiʻuaso
Editor: Fa‘alava‘au Nanai Jeremiah Tauamiti,

Plays in

Pacific Cinewaves: Sites of Memory in Oceania

For this year’s LAAPFF’s Pacific Cinewaves program, we invite you on a journey to witness the cinematic narratives of six Pasifika storytellers as they grapple with themes of family, grief, identity, dispossession and memory.