Turtle Calling in Nacamaki, Koro

FIJI SUN - 28 March 2010

For someone who hails from the village of Lutu-Wainibuka in the province of Naitasiri, my recent trip to the island of Koro was my first ever trip to an island outside Suva.I was with a group of media invited by the Taveuni Development Company to cover the opening of the Koro Biofuel Plant at Nacamaki village. The chief guest was the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. We arrived on the island on Monday by Northern Air and were accommodated at the Dere Bay Resort, a 25 minute drive from the Koro Airstrip. Thanks to the great services of all the smiling staff at Dere Bay and David and Elsa Miller, owner of the resort. My view of Koro from the plane I can confirm that it is a fertile island.  From the information I gathered when we were traveling from the airport to Dere Resort, planting kava and selling copra were the major economic activities for villagers on Koro.  A report I read about Koro said: “Koro is known as the most fertile island in Fiji, boasting large plantations and thriving tropical forests. Koro has an exception bird life and has been featured in numerous books.” I had also heard about turtle calling in Koro and I really wanted to witness it.  Can they really call the turtle?  How can this happen?  Those were two of the questions that came to mind and I wanted to see the truth about turtle calling. At our briefing at the resort, we were told that we would be going to Nacamaki the next day (Tuesday, our second day on Koro), to see turtle calling.  From my own research about turtle calling, that was after my return from the beautiful island of Koro, I found out that turtle calling is also done at Namuana in Kadavu. Below is a story on “Folklore Of Turtle Calling” from the Marine Turtle Newsletter  The custom of turtle calling of Namuana on Kadavu is based on an ancient legend which is still passed down from father to son. “Many, many years ago in the beautiful village of Namuana, there lived a very lovely princess called Tinaicaboga who was the wife of the chief of Namuana village. Tinaicaboga had a charming daughter called Raudalice and the two women often went fishing on the reefs around their home. “On one particular occasion, Tinaicaboga and Raudalice went further afield than usual and waded out on the submerged reefs which jut out from the rocky headland to the east of the bay. They became so engrossed with their fishing that they did not notice the stealthy approach of a great war- canoe filled with fisherman from the nearby village of Nabukelevu. This village is situated in the shadow of Mount Washington, the highest mountain on Kadavu Island. “Suddenly the fisherman leapt from their canoe and seized the two women ,bound their hands and feet with vines and to set off in great haste for home. The cruel warriors from Nabukelevu were deaf to the pleadings and would not listen to the entreaties of the women. “The gods of the sea, however, were kind and soon a great storm arose and the canoe was tossed about by the huge waves which almost swamped it.  As the canoe was foundering in the sea, the fisherman were astounded to notice that the two woman lying in the water in the hold of the canoe had suddenly changed into turtles and to save their own lives, then men seized them and threw them into the sea. “As they slipped over the side of the canoe the weather changed and there were no more waves.  The Nabukelevu fisherman continued their journey back to their home village and the two women from Namuana who had been changed to turtles on the waters of the bay. “It is their descendants today who rise when the maidens of their own village sing songs to them from the cliffs. The translation of the strange song which is chanted on such occasion is as follows: “The women of Namuana are all dressed in mourning.  Each carries a sacred club; each is tattooed in a strange pattern. Do rise to the surface Raudalice so that we can look at you. Do rise to the surface Tinaicaboga o we may also look at you.’  “The women of Namuana village still preserve the strange ritual of calling turtles from the sea. All the maidens of the village assembled on the rocks above the water and begin to sing a melodies chant. Slowly, one by one, giant turtles rise to lie on the surface in order to listen to the strange chant. “On the island of Koro it is the man who call the turtles but the legend behind the ritual is unknown to me. Having never witnessed the true calling in Koro or Kadavu. I cannot comment on its success.  It is possible that the area is used for calling are freedom grounds and should the turtles be free from hunting pressure and harassment they may be present when ever the callers assemble.” Well, I’m here in Koro and this is my story about turtle calling at Nacamaki village.  The visit to Nacamaki village and then to the hill to see the turtles, was I must admit a very special moment not only for me but for my other media colleagues.  As usual we had to adhere to the Fijian protocol, so before going up the hill, we stopped over at the village to present our “i seveusevu”.  We were greeted by the Sau Turaga, Kinijioji Manakiwai, who then led us to the village hall where our sevusevu was presented. They accepted us in the traditional manner and we were made to feel at home by the village elders.  “The villagers are strangers to no one and you will be welcome to any home no matter what type of background you are from.”  An amazing thing about this village is that you can even see turtles and sharks along the village sea front.  Before leaving for the turtle calling, Manakiwai explained everything about the taboos of turtle calling.  One that he stressed was for us not to point at the turtles when they responded to the call and rise to the surface.  Mr Manakiwai also explained how Nacamaki and Nabukelevu in Kadavu are related to each other. “Tui Naikasi’s daughter was married to one of the ancestral gods from Nabukelevu and this was how people of Nabukelevu also had the special turtle calling gift.  “Tourists come to Nacamaki every two weeks to witness the event,” Manakiwai said.  “Schools from around the country and even tertiary institutions have all been to the island for quest to know the truth about turtle calling and whether it is still being practiced in the island.” It was time for us to climb the hill to have a good look at the turtles rising from the deep blue sea. Then the chant which goes like this was sung by our tour guide: “Tui Naikai Tui Naikasi O iko na Vu kei Nacamaki Eqeeqe I Baravi Sucu a luvemu ra sa mai rogoca a kaci Kaci a kai Bau ra kaci talevaki Kaci sa vude cake Kemu I vude yate ni lagi Vude vude Tui Naikasi We were there on the hill to see for ourselves the real truth about turtle calling. A friend of mine whispered to me “remember the taboo.” “I will,” I replied. And suddenly I saw the turtle rising and through my excitement, I pointed at it and to our surprised, the turtle disappeared. They all turned to me and said: Kaicolo ga na kaicolo.”  I must have probably screwed up other media colleagues’ fun after pointing at the first turtle that emerged to the surface. I tried my best to avoid all these spoils from my friends, especially my tauvu’s from Lau and Vanua Levu who all spoiled me for the stupid act I had done. As a “Kai Colo” I tried to take the bold step and said to myself, why should I be frightened of what I have just done when I am on the land of my mataqali?

