Rotumans look to revive endangered culture

SUVA – 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 Polynesian culture – existing within the borders of Melansesian Fiji – has been listed as vulnerable for a few years but there is a real danger it could be moved to critically endangered.

Furivai told Radio New Zealand’s Dateline Pacific that although there are 18,000 Rotumans living around the world, less than a third can speak their traditional language.

“In the early 1970s the 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.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: How can you help to revive the Rotuman language, tradition and culture?

“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.

“The Fiji Rotuman Association, we’ve realised that it’s very important that the organisation make a move to revive it,the language. 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.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: 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?

“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 was 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.”

Rotuma is a volcanic island of approximately 43 square kilometres approximately 465 kilometres due north of Fiji’s main islands.

Although the island has been politically part of Fiji since 1881, Rotuman culture more closely resembles that of the Polynesian islands to the east, most noticeably Tonga, Samoa, Futuna and Uvea.

Because of their Polynesian appearance and distinctive language, Rotumans now constitute a recognisable minority group within the Republic of Fiji.