Storytelling: Connection in Adversity
Talanoa founder, Arieta Tora Rika, reflects on the importance of reminding ourselves that connection is a form of resilience in the face of adversity. Storytelling may seem trivial during a crisis and yet it is one of the most powerful pathways to connection. During times...
Reclaiming the meaning of representation: how Oceanic artists are taking up space in the fashion world
The year is well & truly underway and Pacific Runway has announced that they’re accepting applications after another hugely successful year. Talanoa’s associate artists, Taofia Pelesasa & Sela Vai, went along to the 2019 runway to connect with designers, models, audience & small businesses to...
One year on: Broderick Mervyn’s journey to the 6th Asian Pacific Youth Parliament
In 2017 we featured Broderick Mervyn, a proud Rotuman man representing at the 6th Asia Pacific Youth Parliament. Since then Broderick has continued to work in youth activism and community decision making. He recently represented Fiji at the 11th Edition of Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) in...
A Pacific without NCDs for our children, is it a dream Beyond the Stars?
The impact of non-communicable diseases is more than an alarming statistic for people across the Pacific. For many of us, it’s a scary reality. Illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer touch our parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, and friends. Around 70-75% of...
Completing the Circle of Pacific Storytelling: Our Home, Our People
Last year, I had the privilege of listening to and writing the incredible stories of four seemingly every day Fijians, who are living on the forefront of the impacts of climate change. Stories of resilience, courage, concern, adaptation and pure love – vei lomani –...
Introducing Emele Ugavule, Talanoa’s Creative Director
I’m thrilled to introduce you to Emele Ugavule, Talanoa’s Creative Director! Emele is taking over the management of Talanoa over the next 12 months as I pursue full time study, storytelling and communications in non-profit across Australia and the Pacific. My role in Talanoa as...
Vei Lomani: Rupeni’s story
On 20 February 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most intense (category five) tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere on record, struck the mainland of Fiji, killing 44 people and injuring countless others. Hundreds of people lost their homes, with others seriously damaged, including Rupeni Vatugata’s,...
Catalina’s story: climate change in Fiji, through the eyes of a child
It’s 5:30am in Vunisavisavi, a small village on the coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second biggest island. The sun is starting to rise, birds are beginning to chirp, and Catalina, 11 years old, is awake. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, she’s up with a spring...
Ma’e na ma’e: Rebuilding Ra after Tropical Cyclone Winston
The province of Ra is one of the strongest, most ethnically and linguistically diverse communities in all of Fiji, with over 86 villages and a population of 29,464 (2007 census). And it is also well recognized for keeping keeping traditional Fijian values like vei lomani – directly...
Deprecated: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in /home/ouyg0b4ahz04/public_html/wp-content/themes/gillion/footer.php on line 22