The crew and partners of the Uto Ni Yalo voyaging canoe have gathered in Suva this week to shape what organisers are calling the Voyage of Hope (Soko Ni Nuinui) — a 2026 expedition that will double as a floating classroom for traditional Pacific voyaging and ocean stewardship.
During an orientation meeting, Reverend James Bhagwan of the Uto Ni Yalo Trust reminded participants that the canoe, affectionately known as “Mama Uto,” carries spiritual as well as cultural meaning. “Mama Uto calls her crew,” Bhagwan told those present, urging them to see the voyage as a responsibility rather than a recreational trip. “If you sail on board, you are crew. You will sail as your ancestors did.”
Organisers say the Soko Ni Nuinui expedition is intended to be a lived expression of the Trust’s long-standing vision: to pass on ancestral navigation and voyaging skills, promote ocean care, and model low-carbon sea transport. The floating classroom concept will see the Uto Ni Yalo used not just to cross water, but to teach local communities and young people about traditional wayfinding, ecological stewardship and sustainable travel across island seas.
The planning talks in Suva this week are focused on practical route decisions and community engagement. Representatives from partner organisations and prospective crew members are expected to confirm which islands and communities the canoe will call at as part of its outreach programme. Bhagwan said the discussions will determine specific destinations for teaching and cultural exchange, and he urged those assembled to commit fully to the work: “Some of us train, plan, and prepare, and then at the last minute, we are not able to go. So, the spirit is calling you to be part of this.”
Bhagwan framed the voyage in spiritual and historical terms, noting the canoe’s role in carrying more than passengers. “Our vision is to live in tune with nature and celebrate life-centered values rooted in the traditional wisdom of our ocean culture,” he said, and pointed out that the gospel and many cultural foundations in the Pacific spread by canoe, “not by internet or car. So, you trace also the paths of your ecclesial ancestors.”
While organisers acknowledge the joys of voyaging, Bhagwan warned that Soko Ni Nuinui is not a leisure cruise. The Trust is emphasising discipline, learning and communal responsibility aboard Mama Uto — an approach intended to reconnect participants with the skills and rhythms of earlier generations while foregrounding contemporary concerns about conservation and climate vulnerability.
The Uto Ni Yalo Trust has in recent years promoted traditional voyaging as a means of cultural revival and environmental advocacy across the Pacific. The announcement of the Voyage of Hope now sets a timetable for next year’s public engagement and training activities, with the Suva planning sessions this week expected to finalise the expedition’s itinerary and community stops. Organisers say further updates about partners, dates and ports of call will be released after the talks conclude.
Leave a comment