TOO often indigenous resources are often exported and exploited leaving crumbs to resource owners, says Great Council of Chiefs chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula.
In opening the inaugural Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Conference in Nadi on Monday afternoon, Ratu Viliame said the GCC was working towards changing this.
“Across our islands, beneath our soil and within our waters live resources that have sustained our people for generations yet too often these treasures are extracted, exported and exploited while we receive cents on the kilowatts or crumbs from the table,” Ratu Viliame said.
“This has to be changed and the GCC has taken the lead through the 2025 Statement of Strategic Intent to lay out plans for the way forward.
“It is designed to ensure that while other minority groups are encouraged to flourish amongst us, we the custodians of majority of land shall rise above subsistence economies to new levels of economic prosperity through the utilisation of our own resources on a much more reasonable term.”
Ratu Viliame said contracts signed between businesses and resource owners must also reflect this.
“We must renegotiate the terms of our treaties and contracts.
“Large corporations must learn our values of veinanumi, considerations, veirairaici, mutual concern.
“These are not just cultural experiences they are ethical standards.”
The GCC chair also highlighted the Council’s pilot program – the Diploma in Vanua Leadership program with the Fiji National University.
“This is the brainchild of the FNU and the GCC designed to better prepare our chiefs of Fiji for the future. To lead our people in their respective vanua.
“We are confident that it will reap the results that we look forward to.”
