The permanent secretary of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Heritage, and Culture, Pita Tagicakirewa, has underscored the importance of women taking on traditional and customary roles within society. He spoke at the Indigenous Women’s Forum held at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday.
Tagicakirewa emphasized that the ministry is committed to increasing women’s involvement in traditional structures moving forward. He asserted, “Many believe that only men can fulfill these roles, but we want to change that perspective. The ministry does not support that view. The vanua is beginning to evolve, as illustrated by the presence of three women at this year’s Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting.”
He shared that they are actively engaging with provinces to highlight the significance of having women within traditional groups such as tokatoka, mataqali, and yavusa. He called for greater engagement and awareness about empowering and resourcing women in these capacities.
In another development, during a two-day Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) training session in Nadi, it was noted that in some provinces, traditional protocols still dictate that chiefly positions are exclusively reserved for men. GEDSI consultant Aliti Vunisea remarked that these customs are deeply entrenched.
Female representatives from Ba Province participated in the discussions, sharing their experiences and expressing the ongoing challenges posed by a patriarchal system that frequently overlooks their voices and concerns. Highlighting this issue, participants pointed out that traditional protocols often hinder women from attaining leadership roles.
During the talks on traditional leadership equality, Vunisea acknowledged the contributions of prominent women leaders like Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa and the late Marama na Tui Ba, Adi Laite Koroirua. However, Taraivosa Uluikavoro from the Vanua o Vitogo explained that their traditional rules prevent women from assuming the position of Tui Vitogo, stating that the title goes to male relatives, regardless of the presence of eligible female candidates.
The training session equipped the women representatives with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, designed to enhance their role in community development. PRA is an approach that empowers community members to actively participate in their development initiatives.