Page 28 - Fiji Traveller 2024 Issue 6

PROJECT ROTUMA

A passion project taking the Rotuman diaspora by storm

By Donna Hoerder virtual platform to promote the work of other Rotumans by
pegging a house in any one of the villages in Rotuma so that
What started as a passion project for two cousins is creating people all over the world may know more about the work of those
a flurry of interest for many other Rotumans. Especially the [who have come from that home]. For example, playwright, film
Rotuman diaspora who can relate to the challenges and expense director and University of Hawaii academic, Professor Vilsoni
of visiting Rotuma, an island 400 miles northwest of the capital Hereniko has given Jonathan Fong permission to virtually
Suva, in Fiji. peg his house in Hapmak. This will allow anyone interested in
On a mission to visit their motherland for the first time, Jonathan learning more about Professor Hereniko’s work [by clicking on
Fong and Kathy Weber-Bates set out to Rotuma a year and a the link embedded in the platform].”
half ago. That visit turned into the start of the ‘Rotuma Project’ Adding to Mua’s sentiments, Rotuma Council Financial Officer,
– a 360-degree virtual platform using photography, videography Rave Tiuhea says: “It will be the first of its kind for Rotuma and
and interactive sessions to take users on a tour of the island. The her people. One of the interesting things for us, is him accessing
platform is aimed at preserving and sharing the history, culture places that even I, myself haven’t been [to] and I have been
and traditions of Rotumans. living in Rotuma for over 30 years. Just like me, there are other
“We hope that the project becomes a resource for all Rotumans Rotumans that have never been, and these places are hard to
around the world; an interactive archive of stories, information get to but with the technology that is here now, we are able to
and research embedded into a visual tour of Rotuma,” says co- access these places from the comfort of our homes, we can view
founder, Jonathan Fong. all of these things.”
“For over 25 years I have wanted to visit Rotuma. I always told The project has three goals:
my wife that if ever I get to go to the island, that I would take as ● An interactive learning tool for inhabitants and descendants.
many photos as possible to create an archive to share with those ● Sustainable Virtual Tour to preserve knowledge and images
like me who have always wanted to visit but were restricted due of historical cultural sites. It can also be used to document
to old age, sickness, disability or for the very fact that it was too the impact of climate change.
expensive to make the trip.” ● Empowering Rotuman voices, through facilitating the use
For his cousin, Kathy Weber-Bates, living in Montana and of digital technology to create content, particularly from
the loss of her mother to cancer made her first visit even more young people to document stories themselves.
special. Fong says: “Her mum always shared songs and stories
of growing up in Rotuma and when she passed away from cancer
that pull became even more important for her.”
Project Rotuma may sound like just another virtual platform
but its use and importance becomes very clear when Jonathan
presents it and makes the connection to the history, culture
and most importantly, the language, which is now endangered
according to Fiji National University Head of Ethic and
Governance, Makereta Mua.
Mua says: “This interest in Rotuma could help generate
funding for island projects and could help revive the much-
endangered Rotuman language. The app for language lessons
that the Rotuma Project will embark on is a great way to revive
the Rotuman language. The virtual tour of the sea, coconut trees,
boats, beaches with the Rotuman names for sea, coconut trees,
beaches, boats etc. is a sure way of encouraging much interest
in Rotuma Island and the Rotuman language.
“It is sure to attract thousands of Rotumans and non-Rotumans
to these sites. One of the greatest benefits of the Rotuma Project
is that it is a vital platform for creating a renewed interest in the Jonathan Fong and Kathy Weber-Bates
Rotuma Language and cultural heritage sites.
“I also like the idea that Jonathan Fong is happy to use his

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