![Two photos side by side: On the left, two people in traditional attire with text "my mom becoming a chief." On the right, the same woman with her daughter wearing traditional attire with text "passing her title down to me."](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/30/16/tmp/01f8fc2ea31c/tmp-name-5-3134-1717085421-0_big.jpg?output-format=auto&output-quality=auto&resize=300:*;)
I Recently Became A Samoan Chief, And It Changed My Life Forever
The fa’amatai system is a long-standing tradition in the Samoan islands. And while there aren’t many women who hold matai (chief) titles, I’m happy to say I come from a family that respects the leadership of women.