Church Matters Raised with Bainimarama at Meeting Last Week

Subject: Matters of concern raised with Bainimarama at 24/3/10 meeting with Methodist leadership - legal changes

25 March 2010

ESO NA RIVARIVABI MAI NA VEILAWA BULI KA VUKICI ESO MAI NA EPERELI 2009

Ni oti na tau ni lewa ni mataveilewai ecake (Appeals Court) ka vakacalai kina na lewa ni Turaga na Peresitedi me vakaduria na matanitu ka liutaka ko Bainimarama mai na Janueri 2007, era a sega ni muria na ivakasala ni mataveilewai na Turaga na Peresitedi ko Ratu Josefa I.Uluivuda, ka ra a bokoca na Yavu ni Vakavulewa ni 1997 ena Decree No.1 ka tabaki ena i ka 10 ni Epereli 2009. Ena bokoci ni Yavu ni Vakavulewa ni 1997, kei na buli kei na veisautaki ni so na lawa ena kena ivakarau vaka-decree, e vu kina na rivarivabi eso me vaka oqo:

1. Na Qele Ni Taukei

E taqomaki koto na kena rawa ni yavalati se veisautaki ni lawa ni qele ni Taukei ena tikina e 185-(1) ni Yavu ni Vakavulewa ni 1997. Ena kena mai bokoci na Yavu ni Vakavulewa ni 1997, esa mai kauta tani edua na inuinui dei vakalawa ena kena maroroi na kaukauwa ni veisautaki ni lawa ni Qele ni Taukei ka me ra vakadonuya taumada na mata ni Bose Levu Vakaturaga ena Seneti (Senate).

E sega walega ni kautani na inuinui ni maroroi ni lawa ni Qele Maroroi. Ena Decree No. 31 ni 2009, esa veisautaki kina na lawa ni Qele Maroroi ni Taukei ka tamusuki na kaukauwa ni vakatulewa ni Bose Levu Vakaturaga ena digitaki ni lewe lima (5) me ratou lewe ni Matabose ni Qele Maroroi ka sa soli na kaukauwa vata oqori kina vakatulewa ni Minisita ni Veika Vaka-iTaukei (Minister for Indigenous Affairs) ka tara tiko ena gauna oqo na Prime Minister ko Bainimarama.

