The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Heritage, and Culture, Pita Tagicakirewa, emphasized the importance of women occupying traditional and customary roles. He made this statement while inaugurating the Indigenous Women’s Forum at the Suva Civic Centre on Tuesday.
Tagicakirewa stressed the need for greater inclusion of women in traditional positions, moving forward. He challenged the prevailing perception that only men can fulfill these roles, stating, “The ministry does not share that perspective. The vanua has started to open up,” referencing the presence of three women at this year’s Great Council of Chiefs meeting.
The ministry is actively engaging with provincial communities to highlight the significance of women’s participation within traditional structures such as tokatoka, mataqali, and yavusa. Tagicakirewa called for increased efforts to empower and support women in these areas, asserting the critical value of women’s contributions to society.
In a related event, a two-day training session on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) took place in Nadi. It was observed that some provinces still adhere to traditional protocols that restrict chiefly positions to men. GEDSI consultant Aliti Vunisea commented that such practices are unlikely to change.
Women representatives from Ba Province participated in the training, sharing their experiences and the challenges imposed by a patriarchal system that often suppresses their voices. Vunisea highlighted influential women leaders such as Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa and the late Adi Laite Koroirua, noting their struggles against the prevailing exclusion of women from traditional leadership roles.
Taraivosa Uluikavoro, a delegate from Vanua o Vitogo, explained that traditional protocols prevent women from ascending to the position of Tui Vitogo. She stated that even if elder sisters are alive, the role will revert to their younger brothers or the next male generation.
Vunisea added that this exclusion is a common issue across various provinces. During the training, the women were taught to utilize Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, which will empower them to engage fully in their community development efforts.