My culture is my identity- Adi Ratunabuabua

My Culture is my identity and personality, it gives me spiritual, intellectual and emotional distinction from others.

This was highlighted by the President of Blue Shield Pasifika, Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua-Divialagi when asked by fijivillage News to comment on the overall remarks from the Vakatabu conference.

Adi Ratunabuabua says during her terms of work at FIT they tried to revive the knowledge and skills of the living human treasures, which the people in the community who does woodcarvers, mat weavers, etc that have that knowledge.

She says they tried to instil these pieces of the document into the curriculum but it did not become successful.

She further says her main aim is to revive the language and culture of the indigenous.

She reminds parents to make use of their time to teach their children about language and culture because the transmission of traditional knowledge from elders to youth plays a vital role in the communities

Meanwhile, a representative from the district of Nasau in Ra, Meli Tokalau says, the ‘mana’ and taboo in their district that has been inherited by their forefathers still exist today.

Tokalau says when we respect the land and sea we have a surplus of food supply in our communities, if we pollute the land and sea people search and hunt for food to survive.

He adds if we protect our nature, nature will provide for our needs.