tu

0.

c c f 3

1

\ Í 1 O

in

1

1 105°

I

o

_o

-

0

THE CULTURAL DIMENSION OF DEVELOPMENT :

Unesco's Vaka Moana

Culture of Pacific Peoples - defined

What has been defined as Culture for the Pacific Peoples has been confined to the making and selling of traditional handicrafts and the performance of dance and song at Regional Arts Festival or more commonly for entertainment. Culture meaning Fine arts, literature, music drama and the theatre tends not to be considered in connection with the Pacific Islands.

N o w there is a more inclusive definition of culture; one that considers literature, music art, dance, the belief and value systems, the attitudes and customs, the, social relations, the relationships between nature and ecosystems, the Va , between the created living world and the Creator. Culture is seen as everything that pertains to the spiritual, the originality, the uniqueness the philosophy and worship that form the Pacific Islander's cultural identity, his pride, his confidence and surefootedness within his part ici lar world.

This second definition and philosophy of culture and development are the inspiration of Unesco's World Decade for Cultural Development that ended in 1997. It definitely inspired the launching of Unesco's Vaka Moana Programme. The Vaka Moana is unique and peculiar to the world of the Pacific Peoples. Unique and special in that, the idea, the vehicle for development, has m a d e possible the coming together of diversely varied peoples; and is an idea that the Peoples of the Pacific had introduced, and that they can relate to and have affinities with. This is a healthy and long overdue departure from the Development policies, oriented to the spread of the Western Model of the market economy and individual competition as a rational for achieving material well being and technological progress.

The Cultural Dimension of Development recognises the complex and multidimensional process of development that has been bandied about as something physical and tangible like the per capita income. Fortunately, the developers have accepted at last, "That m a n do not live on bread alone!" Development is more than the construction of buildings, d a m s , roads and bridges. Development must consider the human soul. The aesthetics; the cultural identity, the world view and priorities of the people that are being developed, for therein lies the driving force for Sustainable human development.

The Cultural Dimension of Development is the strategy chosen for the Programme for the Pacific States, the Vaka Moana. It is not offered as a recipe for instant - success. Rather, it represents a genuine effort to listen, to hear, to see into the heart, mind and soul of the Pacific Peoples and to have the courage to welcome them aboard, not as mindless passengers but as partners, knowledgable and at home in the world that they have occupied since before the Birth of Christ.

i

In other words, Unesco is reiterating its faith on the importance of working with people and peoples' initiatives rather than merely imposing the sciences, technologies and value systems of modern times.

THE NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT :

Consultative Decision Making SOALAUPULE

Pacific Islands Lifestyles and Living Traditions; UNDP Report 1994.

Culture in the Pacific is still the central factor to sustainable human development. Study of the Pacific societies has revealed the multiplicity of cultures and languages, the variety of World views and perspectives. At the national level these can be the cause of development problems or the source of richness and power.

In Western S a m o a for example, most government departments have c o m e to realize that it is vital to incorporate the traditional decision making process of S O A L A U P U L E conceived within the ideal social organisation of the F A A M A T A I for the planning, and negotiation and implementation of all projects. S O A L A U P U L E is the S a m o a n term for making decisions on a consultative basis involving the people w h o plan the project the people w h o will do the work as well as the people w h o will be effected by it. With S O A L A U P U L E , the planners, the implementers, the people developed, are one and the s a m e ! . By using this concept of consultative decision making, the Department of Education received the full support of village communities to build school building and related infrastructure.

In Melanesian cultures, the process of extensive consultation is also the modus operandi between individuals and groups. It is practised on all important occasions ranging from the personal matters 01 marriage arrangements to the organisation of subsistent fishing and gardening. Another important cultural feature is the widespread involvement of Pacific Societies in subsistent activities. It is why it's important to recognize that a large part of the economically active population earn their living not in the modern monetised nr.arket, but in the traditional sector and its subsistent activities. The latter must not be interpreted or understood as underdeveloped, primitive or poor. Traditional and subsistent fishing and the land tenure have been around for a long time and were, is still, ecologically viable.

