[2][3] According to the Tokelauan government, the title "Fatupaepae" can be literally translated as "Sacred Being," signifying "a mother or a young lady, who has clearly understood that she is the cornerstone of the family, village and nation and has been taught about her responsibilities as a Fatupaepae.
[4] Historically, these women bore responsibility for equally and fairly distributing resources among their community, and played a central role in decision-making.
[2][3][7] Their members have expressed concerns around women's health and their access to business and government on the islands.
[3] In 2004, 30 representatives from the Fatupaepae gathered as the Tokelau National Women's Council to discuss how to address shared concerns, which led to the development of the National Policy for Women of Tokelau.
[2] A Fatupaepae representative from each atoll serves on the territory's governing General Fono.