Rotumans look to revive endangered culture

Transcript

The Fiji Rotuman Association is hoping the government can aid them in efforts to save a culture which is on the UN Endangered list.

Association president Pasirio Furivai says the culture has been listed as vulnerable for a few years but there is a real danger it could be moved to critically endangered.,

Mr Furivai told Koro Vaka'uta although there are 15,000 Rotumans living around the world, less than a third can speak their language.

PARISO FURIVAI: Earlier on in the early 70s population on the island of Rotuman was around 3000. Just a week ago, when we had the celebration on the island, there was only 2000 people. And this is where the culture is practiced, as in everyday practice. For us, outside the island, who are in Suva and other parts of the world, where many people do not participate in cultural activities, and many families do not even speak in Rotuman. And so that is a reason why I would say eventually we realise that not many people speak the language and not many people know about their culture and the Rotuman custom.

KORO VAKA'UTA: How can you help to revive the Rotuman language, tradition and culture?

PF: There has been efforts by the Fiji government trying to put that into our school curriculum but there's not enough. In Fiji's situation for example not all the Rotuman children go to one school. And where there are a number of Rotuman children in a school there may not be a Rotuman teacher available.  So that itself is a move to helping revive the culture but that is not enough. The Fiji Rotuman Association, we've realised that it's very important that the organisation make a move to revive it. So we have been annually holding a cultural day where we participate in our traditional dances as well as showcasing our artefacts and also our men to demonstrate, where they have a competition on that day. All these activities are a way to help our younger generations learn from our elders some of this very important culture.

KV: You mentioned you've worked closely with the Fiji government. Is there anything they can do more, or any additional work that could be done to assist?

PF: I would love to see an establishment of a cultural centre where the community could come together and learn from our elders, the skills, listen to the stories, learn the skills of for example weaving and the art of cultivation. There are many things that could be done if there is a cultural centre established. The bigger population is in Suva around 18,000. Only about one third of that number can speak the language and therefore less would be able to claim to be familiar with the culture.