Henriette KamiaHenriette Kamia (born 1955)[1] is a French Polynesian educator and disability activist. She is president of the Te Niu o Te Huma federation. Kamia was born on the island of Fatu-Hiva in the Marquesas Islands and was educated at école Sainte-Anne on Hiva Oa[1] and Collège La Mennais in Papeete.[2] She trained as a teacher, but went blind in her first year of teaching.[1] After learning Braille in France she returned to Tahiti to teach visually-impaired students at the Center for Hearing and Speech Education in Pirae.[1] In 1987 she became president of the Huma Mero federation.[3] She has since served as president of the Polynesian Federation of Adapted and Disabled Sports, and vice-president of the Olympic Committee of French Polynesia.[4] In 2015 she became president of the Te Niu o Te Huma federation.[5] In 2001 she was made a knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui.[6] In December 2017 she was elevated to officer.[7] In December 2022 she was elevated to the rank of commander.[8] In 2010 she was made a knight of the Legion of Honour.[3] In 2021 she was promoted to officer.[4] She was awarded her medal in 2022.[9] In June 2023 she was awarded a Poerava award by the Union of French-speaking Women of Oceania.[2][10] References
|