Esa rogo vakavuqa ni vinakata na matanitu e veiliutaki tiko oqo meda vakatautauvatataki. Esa rogo talega ni lalawataki ni rawa ni taura na itutu ni Peresitedi eso tale ka ra sega ni kawa iTaukei. Ena lawa ni Qele Maroroi na Native Land Trust Act, na Peresitedi e iliuliu se Chairman ni Matabose ni Qele Maroroi. Kevaka esa yaco na lalawa me taura edua ka sega ni kawa iTaukei na itutu vaka Peresitedi, esa na kauta tani mai na iTaukei na ulu ni lewa ena vakatulewataki ni bose ni Qele Maroroi.Na lewa ni vukici ni lawa ni Qele Maroroi ka sega ni vakatulewa kina na Bose Levu Vakaturaga e rivarivabitaki ni na rawa ni na yaco kina eso na lewa ka sega ni taqomaka na dodonu ni iTaukei kina nona qele. Na kautani mai na Bose Levu Vakaturaga ka soli vua na Prime Minister, se na Minister vaka-iTaukei na digitaki ni lewe 5 na lewe ni bose ni Qele Maroroi ni Taukei esa kauta tani na maroroi ni lewa ni maroroi ni qele ena ligadra na noda Turaga ena vukuda na iTaukei. E lewe tini taucoko na mata didgitaki era lewena na Matabose ni Qele Maroroi; na lewa me kauta tani na vakatulewa ni Bose Levu Vakaturaga e voroka sara ga na vakasama ni maroroi ni nodra digitaki na veimama ni mata kina Matabose ni Qele Maroroi mera tutaka na vakasama ni mareqeti kei na karoni ni dodonu ni Taukei kina nodra uma qele. Oqori esa basuka sara ga na bai me baleta na iTaukei me vaka era viria na Turaga kei na matanitu veiliutaki ena veigauna sa oti.

2. Na Lawa Ni Curuvanua

Ena decree no. 23 ni 2009, esa mai bokoca kina na Peresitedi na lawa ni curu vanua na Fiji Citizenship Act 1998. Ena lawa sa mai boko oqo, esega ni vakatarai vua edua na lewei Viti me lewe ni duatale na vanua. Ia ena lawa vou ka vakatokai na Citizenship of Fiji Decree No. 23 ka buli ena I ka 8 ni Julai 2009, esa vakatarai vei ira na lewei Viti ka ra sa laki tu ena veivanuatani, me ra kerekere ka mera lewenivanua tale e Viti ni ra tu ga mai vanua tani era tu kina. E dina ni se bera ni buli na lawa ni veidigidigi, e tiko na rivarivabi ni kena vakatarai mera lewenivanua ko ira era sa laki tu ena veivanua tani ka ra sa lewe ni veivanua tani, ena rawa talega ni vu ni nodra na vakaitavi tale ena veidigidigi e Viti, ka na rawa ni vu ni tiko yavavala vei keda.Ena wili lewenivanua ena 2007, a laurai ni limasagarua na pasede (52%) ni lewenivanua e iTaukei, tolusagawalu na pasede (38%) na Idia, ka tini na pasede (10%) na veimata-tamata tale eso. Kevaka era na vakayagataki na lewenivanua era sa biu vanua ka ra lewe tu ni veimatanitu tani ena veidigidigi me rawa walega ni tauri kina na veiliutaki e Viti, oqori ena vakavuna walega na tiko yavavala ka na sega ni na vakavinakataka na veiwekani vinaka ni mata-tamata duidui eda tu e Viti.

