5. Participant Profiles

Societal Change

That younger generations were less inclined to take up farming and continue traditional practices was a concern to several participants (21%). Some attributed this change to the effects of modernisation and were worried about the impact it may have on their community in the future. Educating young people in the importance of the island and traditional practices was identified by participants as a means of addressing this concern.

‘We are afraid that… because time is changing very fast and even some of the young people … you can see their attitude, behaviour is changing. This village and some of the others, we always talk about that. Getting people to follow the right track and also we’ve gotten some of our ministers to work with the village in guiding them the word of God so that, you know, you must keep on track with everything that we’ve passed down’.

Figure 17 Boys playing on a bridge to Koroua Island with research assistant Damian Seery.

SIGATOKA VILLAGE

Ruci left Sigatoka Village in 1996 but regularly returns to the area to visit her family. Ruci loves Koroua Isalnd as it is a part of the area where she was born and grew up. Her family grew crops on two farms on Koroua Island but recently moved their farm to land off the island when the soil became too sandy. This led to a reduction in the size and number of crops harvested from their farms resulting in loss of earnings for her family. Ruci attributed this change to the recent dredging of the Sigatoka River as sand that was pulled from the river was then dumped on farmland. When asked if any other areas of Koroua Island were special to her, Ruci marked a section of riverbank on the Sigatoka river where she and her family fish together. She explained that that particular spot is good as there is a drop-off where bigger fish can be found. Ruci was very concerned about the changes she has seen in Koroua Island in recent years. She discussed the impacts of the roads on the island which replaced small tracks that were lined with guava trees. As a child she would walk those trails, eating guava as she went. She was angry that children today would not have the same experiences she did. Ruci wanted to see more education within the villages about the importance of conservation to protect Koroua Island.

Figure 18 Ruci Buruavatu in her family’s home with research assistant Damian Seery.

NASAMA

Simi has a farm on Koroua island where he grows cassava, taro, kumala, vudi, coconuts and other assorted vegetables. He also catches fish in the Sigatoka river and mud crabs from the mangroves and coconut plantation on Koroua Island. Gathered crops and fish are primarily for consumption with excess sold in the village and at market. The whole of Koroua Island is special to Simi with every part used for various purposes. The site of one of the old villages on the island was identified as an important heritage site due to its connection to the history of Nasama and Simi’s ancestors. Farming on Koroua island is also strongly tied to the heritage and prosperity of the community with Simi stating that the community’s survival depends on the island. He was very concerned about the impacts of mining noting that the condition of farmland on the island has degraded since exploratory drilling commenced. He attributes this in part to the construction of roads throughout the island which have contributed to drainage issues that result in spoiled crop. Changes in the size and species of fish present in Sigatoka river were also noted by Simi after it was dredged. Sections of the river became too dangerous for Simi to fish as sharks are now more prevalent. Rates of erosion increased after dredging took place, threatening portions of the riverbank and farmland on Koroua island with Simi wanting to see mangroves planted to address this. He also believed that the island would be better protected if measures were implemented to control access and activities on the island.

Figure 19 Simi Naibuka and Halena Scanlon in Nasama.

VUNAVUTU

Koroua Island is integral to the survival of Litia’s community. In times of financial hardship, Koroua Island ensured that her family had reliable access to nutritious food and provided an additional source of income. Her family grows cassava, coconut, and bananas on the island for both consumption and to sell. They also catch mud crabs, fish and shellfish that they sell in the village and at market. Litia explained that the sites of the old villages are very important to the history of her community. Litia also valued a section of the Sigatoka River where she would go swimming, fishing and picnicking as a child with her friends and family. She now takes her grandchildren to that same spot. In recent years Litia has seen changes in the islands condition noting an increase in erosion on its southern banks. Litia was also concerned about the impacts of flooding on farms. There are different varieties of cassava, some of which can take a year to grow and require a substantial investment of time and resources. If cassava is submerged for two days or more, it will rot, and farmers have to start over resulting in a significant loss of both food and income. Improved access to the island was another concern for Litia who explained that the narrowing of the Koroua channel was making it easier for people to come onto the island without permission.

Figure 20 Coconut plantation.

SIGATOKA VILLAGE

Savenaca is a retired rugby trainer who has lived in Sigatoka Village his whole life. When asked why Koroua Island is important to him, Savenaca discussed the importance of the island to the heritage of his community and its personal significance as the location of his farm. He grows cassava and vudi which he occasionally sells in the village. Savenaca explained that the food he grows on the island taste different to food grown elsewhere because the floods deposit minerals on the island that enrich the soil. Cassava from Koroua Island sells much faster at market than cassava from the valley because of its better taste. To feed his family, Savenaca also fished the Koroua channel which he says has narrowed in recent years, but this has not affected his fishing. Like many participants, the locations of the old villages were significant to Savenaca. He was concerned about the impacts of erosion on the island particularly along the Sigatoka riverbank. While his farm was safe from these effects, others were forced to move their farms further inland. When asked if the roads and bridge built by Dome has impacted how he uses the island, Savenaca said that they had made it easier to get tractors onto the island to help plough the fields. Educating the next generation in traditional practices such as farming was very important to Savenaca as he was concerned that fewer young people were taking up farming.

Figure 21 Savenaca Batimala in his home.

NASAMA

Ita was a market vendor who sold eggs, pawpaw, banana and various other fruits and vegetables her husband grows on their farm. When asked why Koroua Island was so important to her she said that it is an integral food source for the community. Ita frequently walked the length of the Koroua channel, catching small fish and shellfish with a net and gathering crabs that fed her family and provided an additional source of income. Bigger fish were sourced from Sigatoka river and primarily sold. In recent years Ita noticed a decrease in the size and number of fish and prawns in the channel which affected her ability to earn a reliable income from that area. Ita believed that pollution in the rivers from nearby pigpens and pesticides as well as the Koroua channel becoming shallower and narrower were to blame for the disappearance of fish and shellfish. Ita’s husband explained that previous generations used boats on the Koroua channel to transport goods to and from the island. Changes in depth coupled with the recent construction of a concrete bridge to Koroua Island near Vunavutu changed how they used the river as boats can no longer travel the length of the channel.

Figure 22 Ita Masiwawa completing participatory mapping with Halena Scanlon and Damian Seery.