Journalist to Share Ideas for Transitioning Indigenous Knowledge

The role of the media in transitioning traditional knowledge to the future will feature in discussions organised by the Fiji Council of Social Services to commemorate International Day of the World’s Indigenous People tomorrow.

FCOSS executive director, Vani Catanasiga said the Lami Kitaka: An International Day of the World’s Indigenous People 2018 Talanoa will feature journalist, Sikeli Qounadovu speaking on Innovation and Media technology as potential tools for relaying traditional wisdom and knowledge.

“International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated annually on August 9th and this year’s theme is Indigenous peoples’ migration and movement. However FCOSS next generation leadership think tank opted to zero in on how traditional knowledge is passed on to their generation so our theme for the Lami Kitaka event is Transitioning Traditional Knowledge to the Future,” Catanasiga said.

She said hearing the perspective of a mainstream journalist who has established a reputation for gathering and retelling historical and traditional stories of indigenous communities through non traditional means could encourage indigenous communities to be innovative.

“This event hopes to bring together young people, elders in the Lami areas as well as CSO practitioners to engage in an intergenerational knowledge exchange on relationality and its role in transitioning traditional knowledge to the future, innovation and media technology as potential tools for relaying traditional wisdom and knowledge and faith and traditional wisdom: Synergies for the Future.”

“We are also including an aspect on the importance of human rights approach in strengthening traditional governance systems and in transitioning traditional knowledge to the future which the Citizen’s Constitutional Forum will speak to at the event.”

Catanasiga said these will serve as a general guide on the conversations and create a foundation for future community development collaborations in Lami.

“We have an inter generational line up of speakers; including former President of the Catholic Women’s League, Susana Evening, FCOSS NGL recipient, Josaia Tokoni, elders from the vanua of Suva have also been invited and youth groups from the surrounding Lami areas.”

The event will take place at the Lami Parish hall tomorrow from 5.30pm to 8pm and is open to the public.

ENDS