A film revisiting the removal of about 80 percent of Nukulaelae's population for forced labour in 1863, has left some audience members in Tuvalu shocked and in tears.
The Stolen Laevans of Tuvalu: The Peruvian Slavery Nightmare was co-produced by the University of Fiji and the Kaupule of Nukulaelae and premiered during the Fakaapo-Tuvalu Arts Festival earlier this week.
The film revisits the blackbirding of Nukulaelae, when people were taken by slave vessels and forced to work in guano mines and plantations in Peru.
University of Fiji Head of Corporate Services Seve Paeniu says the premiere attracted a large audience, with some people visibly shaken by what their ancestors had endured.
Paeniu says the film has strongly connected with Tuvaluans and will help ensure their ancestors and their experiences are not forgotten.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo says the film is a powerful reminder of the injustices suffered by the people of Nukulaelae.
Teo says some form of reparation or compensation could be considered, and his government is ready to support efforts to promote the messages highlighted in the film.
The documentary also focuses on the resilience of later generations and draws a connection between the history of displacement and challenges facing Tuvalu today, including climate change, rising sea levels and the possibility of communities being displaced.
University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem says the documentary was developed through the University's Journalism and Media Studies Documentary course after lecturers learnt about the history of the slave trade in Tuvalu.
She says lecturers and students carried out further research before developing the story into a documentary for an international audience.
The film will have its Fiji premiere in September before being taken to international film festivals.
The University says the project aims to preserve an important part of Tuvalu and Pacific history, ensure the experiences of those affected are not forgotten, and encourage wider discussions about blackbirding and restorative justice.