The cultural patterns of the Pacific subsistent economies, portray a rich variety of reciprocal exchanges, distribution and management of resources, and are therefore, s o m e of the basics in Pacific life and society that should be incorporated into development especially within the extended family and the wide ranging net work of kin-groups.

2

Living or Lifestyles in the Pacific Societies to day are on two bases. The traditional and modern - simultaneously. The complex interconnection between the complete and indepth understanding of both the traditional and modern. This is crucial in the formation of links and viable working connection between the two lifestyles. The Pacific Societies, do have and can provide positive elements for h u m a n development strategies, especially in the cultural context.

The Pacific Island countries still portray a high level of cultural identity and variety, and the extended family is still fairly intact and has proved a strong buffer against widespread poverty and degradation of the quality of life prevalent in most developing and industrialized countries of the world.

However, despite the h u m a n and Cultural assets the small island States of the Pacific Region are also the most vulnerable. The fragile environments of m a n y of the atolls are threatened by the effects of modern development, especially when cultural integrity of the target population is ignored.

The UNDP Report -

(Pacific H u m a n Development Report 1994) refer to this essential point. "There is a growing recognition amongst development planners and implementors that in the haste to produce these changes, the role of the indigenous institutions and local cultural practices m a y have been largely ignored. It has been noticed for instance, that despite the cohesiveness of Pacific Communities, their participation in development activities remains token and merely ceremonial. In m a n y villages, community participation tends to lose considerable vitality and consistency outside the framework of traditional culture and practices. ... Development planners are becoming, increasingly aware that outside the maneaba and nakamal, and without the blessing of the priest, pastor or minister, enthusiasm for the projects will most likely wither and die."

More than ever, there is a tremendous need to direct attention and resources to the utilization of the living culture and traditions of the Pacific societies, to counter the effects of (too) rapid economic development. The speed of the market driven development has not created sufficient employment for Pacific Islanders. This'dilemma constitutes the growing threat of individual marginalisation, poverty and exclusion. Here again, it should be mentioned that the traditional systems can provide the mechanism to alleviate the adverse effects of fast multidimenstional changes brought about by the spread of the cash economy and modern technology.

It has been proven experientially, that these social structures, based on long standing cultural values and assumptions of extended family and kinship links, can impact positively with the dislocations of modern economy. They provide protection for the islanders w h o are unemployed in the cash economy.

3

WAAN AELON KEIN. ALELE MUSEUM, MAJURQ;

The following example is just one illustration of h o w to incorporate elements of traditional culture that were at risk of being lost completely, into national strategies against unemployment and marginalization. The project is based on effective community participation and created economic benefits by integrating traditional skills and cultural values and keeping the impact to the natural environment at minimum.

The Alele M u s e u m in Majuro w a s established in 1982 with the mandate of preserving skills of the Marshall Islands people. In the late 1980's, the M u s e u m undertook a project known as W a a n Aelon Kein (canoes of the islands) to document the design and construction of five different models of traditional outrigger canoes. In each location, with the assistance of traditional and elected leaders, aldermen with knowledge of canoe design and building were selected to lead the project as master builders, while younger m e n in the community volunteered or in s o m e cases received nominal pay, to work with the master builder to construct the Canoe.

The construction of these canoes an each atoll brought about a resurgence of pride and respect for traditional boat building and navigation skills. School teachers brought their students to watch or join in the building and to hear stories and chants from the master builders that accompanied the construction. In m a n y cases the project led to the construction of extra canoes and promoted the outriggers as alternative to engine powered boats. A s well, the project has provided cultural awareness and community involvement, whilst providing boat building skills, combating thereby the attitudes of complacency and dependency. This is but one small scale example of the benefits to the target community that can accrue, when development projects use well-understood cultural factors. Skills that were at risk of losing were revived and retained; cultural values and traditional knowledge were transferred to the younger generation and created selfemployment through the use of local resources and knowledge.

