Paramount Chief Tuli Leʻiato (November 17, 1917 – October 5, 1983) of Fagaʻitua, was an American Fa'amatai leader and politician on the Islands of Tutuila, and Aunu'u in American Samoa. In addition to his Fa'a Samoa title he was sworn in on June 21, 1963, as the Secretary of Samoan Affairs under Governor H. Rex Lee. A letter written by Paramount Chief Tuli Le'ato on September 7, 1962, to President Kennedy is on permanent display in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.[1]
Paramount Chief Tuli Leʻiato | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1917 |
| Died | 1983 (aged 65–66) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Secretary of Samoan Affairs, American Samoan Paramount Chief |
| Known for | American Samoa Paramount Chief of Eastern Districts |
Immediately after Leʻiato's death, the Le'iato title was passed on to his son Tuli Tupua Le'iato.
The royal title Le'iato is second only to King (Tui) of Manuʻa of American Samoa.
Tuli Le'iato is the ancestor to many prominent Samoan figures including multimedia activist and award-winning filmmaker Queen Muhammad Ali, and Oregon Duck's Football Linebacker Fotu T. Leiato II.[2][3][4]
References
edit- ^ "American Samoa: General, 7 September 1962 - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". www.jfklibrary.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Queen Muhammad Ali". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Award winning Samoan film director is finalist in highly sought after grant program | Samoa News". www.samoanews.com. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- ^ "Fotu T. Leiato II". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-10-31.