Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:04:52.988Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access

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
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ali, W. (2004). Challenges in multi-class teaching: Case study in a Fiji school. Unpublished Master's thesis. University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.Google Scholar
Aseron, J., Wilde, S., Miller, A., & Kelly, S. (2013). Indigenous student participation in higher education: Emergent themes and linkages. Contemporary Issues in Education Research (Online), 6 (4), 417.Google Scholar
Bandias, S., Fuller, D., & Larkin, S. (2014). Indigenous students in the tertiary education sector. Journal of International Education Research, 10 (3), 179.Google Scholar
Battiste, M., & Henderson, J.Y. (2009). Naturalizing Indigenous knowledge in Eurocentric education. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 32 (1), 5–18.Google Scholar
Creswell, J.W., & Clark, V.L.P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. London, UK: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
De France, M.d.C.R. (2013). Indigenous/Aboriginal pedagogies restored: Courses and programs in the faculty of education at the University of Victoria. International Education, 43 (1), 85–100.Google Scholar
Doval, E., & Doval, O. (2009). Employer satisfaction regarding the higher education quality: Spiru Haret University case study. Paper presented at the Internationalisation and the Role of University Networks Emuni Conference on Higher Education and Research, Portorož, Slovenia. Retrieved from http://www.emuni.si/en/strani/29/EMUNI Google Scholar
Doxtater, M.G. (2004). Indigenous Knowledge in the Decolonial era. American Indian Quarterly, 28 (3/4), 618–633.Google Scholar
Farrelly, T., & Nabobo-Baba, U. (2014). Talanoa as empathic apprenticeship. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 55 (3), 319–330.Google Scholar
Fraenkel, J.R., & Wallen, N.E. (2006). How to design and evaluate research in education (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Gamage, S. (2001). Indigenous people's and protected areas in South and Southeast Asia: From principles to practice. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 31 (4), 562–565.Google Scholar
Gravelle, K. (2000). Fiji's heritage: A history of Fiji. Nadi, Fiji: Tiara Enterprises.Google Scholar
Greenwood, M., & Leeuw, S.d. (2007). Teachings from the land: Indigenous people, our health, our land, and our children. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 30 (1), 48–53.Google Scholar
Halapua, S. (2002). Tanoa Process: The Case of Fiji. From http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan022610.pdf.Google Scholar
Hill, J.C., & Arlene Holland, S. (2002). Editorial: Indigenous education: Ways of knowing, thinking, and doing. McGill Journal of Education, 37 (3), 281.Google Scholar
Lincoln, Y.S., & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Maslen, G. (1999). Australia inaugurates its first university for Indigenous people. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 45 (47), 1.Google Scholar
McGregor, L. (2003). Analysis: A long way from home: Indigenous people the world over were evicted from their land in the name of tourism and conservation. The battle for restitution goes on. The Guardian, pp. 27–21.27. From http://ezproxy.unifiji.ac.fj:2072/docview/246041967?accountid=17235.Google Scholar
Mehta, K., Alter, T.R., Semali, L.M., & Maretzki, A. (2013). AcademIK Connections: Bringing Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives into the classroom. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 6 (2), 83–91.Google Scholar
Minichiello, V., Aroni, R., & Hays, T. (2008). In-depth interviewing (3rd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Pearson Education Australia.Google Scholar
Ministry of Information. (2006/7). Fiji today. Suva, Fiji: Government Printery.Google Scholar
Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. (2011). Annual corporate plan. Suva, Fiji: Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.Google Scholar
Otunuku, M.a. (2011). Talanoa: How can it be used effectively as an indigenous research methodology with Tongan people? Pacific-Asian Education: The Journal of the Pacific Circle Consortium for Education, 23 (2), 43–52.Google Scholar
Reinharz, S. (1992). Feminist methods in social research. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Rhodes, S.D., Bowie, D.A., & Hergenrather, K.C. (2003). Collecting behavioural data using the World Wide Web: Considerations for researchers. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 57 (1), 68–73.Google Scholar
Rose, K., & Webb, C. (1998). Analyzing data: Maintaining rigor in a qualitative study. Qualitative Health Research, 8 (4), 556–562.Google Scholar
Sayed-Khaiyum, A. (2014). FijiFirst our manifesto. Suva, Fiji: Quality Print Limited.Google Scholar
Sharma, A.N. (2000). Vocational educational and training in Fiji. New Delhi, India: Anamika Publications.Google Scholar
Sillitoe, P. (1998). The development of indigenous knowledge: A new applied anthropology. Current Anthropology, 39 (2), 223–252.Google Scholar
Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Inc.Google Scholar
The University of Fiji. (2014). Calendar 2014. Lautoka, Fiji: The University of Fiji.Google Scholar
Tien, W.Y.M., & David, M.K. (2011). Inter-ethnic tolerance and cross-cultural communication: Its relationship and importance in a multicultural society. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 4 (17), 345–357.Google Scholar
Tsey, K., McCalman, J., Bainbridge, R., & Brown, C. (2012). Improving Indigenous community governance through strengthening Indigenous and government organisational capacity. Retrieved Resource sheet no. 10 produced for the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse, from http://www.aihw.gov.au/uploadedFiles/ClosingTheGap/Content/Publications/2012/ctgc-rs10.pdf Google Scholar
Uluinakauvadra, j. (2011). Historical Background of the Centre for iTaukei Studies. Lautoka: The University of Fiji.Google Scholar
United Nations. (2008). United Nations declaration on rights of Indigenous people. New York, NY: United Nations.Google Scholar
Vaioleti, T.M. (2006). Talanoa Research Methodology: A developing position on pacific research. Waikato Journal of Education, 12, 21–34.Google Scholar
Ward, M.K. (2011). Teaching indigenous American culture and history: Perpetuating knowledge or furthering intellectual colonization? Journal of Social Sciences, 7 (2), 104–112.Google Scholar
Wilson, S. (2008). Research is ceremony: Indigenous research methods. Nova Scotia, Canada: Halifax.Google Scholar
Wright, F. (2000). The art and craft story: The survey of 39 Aboriginal community art centres in remote Australia, summary and recommendations (Vol. 2). Canberra, Australia: ATSIC.Google Scholar
Yin, R.K. (2003). Case study research: Designs and methods (3rd ed.). New Delhi, India: SAGE Publications Inc.Google Scholar