W e have learned from the Alele M u s e u m boat building project that m u c h can be done if the local resources and h u m a n knowledge and skills of land and sea are used in adequate and efficient ways, and that the operation does not have to be on a grand scale. Every Pacific country still holds m a n y traditional ways of production of resources which can contribute to income - generating activities and be highly efficient at the local level while maintaining wider social cohesion and strengthening the traditional safety nets of the family, which are based on exchange and mutual assistance.

4

Marshall islands m

F I G U R E 267.—Sea charts used in the Marshall Islands : a, a rebbclib chart of a portion o( the archipelago, position of islands indicated by cowry shells sewn oh at certain points of inter­section ; b, a meddo chart providing sailing directions relative to Jaluit, Ebon, and Namortfc (Courtesy of the Science Museum. London ).

THE VAKA MOANA PROGRAMME :

Multidisciplinary

The Vaka Moana Programme is not a narrow cultural attempt at safeguarding the material heritage. The objectives are multidisciplinary, the overall objectives being the insistence that Pacific countries make better use of their diverse and rich cultures in meeting the challenges of change and development. The essence of the Vaka M o a n a Programme is to enhance the potentials of Pacific Peoples to use s o m e of their elaborate traditions as strategy for maintaining the quality of life

Prior and Ongoing Assistance

Unesco had addressed the theme of Pacific Culture through an Advisory Committee on studies of Oceanic Cultures ( A C S O C ) , which w a s established in the early seventies to address the preservation, promotion and development of the cultures of the Pacific people. A m o n g its achievements A C S O C mobilised assistance towards ethnographic studies and recording and collection of oral traditions and material cultural objects and establishing lists of the world m u s e u m s that hold and exhibit oceanic arts.

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY UNESCO AND JUSTIFICATION

W h e n the U N E S C O Apia Office w a s established A S C O C w a s discontinued. A cultural officer w a s appointed to continue its work.

The cultural officer's task is enormous in volume alone since one person now replaces the A C S O C ! . It is enormous because of the m a n y problems expressed by Pacific Island leaders on the negative effect of the European modern culture on the indigenous

The cultural officer focuses his attention on the preservation of culture, identification of cultural problems and concerns and attempts to redress, and, turn around the deterioration. S o m e of these concerns expressed by the Pacific leaders and others resulted in the Festival of Pacific Arts which the South Pacific Commission established, to take place every four years. Unesco continues to give assistance to the Festival of Pacific Arts, which is nearing three decades of leadership and inspiration for the Pacific Islanders.

The future of U N E S C O ' s action towards cultural development in the Pacific region is set out within the philosophical directions of U N E S C O ' s , U N O World Decade for Cultural Development.

5

The major cultural initiative w a s the launching of the Vaka Moana Programme (with its logo of a stylised sailing ship without passengers or freight but waits and is ready to take on both) is symbolically indicative of the aim to respond to the diverse needs and aspirations of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and to lead in the integration of the concept of cultural dimension for better, balanced and sustainable human development in the Region.

Already the Vaka M o a n a Programme has generated a significant range of activities, funded or to be funded from U N E S C O

• For example one project wishes to do ethnographic research through a traditional canoe voyage along the ancient sites of Lapita.

• Another, proposes a sea voyage along several particular sites in the region for the purpose of recording the ethnobotanic information and initiating awareness on issues, like the peopling of the Pacific.

• A seminar to be held in Papua N e w Guinea on the subject of "Cultural Tourism as References".

• A seminar of Pacific m e m b e r states of U N E S C O held in Fiji on concept of living M u s e u m s

• U N E S C O Apia's recent participation in an international conference on sustainable marine resource development, convened by the University of South Pacific (USP) and the International Ocean Institute (101). O n e of the outcome of this conference, is a project on traditional community based fisheries management for one of the atolls in the region.

