The permanent secretary of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Heritage, and Culture, Pita Tagicakirewa, emphasized the importance of women holding traditional and customary roles. He expressed these views during the inauguration of the Indigenous Women’s Forum at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday.
Tagicakirewa highlighted that moving forward, it is essential to integrate women into these roles. “Many believe that men are the only ones capable of performing these tasks, but we aim to change this perception. The ministry opposes this view. The vanua is beginning to evolve; at this year’s Great Council of Chiefs meeting, three women were in attendance,” he stated.
He noted that the ministry is actively visiting provinces to advocate for the inclusion of women in traditional positions, such as within a tokatoka, mataqali, and yavusa. “We urge for greater engagement and awareness about empowering and equipping more women,” he added, acknowledging the significant role women play in society.
In a related event, a two-day workshop on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) was held in Nadi, where discussions revealed that in some provinces, traditional customs reserve chiefly positions exclusively for men. GEDSI consultant Aliti Vunisea remarked on the apparent immutability of these customs.
Participants, including women from Ba Province, shared their experiences regarding gender equality and the obstacles they encounter in their communities. Many expressed that a patriarchal system persists, often diminishing their voices and concerns.
During the discussions on equal traditional leadership within the vanua, Vunisea pointed to prominent women leaders such as Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa and the late Marama na Tui Ba, Adi Laite Koroirua as examples of leadership. However, Taraivosa Uluikavoro, a representative from Vanua o Vitogo, asserted that traditional protocols disallow women from becoming Tui Vitogo. “Following our chiefly line, even if elder sisters are alive, the title is passed on to their younger brother or the next generation of men,” she explained.
Vunisea indicated that this scenario of women being excluded from traditional chief roles is prevalent in multiple provinces. The workshop participants were trained in utilizing Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, which empower them to engage fully in their community development endeavors.