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 made these remarks during the opening of the Indigenous Women’s Forum at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday.
Tagicakirewa stated that the ministry is committed to ensuring women’s inclusion in various customary positions. He addressed the misconception that only men can fulfil these roles, expressing a desire to change this perspective. He noted that there has been progress in this area, indicating that women participated in this year’s Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting.
The ministry is actively visiting provinces to promote the significance of including women in traditional structures such as tokatoka, mataqali, and yavusa. Tagicakirewa called for increased engagement and awareness to empower and support women in these roles, recognizing their value in society.
In a related development, a two-day Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) workshop in Nadi highlighted the traditional protocols that restrict chiefly positions to men in certain provinces. GEDSI consultant Aliti Vunisea noted that these traditions are unlikely to change.
Women from Ba Province shared their experiences during the workshop, discussing the persistent patriarchal system that often silences their voices. They referenced prominent women leaders like Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa and the late Marama na Tui Ba, Adi Laite Koroirua, while also acknowledging that traditional rules prevent women from obtaining certain chief titles, such as Tui Vitogo.
Vunisea highlighted that this exclusion is a common issue across various provinces. The women participating in the workshop received training on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, which will empower them to engage fully in their community development activities.