Page 29 - Fiji Traveller 2024 Issue 6

Funding for the project has mainly come from their savings job as well and families, so having to leave their families. Also,
and small grants from the Pacific Community (SPC) through the just like any place before you try to gather information you have
ACP-EU Culture Grant, Vodafone Fiji ATH Foundation and the to establish relationships with people first. Get their trust and
Pacifica Arts Centre. support as well. So, there is a lot of groundwork that you will
Fong says: “Through SPC [I was able to] cover expenses for have to do first – traditional protocols, seeking permissions from
a few of my trips, helped purchase some equipment and also chiefs and landowners. It’s not just coming to the island and
took me through capacity building sessions. In October [last jumping straight into it and flying of the drones. At times there
year], I reached out to the Vodafone Fiji ATH Foundation to are unfavourable weather conditions to access these places.
help support our Mobile Filmmaking workshop for the students Financial restraints as well.”
of Rotuma High School and also launch our project in Rotuma. She adds: “The thing that stood out for me is that those who
Together with the SPC’s remaining funding and the funds from have been away from Rotuma for a long time and those who
the Vodafone Fiji ATH Foundation, I managed to travel to the have never been to Rotuma, this is an opportunity for them
island to run the workshop, launch the project and present to to actually see the island for themselves, and learn about the
a few of the villages, including the Rotuma Island Council. We history and culture of the island through written articles and music
were supported by the Pacifica Arts Centre to present to the NZ that our elders have composed about a particular spot or area
Rotuman community which is where we are now.” of significance. All these things you can access from viewing a
As with most projects, there are challenges and these come in particular spot but a lot of work to collect this information still
the form of finance, time and commitment. needs to be done. There’s a wealth of information that you
“A major challenge for us has been finance, since this is a can get from this and I’m thankful that despite their busy work
passion project, we are continually trying to figure out ways to schedule they are now making this dream a reality for us and
cover expenses for the many trips that we have had to make. them.”
I hope to be able to do similar work but commercially for other “I feel, through my interactions with Jonathan Fong and his
Pacific Islands, and hopefully that will be able to cover costs for presentations, that the Rotuma Project has taken a life of its
this passion project,” says Fong. own. It is something far bigger than a project. It is a journey and
“Also, we are both sole traders/freelancers so each trip that I’m life-long commitment,” says Mua.
away on the island means time that I’m not earning back home. Moving forward, Fong says: “We look forward to collaborating
Each trip to Rotuma I’m usually away for two weeks. Over the with other artists, knowledge holders and the community to grow
past year and a half, I have been to Rotuma nine times which is the platform even further. We realise that our knowledge is limited
almost four months of being away from home.” and we hope that by working together, we can all contribute to
Tiuhea says she can see the sacrifices Fong and Weber-Bates preserve, document and learn from each other for the sake of
have made to get this project off the ground. “They are sacrificing the next generation.”
their personal time and funds. Just this year alone I have seen
Jonathan come over five times. I’m guessing they have an 8-5 therotumaproject.com

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