Born on May 27, 1964 in Nouméa, Germaine Nemia is a school teacher, author and translator passionate about the regional languages ​​and cultures of New Caledonia.

Professionnal career :

• Teacher since 1984.
• Graduated from CAFIPEMF with the regional languages ​​and cultures option since 2001.
• 2004–2011: Educational advisor in the Loyalty Islands.
• 2007: Assigned to the DENC as an educational advisor in charge of the Kanak language and culture teaching file in public nursery and primary schools (Directorate of Education).
• 2012: Appointed research officer at SELCK (Service of the Vice-Rectorate for the teaching of Kanak languages ​​and cultures which combines primary and secondary education), a real turning point for writing.

Commitment :

Noting a huge lack of tools and books for students, she decided to create adapted educational and literary materials, combining local languages ​​and French, to support learning and promote cultural heritage.

Key publications:

• Wa Toan (2024): Translation into the Kanak language of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
• Watapatine (2025): A collection of nursery rhymes in the Nengone language, conforming to the International Phonetic System, illustrating the daily life of the inhabitants. Includes a QR code for the audio recording.

Personal mission:

To keep languages ​​alive, to connect cultures and to transmit knowledge and stories that carry memory and future.

📚 Introducing the publishing house – SE LA HIA NOD

Founder: Germaine Nemia

Name and meaning:

• SE LA HIA NOD means "Educating a nation differently", reflecting the publishing house's vision for education and cultural transmission.
Assignment :
• To promote the languages ​​of the multicultural population of New Caledonia and to integrate them with French.
• To provide children with learning tools adapted to their knowledge and skills, while valuing their cultural heritage.

Vision:

• To create literary and educational works that place local languages ​​at the heart of teaching and cultural transmission.
• To keep languages ​​alive, connect cultures and contribute to educational success.

Landmark publications:

2024, Wa Toan: Translation into the Kanak language of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
2025, Watapatine: Collection of nursery rhymes in the Nengone language, conforming to the international phonetic system.

Future perspectives and publications:

• Bane Yenon Co Ieie Pene Nengone: an interactive reading book using a kinesthetic method, combining gestures and sound.
• Creation of reading vignettes and phoneme vignettes to support the learning of reading.
• Development of an alphabet book in the Nengone language.
• Development of digital, visual and audio resources to make learning local languages ​​interactive, fun and accessible.

“SE LA HIA NOD: words to connect cultures, awaken the imagination and transmit the memory of the languages ​​of New Caledonia.”