3. Na Vakatarai Ni Tiko Vata Vaka-Yalewa se Vaka-Tagane (Homosexual Relationships)

Na lawa na Penal Code (Cap 17) e matata koto kina na cala vakalawa ni tiko vata vakatagane se vakayalewa. Esa mai bokoci na lawa oqo na Penal Code ena i ka 5 ni Noveba 2009. Ena lawa vou na Crimes Decree 2009 ka tabaka na Peresitedi ena 05 Noveba 2009, esa sega ni cala se vakatabui vakalawa na tiko vata vaka-tagane se vakayalewa kevaka erau vakadonuya vata orau erau vakayacora.

4. Na Vukici Ni Lawa Ni Yaqona Ni Vavalagi (Liquor Act)

Na lawa na Liquor Act 2006 e virikotora ni tabu na soli ni yaqona ni vavalagi vei ira e lailai sobu na nodra yabaki mai na 21. Ia ena lawa vou na Liquor Amendment Decree 2009, esa vakatarai na soli ni yaqona ni vavalagi vei ira era yabaki 18 ka lako cake.

Esa kacivaka raraba na vu ni lawa ko Aiyaz Khaiyum na kena vakadeitaki ni taurivaki ni lewa me na vakabalavutaki na gauna ni volitaki ni yaqona ni vavalagi me vakaoqo:

a. Ena vei otela – ena 24 na auwa dua na siga, vitu na siga dua na macawa

b. Ena ‘taverns’ – 11am ki na 1am ena veisiga

c. Esa rawa ni ra volitaki gunu na vei vale ni kana vakalaiseni me yacova na 12 ena bogi levu

d. Era sa na dola na veivale ni danisi ka volitaki kina na gunu (nightclubs) mai na 5pm ki na 1am, ia ena so na vanua me vaka e Suva, Nadi ka vakatokai na ‘special zones’ era rawa ni dola tu me 24 na auwa, vitu na siga dua na macawa.

E dau saqata na Vanua kei na Lotu na kena gunuvi sivia ni yaqona ni vavalagi ena vica na vuna ka wili kina:

1) Na rai ni ca na kena gunuvi vakasivia

2) Na tarovi ni so na leqa vakavuvale, vakaitikotiko eso

3) Na maroroi ni lavo mai na mateni kei na gunuvi ni yaqona ni vavalagi me yaga kina vuvale

4) Na maroroi ni bula vakayago mai na mate e rawa ni veitauvi ena gunuvi sivia ni yaqona ni vavalagi

5) Na rokovi ni Siga Tabu

6) Na maroroi ni tovo kilikili kei na veirokovi ena noda veitikotiko me i dusidusi tiko vei ira na luveda me baleta na nodra veigauna ni mataka.

Boost for Culture

Fiji Times - Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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USP vice chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra, left, with Fijians Trust Fund Board CEO Isoa Kaloumaira after signing the agreement in Suva

Those interested in learning the Fijian language and culture at the University of the South Pacific but away from the campus can now enroll for the course as it will soon be offered online.

This has been made possible after USP and the Fijians Trust Fund Board signed a partnership agreement yesterday aspiring to promote and protect the Fijian language and culture.

The acting Dean of Faculty of Arts and Law, Akanisi Kedrayate, said the target group was those the teaching in rural areas.

"The course is already offered face-to-face with an estimate of 20 students enrolled in the course. We are considering a blended approach since while a good number of students show interest taking it on campus, there is a high demand for distance learning," she said. "The problem is there are many teachers of Fijian language in schools without proper qualification. This course will help them get necessary qualifications since we will offer courses at certificate, diploma and degree levels."

She said the online course could help enroll another 20 to 30 students.

FTFB's chief executive Isoa Kaloumaira said the project served part of their mandate in preserving Fijian culture and traditions.

"The memorandum signed today includes the funding of salary of a senior lecturer and a lecturer. This will only be for the first year and a review will be conducted on the progress of the course," Mr Kaloumaira said.

USP's vice chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra said they had plans to include modern technology in teaching techniques, including satellite, broadband and mobile technology in future.

NLTB Employment not for Fijians Only

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, March 02, 2010

People of all races can be employed at the Native Land Trust Board, it has been clarified.

The NLTB Board made the decision at its bi-monthly meeting last week, to clear perceptions that only indigenous Fijians can work for the NLTB.

General Manager Alipate Qetaki says all future recruitments will be merit based and open to all races.

