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An Indigenous Academic Perspective to Preserving and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions: A Fiji Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2016

Wahab Ali
Wahab Ali*
Affiliation:
School of Education, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Queens Rd, Lautoka, Fiji
*
address for correspondence: Wahab Ali, School of Education, The University of Fiji, Saweni, Queens Rd, Lautoka, Fiji. Email: WahabA@unifiji.ac.fj
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Abstract

Indigenous knowledge is multidimensional encompassing the beliefs, practices, arts, spirituality and other forms of traditional and cultural experiences that belong to Indigenous communities globally. In order to protect, preserve and recognize the knowledge of the Indigenous people of Fiji, known as the iTaukei, the University of Fiji has established a Centre for iTaukei Studies. The Centre apart from its cultural dimension has adopted the western system of disseminating knowledge through publications, text books and teacher education programmes. While maintaining the importance of preserving the originality of the Indigenous cultural identity and practices, the paper highlights how the infusion of the cultures of the Indigenous people and that of the Indo-Fijians, who have co-existed together for over 100 years, has shaped the unique multicultural landscape in Fiji.

Keywords

IndigenousiTaukeicultural identitymulticulturalismtradition
Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , August 2017 , pp. 80 - 91
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

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