Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
National Initiatives
Many of the Pacific nations have well-established national bodies tasked with
conserving cultural heritage. For example, in Fiji there are three flagship organi-
zations: the National Trust of Fiji, the National Museum and the Fiji Arts Council.
In particular, two departments of the Fiji Museum are involved in the recording of
oral tradition: the Archaeology Department and the Collections Department
(Buadromo and Ramos
2001
). The Fiji Arts Council is also relevant as its work
involves preserving traditional knowledge and facilitating cultural tourism. In Vanuatu,
the National Cultural Council has responsibility for the preservation, protection and
development of cultural heritage. This work is carried out by the Vanuatu Cultural
Centre, which was one of the first to be established in the region and today has four
Units: National Library, National Film and Sound Unit, National Museum, and the
Cultural and Historic Sites Survey. In Samoa, the Ministry of Education, Sports and
Culture has primary responsibility for heritage issues, including the management of
the Samoa Museum and National Archives.
Many countries in the region have established heritage mapping programs. In
Vanuatu the Oral Traditions Collections Project commenced in 1976 and this led to
the Fieldworkers Program, whereby fieldworkers are chosen from the local com-
munity, trained, and provided with recording equipment and then take oral histories
and make dictionaries and genealogies (Kartal
2001
). Fiji also has a cultural map-
ping program which commenced in 2004. In Fiji, the fieldworker model was not
considered appropriate and so the staff of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs -
Institute of Fijian Language and Culture collect information, following the tradi-
tional protocols for seeking permission. Six mappers (three men and three women)
are involved and have recorded cultural heritage in nearly 400 villages,
8
completing
mapping of five of the 14 provinces.
9
There are also many examples of specific programs aimed at revitalizing tradi-
tional arts and crafts. These range from workshops to revitalise the use of tradi-
tional pottery glazes in Fiji, to established programs for the revival of traditional
fine mat weaving in Samoa. Education plays a critical role in maintaining cultural
diversity. In the post-colonial Pacific, the majority of countries adopted a British or
Australian school curriculum. However, more recently greater local culture has
been incorporated. For example, in most countries vernacular languages are now
taught in school. Vanuatu has gone further: through a UNESCO-LINKS
10
program,
and with the involvement of local communities, teachers, resource managers and
culture specialists, is seeking to re-introduce traditional ecological knowledge and
resource management into the school science curricula.
11
8
Personal Communication Adi Meretui Ratunabuabua, Department of Culture and Heritage, Fiji,
24 May 2010.
9
Personal Communication Setoki Qalubau, Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Fiji, 26 May 2010.
10
Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in a Global Society.
11
http://www.vanuatuculture.org/site-bm2/projects/050627_links.shtml
.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search