Talofa, malo le soifua! Welcome to The Seedling, brought to you by The Uproot Project. I’m Lagipoiva, daughter of High Chief Va’asili’ifiti Moelagi Jackson and descendent of Tuisafualemotu, the traditional architect of the island of Savai’i in Samoa. My name, ‘Sky of nine nights’ describes the number of nights Tagaloalagi, the traditional creator needed to rest before creating our home island.

It’s AAPI month and it is only fitting to share that personal story, to once again remind us that behind Samoan, Polynesian, and many Pacific islander names, there is a deep and meaningful story that not only captures history but at times dictates the pathway of that person.

As a climate journalist just starting my journey reporting on the direct impacts on the lives of Pacific islanders at the frontlines of the climate crisis, those nuances matter. The cultural value of land is immeasurable for Pacific people. That’s why I have always approached climate journalism from the lens of how a warming world can mean intangible losses for cultures and communities. These elements cannot be measured in numbers, such as ancestral ties, myths, and legends tied to land, language, and identities as Pacific islanders. I currently report for The Guardian focusing on Pacific island issues. Our most recent work highlighted the impossible choice faced by atoll island residents who face the real threat of losing their entire island nations to sea-level rise.

Since The Uproot Project launched in 2021, I have followed the amazing work of many AAPI environmental journalists like Rachel Ramirez. Ramirez’s recent coverage of California's water crisis and the ongoing drought demonstrates a truly American approach to the climate crisis — as long as it can be fixed temporarily, everything will be fine.

There are so many more environmental stories that can be told from our AAPI communities. For now, however, let’s embrace the work of AAPI journalists who continue to break barriers in a historically underrepresented beat. Fa’afetai.

What Are You Planting? 

• The Uproot Project has a shiny new website. Check it out!
• Attention PNW Uprooters! The first Uproot regional meet-up in over two years is officially happening in Seattle on June 25th. Register here.
• Interested in writing for upcoming issues of The Seedling? Send a resume to our newsletter project lead, Paola Rosa-Aquino, via Slack or email: prosaaquino@gmail.com.

• Bangor Daily News, Environmental Reporter Deadline: May 30
• Solutions Journalism Network, Climate Cohort Deadline: May 31st
• Bay Nature Institute, Digital Editor Deadline: May 31st
• Futuro Unidad Hinojosa Investigative, Associate Producer Deadline: June 17
• Modern Farmer, Indigenous Affairs Reporter and Social Media Associate  Deadline: June 1, May 27 
• Smithsonian Magazine, Assistant Digital Editor, Science Editor Deadline: N/A
• Apple News, Weather and Climate Editor Deadline: N/A
• Center for Public Integrity, Investigative Reporter  Deadline: N/A
• Wall Street Journal, Climate Newsletter Editor  Deadline: N/A

Uproot in the community 

• The Uproot Project – and one of our founding members, Yessenia Funes – are finalists for the 2022 Covering Climate Now Journalism awards!