Dr Heather Young Leslie from the University of Hawai'i besides being a dedicated fan of Tonga's 'Ikale Tahi rugby team, is the founder of the Ethnographic Field School to be established on the island of Ha'ano, int the Ha'apai Group, next week.

Heather said that the school will teach students how to become Cultural Anthropologists. She arrived in Nuku'alofa on June 2 with a first group of nine students, seven women and two men, and two teaching assistants. One of the assistants and one of the students are Tongans.

Heather said that for six weeks the students will try and live the life of an ordinary Tongan villager. "The young men will go to the bush and grow some foodstuff, and will also go out fishing. The girls will also engage in the women's daily village activities, weaving, making haka and sweeping the homes."

Heather said that each student will stay with a Tongan family. "The Ha'ano Ethnographic Field School is unique because we will be using the Motu'a Tauhi Fonua, and the Matapule as cultural experts. They will teach the classes and award marks at the end of the course." Heather said that the Ha'ano experience of the students amounted to 20% of the total mark required for the BA degree.

Most of the students are undergraduates either in their final or second last year, and they are all Americans, ranging in age from 20 to 28 years.

The group left for Ha'apai on the ferry MV Olovaha.