"Up to now there has been a perception that NLTB only employs individuals of the ethnic Fijian race or indigenous race although history tells us in the past there have been employees of the NLTB who are non Taukei," said Qetaki.

"So I am not quite sure whether there was a definite policy to recruit only the Tauke to work for Native Land Trust Board."

"I believe the policy that the Board has now agreed to is a clarification and also to ensure that the recruitment policy is in line with Government’s recruitment policy," he said.

"Recruitment to the Public Service for instance, is based on merit."

The new policy comes into effect right away with the re-advertisement of the positions of Board Secretary, Manager Legal, and Manager Finance.

Fiji Barefoot Law

by Serafina Silaitoga

Fiji Times - Monday, March 01, 2010

NEW village laws introduced by a group of village heads in the Northern Division restrict people from wearing shoes, women growing long hair and wearing shorts and limit freedom of clothing and leisure activities.

The 200 villagers of Nukubalavu in Savusavu have to take off their shoes when entering the village boundary and walk barefoot to their homes. This rule also applies to visitors.

Health authorities, however, have expressed concern, saying walking barefoot could expose villagers to diseases such as leptospirosis. The Cakaudrove divisional health office in Savusavu said it would act to protect villagers from exposure to health risks.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Salanieta Saketa said the ministry would investigate before making a statement on the issue.

Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini was away in Taveuni but the provincial office said that laws decided by the villagers and their chiefs were entirely up to them and applicable only in the village boundary. On hairstyles and banishment of villagers for marijuana and homebrew breach, the office referred all queries to Ro Aca.

All women and children with long hair have cut and keep their hair short.

The decision of the village elders follows last year's Cakaudrove provincial council meeting where they were asked to protect the Fijian culture from modernisation.

Village headman Maciu Baleidaku confirmed that new rules have been put in place restricting villagers from certain freedoms of clothing and leisure activities.

Anyone caught with marijuana or drinking homebrew in the village boundary would be banished, he said.

He said Savusavu chief Tui Nasavusavu Ratu Suliano Naulu and tribal heads of the village have been engaged in meetings on the new law the past two weeks. Mr Baleidaku said the chiefs agreed to introduce the laws after the two-week meeting.

He said concerns were raised about how villagers and visitors continued to show a lack of respect for Fijian culture and traditions through disrespectful dressing and unnecessary loud noise in the villages.

Men who spend long hours drinking yaqona have been told cut down and spend time with their families.

The new laws, Mr Baleidaku said, would be put submitted to the police and the Cakaudrove provincial office in Savusavu.

Mr Baleidaku said village police officers had been chosen to make sure rules were followed. He said villagers had been informed and accepted the decision.

Discuss protocols, linguist urges

by Elenoa Baselala

Fiji Times - Monday, March 01, 2010

THE enforcing of traditional protocol or rules in rural villages should be discussed amicably, Fijian culture expert and linguist Doctor Paul Geraghty said.

He said most if not all villages had protocols which must be followed.

However, he agreed that using corporal punishment was not a good enforcement method.

"People must follow these protocols," he added.

"When I take visitors to rural villages, I explain the rules and protocols and they respect and follow them," Dr Geraghty said.

Meanwhile, Dr Geraghty has urged Fijians to take up the Fijian course at the University of the South Pacific to improve their command of the Bauan dialect, widely accepted as the "Fijian" language.

While the number of those taking this course has increased in recent years, Dr Geraghty has urged those in the media practising in the Fijian language to take up the course.

No shoe law ‘is new'

Monday, March 01, 2010

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My feet, my only carriage ... Dr Paul Geraghty in Suva yesterday

LINGUIST and Fijian expert Doctor Paul Geraghty says the "barefoot rule" being enforced in rural villages is new.

Dr Geraghty said Fijians in the pre-colonial era normally did not wear shoes.

However, the word "vava" or shoes does exist in the Fijian vocabulary. He said Fijians, or probably their children, wore shoes made of halved coconut shells, which he believes was probably for a particular game.

A man who walks barefoot himself, Dr Geraghty said it was nothing to do with wanting to be "Fijian".

"If I wanted to be a Fijian, I will wear shoes because all Fijians wear shoes," he said.