PROGRAMME JUSTIFICATION

The fundamental assumption that gave life to the Vaka Moana Programme lies in the definition promulgated by the World Conference on Cultural Policies, Mexico City, 1982.

"Culture comprises the whole complex of distinctive spiritual material, intellectual, and emotional features, that characterises a society or social group. It includes not only the arts and letters but also m o d e s of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs."

In the Pacific, as the other regions of the world, development constitutes a complex cultural process which cannot be imposed from outside but which must be generated from the society itself. Along these lines the Mexico Conference adopted the following:

6

"Development is a complex comprehensive and multidimensional process which extends beyond mere economic growth to incorporate all dimensions of life and all the energies of a community, all of whose members are called upon to m a k e a contribution and expect to share benefits." Taking off from the quoted assumption the Vaka Moana Programme sets out fo identify the specific cultural features and assets in the Pacific, that have critical impact on sustainable human development in the region. The Vaka Moana programme does not adopt culture for culture's sake, but tries to single out dynamic, human activities, rooted in past/present cultural settings, which should be maintained and developed because they present an intrinsic value in sustainable human development.

PROBLEMS :

The Present

Culture and Economy

Schumacher in promoting appropriate Technology said that Small is beautiful. The Pacific Islands are certainly small and beautiful. But in modern economics, their smallness has raised m a n y serious problems, like insufficient employment opportunities, poverty and marginalisation, insufficient land to support rapid population growth, rural population shifting to over-crowded urbanised areas, migration to overseas countries with alien lifestyles.

The U N D P H u m a n Development Report (1994) records in its 1991 statistics, that there were only 370,000 w a g e earning job opportunities out of an economically active population of 1.8 million.

The quoted statistics are difficult to interpret and should not be taken at face value, because they do not take into account the activities of the subsistent sector. Often, the person is counted as unemployed because he/she is not getting a regular w a g e or salary, but the said person is fully employed, tilling and cultivating the land, fishing or weaving etc.

Therefore effort should be m a d e to promote self employment as a priority strategy for entry to the formal monetized economy, if the latter is an appropriate index of quality and sustainability in human development.

* Culture, Science and Environment

Every culture and every society has formalised the traditional usage of ecological knowledge to ensure a balance between human population and natural environment, as well as the specific ecosystems capable of sustaining a high degree of biodiversity.

7

In the Pacific the rich heritage of traditional knowledge, techniques and technology have been largely ignored by modern education, and are endangered as modern materials and technology displace them, and as the system of passing on traditional knowledge verbally, dies out.

The Vaka Moana Programme gives this area of concern a very high priority. It sees its function as one of encouraging the Pacific Islands Community to accept the fact that their traditional knowledge, techniques technology and belief systems are valid, viable and appropriate for the maintenance of quality lifestyles and the G o d given heritage of land, sea and sky.

* Culture and the Family

The Family is still the focus of life in the basic authority or the village, in the Pacific to day. The process of modernisation and development has brought fast and critical changes that have weakened or threaten to destroy the complex support - mechanisms which are the sources of socio - spiritual life inherent in the institutions of reciprocity, priviledge, responsibility and obligation, is often the only certain identity left to the Pacific Islander today. Consequently, the Vaka Moana Programme accepts as one of Its duties, responsibility and commitment, the preservation and development of the Extended Family into the 21st century

* Culture and the Status of Women

The place in society occupied by the female is one of the most interesting thought provoking and complex issues in the modern world, and its ripples have reached the Pacific. Likewise its collolary the division of labour and the female oles and responsibilities.

* Culture and Tourism

Tourism for the small island nations of the Pacific is affected by at least three major constraints. O n e is the false idea of the so called noble savage in his glamorous environment; two, the inherent market oriented philosophy of the Tourist Industry and three, the many faces of hospitality. These and others, present a serious challenge to programmes like the Vaka Moana, that puts emphasis on cultural survivability in development.

