Documentary on Bruckner’s agenda during this visit

[photo: Jeff Hayner]

Bruckner Chase's current visit to American Samoa is being partially funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Hollings Grant, which is supporting him in filming small documentaries. His focus is to capture the Samoan connection or ‘faaSamoa’ to the ocean, their islands and their community and families.
 
While Chase is here on this ‘Blue Journey’ Amerika Samoa (Feb. 24-March 20) as it is called, he not only is working on the documentary, but is conducting swim clinics, working with the Department of Public Safety Marine Patrol, working with the Ocean Science/Ocean Swimming (OS/OS) class of Samoana High School and has given talks at events such as the 350.org Climate Warrior Day of Action that took place on Saturday Mar. 2, at Utulei Beach.
 
Chase is pictured yesterday morning at Utulei Beach with the OS/OS students of Samoana High School and members of the National Marine Sanctuary, just before he made a 12-mile paddle board journey to Fagatele Bay. This is one of his signature events for this trip to the territory.
 
Speaking to the students yesterday he said, “I always go back to New Jersey and share so much what I have learned from all of you. We have so much to learn from each other. It has been empowering. I feel stronger in the water, when I am in American Samoa, than anywhere else in the world, because of all of you,” he said to the students.
 
“We are on this journey together and I want to thank all of you for always making me feel like this is home. Fa’afetai,” he said.