Ni Sa Bula Vinaka!
This week is a time for all Fijian people in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the globe to celebrate "Noqu Vosa, Noqu iSema Bula" — "My language is my living link".
As indigenous people, our heritage and the foundation where we come from is important to Fijians. When I think of migration, I think about my own family who, like so many families, migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand and in many respects, we still feel like we are migrating and on a life long journey. Our Vuvale (Family), Vanua (Land) and Ocean (Wasawasa) connect who we are.
Fiji Language Week provides an opportunity to learn, speak and celebrate the various indigenous dialects of Fiji through traditional cultural experience of our way of life. At Auckland Museum, you will be introduced to Fiji collections of kau, masi, tabua, tanoa, and give you an insight to our ways of thinking, beliefs and traditional cultural practices.
In Fiji we say "Noqu Kalou, Noqu Vanua", which means "My God, My Land". As Fijians we acknowledge that God is the source of everything in our lives. Vanua (Land) is God's gift to us to look after, respect and protect all things given respectfully from the depths of the ocean to the highest mountains, it is our duty to safeguard for all future generations.
Lako mai on a journey with us, and discover our Viti a land full of beautiful people and a vibrant culture!
Vinaka vakalevu.
Annah Pickering