The tourists c o m e from different dominant culture - countries, but they all share in the belief that they must have their money's worth; therefore they expect to eat, sleep, relax, be entertained even have a fleeting tangle with South Pacific romance - all for the cost of the packaged tour. The tourist industry is competitive and aggressively demanding. It has had a most unfortunate effect on the small countries of the Pacific region.

8

Yet the Vaka M o a n a Programme believes that tourism can be beneficial if policies on input, management and control are set along lines that allow for greater participation and thinking of the Pacific Peoples in their formulation.

In this connection, the Vaka Moana Programme insists on the efficacy of using external aid to focus on strategies that would/could examine not just the ecological impact of tourism but also the socio - cultural influence of the industry on the small Pacific Islands, and educating, informing the peoples of the tourist destination in the region.

* Culture. Traditional Art and Heritage.

Traditional Arts and Crafts are often defined as "totalculture" for the Pacific Region. This cavalier and false view of Pacific culture is unfortunate, especially when developers insist on mass production for the commercial market Most of the Pacific societies make their handicrafts for very special reasons, most of which are personal and ceremonial.

Another aspect of the problem is the lack of capital within reach of the villager w h o is interested and wants to produce the traditional handicrafts for the Commercial market. In the end he is forced to sell to the middleman, usually a welltodo m e m b e r of the indigenous society. In this connection, the Vaka Moana Programme regards itself as a facilitator in the mounting of workshops on traditional arts and crafts through which skills and marketing experience are shared across the Pacific region.

The Workshop on Weaving and Featherwork held in Apia are models which can be promoted for similar societies. The S a m o a Vaka Moana National Committee planned the workshops, invited the appropriate participants set the desired targets and then requested ( U N E S C O ) the Vaka Moana Programme to assist by providing resource people from the other Pacific Islands, as well as funds.

It is imperative to pass on the idea that even in the making of handicrafts, or the performance of song and dance, that culture has value, even an economic asset, for sustainable human development.

* Culture and Education

A loss of cultural identity is the cause of many educational and social problems in the small cultures of the Pacific Island countries. Its consequences for the young people include loss of self esteem; feelings of uselessness, school failure and suicide.

The young, especially those from the urban areas are becoming alienated from their traditional way of life and culture, Therefore it is the duty of every government and society in the Pacific, to enforce education and training not only for acaoemic and

9

practical qualifications, but more importantly for cultural identity. Education for cultural identity is a powerful contribution for the survival of small vulnerable cultures.

EXPECTED END OF PROGRAMME

Situation

O n e favourable factor in the Pacific Islands development, is the existence of Governments' regional institutions like S P C , U S P , S P R E P , Tourism Council of the South Pacific, as well as the non-government organisation which are committed to the idea of awareness - building and the integration of cultural factors into development plans and policies.

The Vaka Moana Programme tries to combine a "top down approach" together with designed "bottom-up, strategies - in the expectation that the local island communities will thereby be strengthened to empower , and use traditional knowledge and skill in the maintenance of natural and cultural heritage..

T o realize these targets, the programme will use workshops seminars and will try to bring together the decision makers, the scholars, the practitioners as well as the villagers to exchange information, launch further studies and research, on selected topics and problem areas between culture and development. S o m e pilot projects would also be mounted on selected areas. All this is possible due to the regional Cooperation between U N E S C O . (Apia,) the Pacific Governments and people of the m e m b e r States of U N E S C O and the various institutions and non-governmental organisations, which accept the significance and essential nature of putting the Pacific cultures in the centre of all h u m a n development in the region.

TARGET GROUPS

Cultural development with its multidisciplinary character affects the entire structure of society. It changes mental attitudes of the decision makers in government, in the business sector, in the village communities in the outer islands. But the Vaka M o a n a Programme has focused on four target groups

i. Young people at school level (primary and secondary school)

It is important to focus on this group to enable them to generate knowledge, discussion and interest in the central aspects of their c o m m o n heritage and traditions. Vaka M o a n a merely provides opportunities to enhance the feeling for cultural identity and cultural confidence.

