Te Mana O Te Moana

On our second day of work, the Fiji Arts Council interns attended a Mataisau Talanoa at University of the South Pacific. Mataisau means ‘chief’s carpenter’ in Fijian, these men are responsible for ship and canoe building. A talanoa 'is a cross-cultural process of storytelling derived from Pacific islands traditions.' The session was organised by the Fijian Voyaging Society, which consists of Fijian sailors leading the revival of traditional ship an canoe building.

The Society is part of a great revival of Oceanic traditional shipbuilding. They recently crewed one of 7 ships that emulated a journey the first Pacific Islanders, their ancestors, would have taken – a 22,000 mile sail from New Zealand to Tahiti. This was all done in semi-traditional ships designed by a Cook Islander. Here is the trailer for a film that will be released about the journey.

 

After this experience, the Fijian Voyaging Society were inspired to connect further with their Fiji itself. In the past, the country was famous for its huge double-hulled canoes that could easily hold 150 men. They were extremely durable and fast, in fact, Captain Cook said he felt like he was anchored when confronted with the speed of the Fijian double-hulled canoes. However, unfrotunately this practice is (literally) dying out, a drua (the ship) has not been built for over a hundred years. Many Mataisaus getting old are are not passing on their traditional canoe and ship building knowledge to younger Fijians.

The Fijian Voyaging Society aims to build and sail a drua.  

Model of a drua from the Fijian Arts Council

However, as none of the society have the skills to do this, they have begun to undertake reseach projects all over Fiji with Mataisaus to preserve and use these skills. The event we were at collected Mataisaus from the area of Lau, previously famous for its shipbuilding, to chat and share with the Voyaging Society. It was an honour to be at the meeting as it was the first of its kind - very productive with hopefully many more to come!

We were involved as the Fijian Arts Council runs two highly related UNESCO programmes: 'Education for Sustainable Development' and 'Living Human Treasures.' The session and the work of the Fijian Voyaging Society is really important for sustainble development as it provides an efficient alternative to ships powered by fossil fuels. This is an issue crucial in Oceania, where sailing is a day-to-day reality for many. For example, one of my Fijian friends took a boat to her Primary school everyday. The voyaging society are encouraging the Mataisaus to build more canoes and pass on their knowledge. Similarly, through their own plan, they are educating younger Fijians and people all over the world about environmental issues facing Oceania.

A Mataisau and potential living human treasure drinking Kava

The 'Living Human Treasures' project aims to preserve intangible cultural heritage - Defined by UNESCO as 'the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.' For example, traditional craftmanship, dance or theatre. The knowledge of the Mataisaus needs to be safeguarded in order to be transmitted on. 

What struck me the most was how these issues were all so interconnected and interdependent - the Mataisau's knowledge needs to be gathered to perserve it before it is lost, enabling younger Fijians to be more in touch with their culture and past. This simultaneously provides a much-needed sustainable means of transport for the region. The journey the Fijian crew undertook with other Pacific Voyaging Societies was named 'Te Mana O Te Moana,' meaning Spirit of the Sea. The work that the Fijian Voyaging Society truly embodies this slogan, preserving traditional culture and the environment that is so important in Oceania.

Credit for the definition I used for Talanoa: (http://www.buildingglobaldemocracy.org/content/pacific). Also, thank you Selai Yabaki, my boss for the photos from the session.