"I walk barefoot because I don't think shoes are of any use. It is only useful in cold countries. I don't wear shoes and I am a very healthy person, I hardly get sick," Dr Geraghty added.

No more cash payments for Fijian landowners

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, February 22, 2010

Lease payments to Fijian landowners will no longer be paid out in cash by the Native Lands Trust Board from the 1st of April.

General Manager, Alipate Qetaki, says the decision was put in place as a security measure to safeguard the money, NLTB staff and the landowners.

Speaking to FBC News Qetaki said the movement of large amounts of cash during lease money payouts in May and November every year has always been a concern for the Board.

The NLTB Board had shelved the decision for some time but decided to implement the policy at it’s last board meeting last year. Landowners are currently being paid in cash twice a year, in May and November, and Qetaki said it is becoming very dangerous to move the large amounts of cash, some of which amount to $20m at a time.

This he said, was the main reason the Board had decided to stop cash payments of lease money. Instead all landowners have been asked to open bank accounts where money can be deposited each time payments are made by the Board.

Qetaki said there is another advantage of paying money to Bank accounts and that is the Banks will have the history of each land owner’s credit standing which will assist them when they wish to borrow to start up a business or a development project.

Meanwhile Qetaki said landowners are starting to heed the Board’s encouragement to lease their own mataqali land to increase their income. A mataqali member has leased 22 acres of their land overlooking Suva Harbour to do a residential subdivision.

Village acts on dress

Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Monday, February 22, 2010

A BUA village plans to formulate strict dress rules, behaviour and hairstyles for the villagers as they prepare for their biggest development so far.

Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited is expected to commence mining hills near the village this year.

Nawailevu villagers won't be allowed to wear their hair in garish, radical or ultra-modern styles.

A meeting of the chiefs and development committee agreed bauxite mining, which is expected to get underway near the village this year, mustn't erode traditions and customs.

Committee member Josefa Rokoduna said they would learn from the lessons of other villagers where developments took place.

"We know that a price of development is the loss of tradition and customs and we are working hard so that doesn't happen to us," Mr Rokoduna said. "The chiefs have decided bauxite mining will take as little from our lives as possible.

"We will come up with a set of rules that villagers have to abide by including our visitors."

The rules to be formulated at a meeting next month will be sent to the provincial council and the police.

"Women must wear skirts and dresses and sulu-i-ra for traditional functions while the men must dress decently," Mr Rokoduna said.

Visitors won't be allowed to move around the village without the permission of the headman.

Keeping tradition alive

MANEESHA KARAN

Fiji Times - Thursday, February 18, 2010

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Kabara craftsman Taniela Gu working on the 'Drua' at their Valelevu home yesterday.

Inoke Galu, 39, has sent a message to his elders back home in Kabara that their traditional knowledge about craftsmanship are being successfully passed on to the younger generation.

To prove this, he has completed building a three-foot drua (double hulled canoe) which he started after his father's death.

It was two years back when Mr Galu and his father Jone Lupe had built their first three-foot drua which was exhibited during the Melanesian Art Festival in 2006.

"It took us three weeks to complete the drua. Then within the next three months after completing the first drua, we built three more each measuring 10 metres in length," Mr Galu said.

"I was inspired by my old man's craftsmanship and I challenged myself to build a canoe by myself to prove to my elders and my village that their knowledge was still being successfully passed on to the younger generation."

He started working on the drua six months ago.

"It is taking me long but my father's works inspire me to complete it. I am doing all the work by myself and I appreciate the help I receive from my uncle Taniela Gu."

Mr Galu said the survival of such skills was important to his Lemeki Clan in the village of Naikeleyaga in Kabara.

He used materials including mahogany from the land of some landowners in Valelevu, and coconut husk (magimagi) as the binding.

"I have not used any modern materials in the art because I wanted to use the traditional methods. I have also placed the traditional Fijian designs to decorate the canoe."

"I believe building such art helps retain the cultural backgrounds. These canoes will also suit many resorts which want to add an ancient traditional flavour or as souvenir to their assets," Mr Galu said.

He was also interested in selling his art and receiving contracts for traditional art.