In this respect, the children w h o have migrated to urban areas are handicapped by the loss of traditional obligations; by the absence of the extended family; and by the lessening of positive adult-role-models, with the appropriate and desirable values to

10

and re-enforce tradition and cultural behaviour of society, while living in the "land between" of the Pacific island urbanisation.

ii. The Outer Islands and Rural Populations The second target group presents another important and peculiarly "Pacific group; these are the people w h o live in remote and isolated communities. Their islands or atolls are outside the normal and regular social services'. For example they are remote from basic health services etc. This is of course the view from outside; from inside, the Vaka Moana Programme m a y be able to learn much about survivability in remote and isolated places, since these societies have undoubtedly evolved experiential life styles that enabled them to live alone - the latter, an anathema for the majority of urbanised m a n .

iii. The Professionals The Vaka Moana Programme is aware of the importance of this group, for they represent the mentors and advisers to decision makers in the countries. By naming them the target group III, Vaka Moana wishes to enlist their support in the spreading of the goodnews of cultural values in the development process. The professionals include teachers, researchers, publishers, personnel in cultural institutions and the media

iv. The W o m a n . As has been inferred, the place of the female differs from society to society. However most societies accept the involvement of the female in the transmission of life and cultural values as being pertinent to the continuation of life and a particular way of living. The Vaka Moana Programme recognizes that important role and has m a d e the w o m a n the fourth target group.

Implementation:

THE VAKA MOANA BOARD AND TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY GROUP.

1. The implementation arrangements is established through collaboration between the Vaka Moana Board and Technical Management and Advisory Group ( T M A G ) . The Vaka Moana Board is m a d e up of representatives from Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and Aboriginal Australian as elected during the Second Vaka Moana Meeting in December 1993. The Board acts in close association with the World Decade Secretariat of U N E S C O Headquarters in Paris and with the support of U N E S C O National Commissions of Australia and N e w Zealand. The Technical Management and Advisory Groups, represent the Various donors as well as regional and international experts on different Programme modules and National Committees. The Vaka Moana Board, and Technical Management and Advisory Groups collaborate closely on the identification and development of Vaka Moana activities and projects and likewise on the overall evaluation and appraisal of the programme

11

2. The Programme Management Secretariat (PMS)

The Secretariat is headed by the Executive Director w h o is the U N E S C O Regional Adviser for Culture. In the first phase of the Programme, the Executive Director of P M S w a s responsible for the overall management and co-ordination of the programme. It is envisaged however that P M S and T M A G will Co-ordinate in the formation of "a regional methodology on culture and development." which should be m a d e available to planners and decision makers of the P L C governments.

3. The different modules of Vaka Moana will be implemented through pilot projects and other activities. The management and implementation of the three modules; Culture and Science, Culture and Tourism and Culture and Society will be decentralised. The module implementation will subcontract the projects and programme activities to specialised institutions.

The various implementing organisations institutions will collaborate with the Programme Management and Coordination Unit, through the information network of reporting and exchange of information. The U N E S C O Regional Adviser for Culture and Executive Director of the Programme will be in charge of periodical progress reports and monitoring of the different programme implementation.

PROGRAMME CONTENT

T h e m e I : Culture and Pacific Science

The people of the 26 nations and territories of the Pacific Islands want to have their scientific knowledge recognised and perpetuated. It has not been possible to respond positively to this natural demand in the last one hundred years or more of the predominantly European bias in the formal external examinations and in the formulation of subject syllabii of the curriculum.

The Vaka M o a n a Programme acknowledges that these nations and territories (whose peoples speak about 1200 different languages and each language backed by a different culture) had experimented, discovered and evolved principles and techniques that are valid and still relevant to present time, and therefore should include them in the programme content. Eg. the principles of navigation, the construction of sea crafts; the use of medicinal plants, and Pacific Pharmacology, healthlore marine life and so on... These are s o m e of the material and internal of schooling, which is being referred to as Pacific Science. Underlying all is the insistence of the Vaka Moana Programme to retrieve and blend the traditional knowledge and skill with the modern.

