You can take a Fijian out of Fiji but you can’t take Fiji out of a Fijian.
The adage runs true for a group of Fijians who now call Canada their home but are still very much connected to their culture and heritage.
President of iTaukei Cultural Society BC Sitiveni Delai says one of the core values of the society is to promote, preserve and enhance the iTaukei culture and heritage for iTaukei indigenous Fijians while educating, mentoring and supporting members of the Fijian community within British Columbia.
Mr Delai said the society – based in Surrey, British Columbia – started with six couples and was formally registered on September 10, 2022.
He said the society was tasked to receive Fijian officials and delegations when in Canada on official visits, including the Fiji 7s team that competes at the Vancouver 7s annually.
He added they had initiated this group with the iTaukei community because they had not had a group that had started there before – this is the first group of Fijians of iTaukei descent and described them as history makers to start off a society as such in British Columbia.
“The group has established a very good connection and relation with the indigenous people of Canada known as the ‘First Nations’,” Mr Delai said in an interview in Langley, Canada, earlier this month.
Financially, Mr Delai said once an indigenous group was being registered in Canada, there was grant from the government that would be given to the society to assist them to carry out cultural protocols and activities.
“This group is mainly for iTaukei but our hearts are open to other cultures. We’ll get them involved if there is a function.”
Mr Delai also acknowledged the senior leadership of Reverend Netani Gucake and his wife Diana Kamali Gucake.
