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Establishment
The Institute was established as the iTaukei Dictionary
Project funded by Mr Raymond Bur and the American Fiji Foundation
in 1974. The Government later funded the project and in 1986,
the Great Council of Chiefs, with cabinets' endorsement renamed
the iTaukei Dictionary Project as the iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture.
Aim
TO CARRY OUT THE AIMS,
THE WORK PROGRAMME OF THE INSTITUTE IS DIVIDED UP AS FOLLOWS:
Research
The Institute undertakes research, both in archives and in
the field. The range of topics covered is enormous, including
traditional religious beliefs, knowledge of the environment,
natural history, social structure, kinship; music, dance.
ad games; traditional technologies such as agriculture, fishing,
house building, pottery, canoe construction, and sailing,
bark-cloth manufacuture, and oral traditions, including fables,
legends, and historical accounts.
Broadcasting
Currently, the major media through which the results of this
research are disseminated are the popular half hour weekly
radio programme Na Noda Vosa on Radio Fiji One. It provides
its audience with thirty minutes of carried Traditional calendar,
historical events, customs, natural History, herbal medicine,
handicrafts, legends and languages of Fiji.
Video
shooting
Another important research activity undertaken by the Institute
inculates the filming or video shooting of iTaukei
ceremonies associated with the installation of chiefs, solemnity
and funeral proceedings of the death of a chief, presentation
of the first born and other customary rituals. Sometimes,
the Institute is not fully aware of occurences and instances
as such, thus the general public is advised to inform the
Institute prior to any traditional undertakings.
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Publication
The Institute has been preparing to initiate a publication
programme, and a large number of works are in the final stages
of editing, including books on legends, local history, traditonal
medicine, translation techniques, and translations from English
to valuable historical material. These will be available for
purchase once published and will be publicised online.
Facilitation
The Institute plays an important role as a resource center
for local and overseas researcher. The Institute's services
are used by government departments, private organizations,
and researchers at all levels, ranging from primary school
children to representatives of the vanua to university professors.
The Institute has played an important role in the production
of a number of documentary and promotional films, most notable
the BBC Natural History Units "Nomads of the Wind"
series on the history of man and the environment in the Pacific,
which has been enjoyed by millions in Britain, Europe, and
North America. It constantly liaises with local broadcasters
and publishers in improving translation and coining new words
that are needed for the Indigenous Fijian language to function
in today's world. It has also been involved with the University
of the South Pacific in developing courses in iTaukei
language studies.
The Institute is also
committed to demonstrating that iTaukei language
and culture are compatible with the modern world, through
observance of traditional customs of respect within the office.
As far as practicable, all communications, oral written, is
in the iTaukei language.
Invitations
The Institute also attends to invitations and requests received
from church institutions, schools and the general public for
lectures pertaining to iTaukei language and culture.
However, requests or invitation received are first assessed
to ascertain if it is aligned to the objective and role of
the Institute, and the geographical proximity of the lecture
venue.
Cultural
Mapping [Field Visits]
The Cultural Mapping Programme for the 14 provinces of Fiji
begun in 2004. The main objectve of this intiative is to collect
and document aspects of iTaukei culture such as
ceremonies, dialects, and heritage sites which stories are
well and alive in local villages. With the continual loss
of one's fervent grasp of the local cultural ideals and value,
a team of reserachers is tasked with the important responsibility
of documentation, editing and input of information into a
database for future generations. The programme forsees the
timely research of all the various vanua around Fiji before
knowledgable elders pass away.
Legislation
for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and expression
of culture
Cabinet endorsed in 2003 that Ministry of iTaukei Affairs
be mandated to draft a legislation specifically to protect
traditional knowledge and expressions that are manifested
through local customs and traditions of Indigenous Fijians.
The initiative emanated from increasing concerns regarding
the misuse, misinterpretation and misappropriation of aspects
of iTaukei culture without due acknowledgement according
to the custodians. The draft law is termed "Legislation
on Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights" and will
assist in the protection against exploitation of traditional
knowledge and expression of culture abundant in local settings.
Currently, the iTaukei Institute of Language & Culture
is working closely with the Department of Culture and the
Attorney General's Office in the drafting of the legislation.
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