12

Activity I. Preservation and Development of Marine life

The marine ecosystems of small island coral reefs and lagoons are highly fragile and are endangered by indiscriminate "harvesting" and exploitation by outsiders and the Pacific people of modern times themselves.

The traditional ecological information and practices grew out of a deep knowledge and respect for the V a , as well as the pooled experience and sanction of the "Wisemen" of the communities. But this have been disregarded or ignored for so long, that much of the precious knowledge is in danger of being completely lost and forgotten. Long before the ecological consideration and present call for sustainable development, the indigenous people had developed an ecology that included, conservation measures, setting seasons for particular marine life; controlling the fishing of certain areas, making religious festivals to coincide with the spawning seasons, setting tapu for the types of fishing gear, even monitoring the making of fish hooks and flies and 'proper catch..' There were no excesses. . for fishing or harvesting w a s not for the commercial market. M a y b e this is becoming a cry for the good old days, one sided and sentimental. But the Vaka M o a n a Programme wants to capture the opportunity to blend the m o d e m with the traditional and therefore focuses on gathering the specialists knowledge from the two worlds and recording, teaching, publishing the information, skills and knowledge.

(a) Promoting study and further research into traditional marine knowledge systems through conferences and workshops.

(b) Promoting traditional marine knowledge through training and extension activities, and to rehabilitate and conserve marine ecosystems of coral atolls and estuarine lagoons.

(c) Promoting the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information on traditional marine knowledge.

(d) Developing material to enhance public awareness of important social, cultural, economic and ecological importance of traditional marine knowledge systems.

(e) Supporting and implementing research projects and programmes to promote consultation as collaboration with other regional organisations of competence.

Activity 2 : People and Plants. Prospectus for Pacific Ethnobotanv

The initiative for People and Plants started in July 1992 by W W F , U N E S C O and the Royal Botanic Gardens of Britain, to promote the sustainable and equitable use of plant resources through providing support to ethnobotanists from developing countries.

13

Again, the initiative recognises the wealth of knowledge and information that the indigenous people have, regarding the plants and the botany of their particular environments, as well as the realization that so m u c h of the local ecosystems are being transformed or destroyed.

The People and Plants therefore are building support for ethnobotanists from developing countries to work with local people on issues related to conservation of both plant resources and traditional ecological knowledge.

The richness of ethnobotany can be seen in the multiple use of different plant species, for example the different cultivar and uses of breadfruit, taro, y a m , ava. There are also related areas of study and research like the dietary restrictions which the Polynesian culture enforced on the builders of canoes, on the sailors of the seas; on the fisher of certain marine species. Equally interesting is the study of h o w certain plants c a m e to the Pacific and h o w they spread.

The Vaka Moana Programme in particular.

(a) Promotes further research and survey of ethnobotany and sustainable use of plants and their recording.

(b) Encourages oceanic indigenous scholars te disemínate their knowledge of cultural traditions and their contribution to biodiversity and sustainable use of plants.

(c) Underscores the economic importance of Oceanic ethnobotany as source of income for rural and outer island communities.

Theme 2 : Culture and Sustainable Tourism.

