I was 16 when I learnt of the Dawn Raids. I didn't learn about them in my decile 10 college that I attended; I learnt about them when I was watching a play called The Dawn Raids, written by my Uncle Oscar. I was bewildered. Why was I not taught this at school? Why had my family not talked about this? When I undertook Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland under the tutelage of Dr Melani Anae, my eyes were opened but my family still did not talk about them. Decades later, I understand why.