While some iTaukei communities are ruing the loss of traditional knowledge and skills, International School Suva (ISS) is taking positive steps towards keeping them alive by teaching their students the art of tali ibe (mat weaving).
This newspaper caught up with ISS Creativity Activity and Service Program (CAS) co-ordinator Tanya Ulacake and a few students during their fifth week of working on a mat.
She said the mat would serve as a memento to the school on behalf of all Year 12 students, and would be gifted during the school’s 50th anniversary on July 22.
“One of our prized possessions as Fijians is the ibe (mat),” she said.
“So, we thought that if we could have our seniors learn the skills and make it for the school as a parting gift, that would be like mana for us.
“The students present here today are the ones who pioneered the project with the weaver, Venisita Misikuka Low-Chee.
“She came back after five rounds and was very surprised to see that the mat was almost completed.”
Ms Ulacake said the idea was driven by a desire to introduce indigenous culture into the school.
“We’ve done lovo plaiting of baskets for cooking and for cultural cooking dishes, but we’ve never gone into skill-based programs.
“For all our assemblies – welcome, farewell and sevusevu ceremonies – we often borrow mats.
“This mat will be used continuously, and the students will sort of brand it with their year level names to remember when they visit the school in the years to come.
“This is something they are proud to leave behind as seniors of the school. The mat that they are weaving is just one of their gifts. They will also be giving tokens and projects that they have done before to the school.”
She said one thing they instilled in their students was not to take the skills and keep it for themselves but to learn and become teachers.