Tourism is a major world industry serving more than 450 million travellers to international destinations. Between 1970 and 1990 world tourism grew by nearly 300% with an estimated turn over of U S D trillion in 1992. This represents 6 % of the world's G . N . P . Tourism development is one option that the small island states could develop. But local governments and communities hold back fearing the effect it could have and the negative impact that have been observed. " A characteristic of tourism activities is that they often misuse the natural and cultural environment by overusing the former and neglecting the latter, while in fact both these resources constitute the raw materials for tourism development". ( U N E S C O , 1994)

The challenge of tourism development is the maintenance of a cultural integrity of the host population, which in turn provides the cultural authenticity for which the "life tourist" is searching. Sustainable tourism development is possible and the traditional sector

14

can profit in terms of income generation, if the "impact studies" are carefully done, and if ownership and control of cultural sites and events remain in the hands, of the indigenous population. In this context the Vaka M o a n a Programme sets the following guidelines for action:

(a) T o develop principles and guidelines for sustainable cultural tourism in the Pacific region which enforce the role of indigenous ownership, input and, control in the cultural authenticity of traditional events and areas, and to sensitize local governments to take the cultural carrying capacity into account w h e n national tourism plans are developed.

(b) To launch, after careful pre-impact studies with local experts, culturally sustainable tourism projects such as "village based guest houses" and "ecotourism" in selected sites of the outer islands and rural communities;

(c) To encourage, train, and advise local indigenous communities in strengthening their inputs in tourism projects, by increasing their knowledge of planning, administration, marketing of sustainable cultural tourism.

T h e m e 3 : Culture and Society

The module on contemporary Pacific Societies is the most wide-ranging of the three proposed modules in the Vaka M o a n a Programme. It is meant to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs and structural patterns of Pacific culture in contemporary societies.

Activity I : Regional Methodology on Cultural Factors and Cultural Impact of Development.

(a) The establishment of "a regional methodology" on the impact of cultural factors into h u m a n sustainable development and the attainment of an improved life quality is Vaka M o a n a ' s first priority in this area of Culture and Society.

(b) Its quite possible to identify cultural factors in the process of establishing a regional methodology; and more important still is the opportunity to analyse the underlying values of development. For example is development being conceived as purely economic or a m e a n s of enabling humankind to reach a higher state of humanity.

(c) It is impossible to give an exhaustic overview of cultural factors impacting in the success of development projects in the region. However, the collaborative research and investigation together with relevant professional community; i.e developers, academics, decisionmakers, indigenous representatives, should result in a framework of h o w culture b e c o m e s a tangible reality in development planning.

15

Within the general definition of culture the following should distinguish and clarify further, albeit still in general terms.

(a) Tradition and beliefs (b) Fundamental rights of the h u m a n being (c) Value systems (d) M o d e s of life (e) Arts, crafts, letters.

THE RATE OF VARIATION OF CULTURAL FACTORS

The factors of continuity and change in each culture are subject to different rates of change, s o m e are very slow-term variable while others evolve very rapidly. Both elements must be taken into consideration to assess the degree of compatibility between culture and development.

(A) Slow variable/continuity factors

• Traditional beliefs, value systems, social, family, legal, ethical and spiritual norms. • M o d e s of life practices, custom, distribution of functions and tasks, eating habits • events experienced as cultural in their o w n right, festivals, historical and religious

ceremonials, celebration

(B) Fast Variable: Factors of change

• Needs and aspirations of the population • Knowledge (Science) and know h o w technologies, m o d e s of social and economic

organisation; management of environment, • Creativity and ability to innovate • Expression (languages)

These continuity factors and factors for change determine the nature of the relations between individuals and the economy, and therefore development. They operate in every culture like a system of crisis indicators. Thus, every culture includes a series of dynamic components which can work either for or against development objectives for periods and in forms that are hard to predict. This explains the frequent disparity between the planning of a project and its execution.

If their nature and rate of change are not taken into account by the developers the slow variables representing the historical roots m a y act as obstacles especially if development is planned and controlled entirely, from outside.

16

A n Example: The cultural or Traditional View of Resources

In modern developmental thinking, there is an assumption that "resource" is seen always as an economic factor. This is not the view of the Pacific. Take land as an example.

The Pacific Islands regard land as their heritage, s o m e even go to the extent of considering land as spiritual and a sacred trust from G o d and the ancestors, to be held in trust for all heirs and descendants. In other words, L A N D is a heritage held in c o m m o n by and for, everyone.

It would seem that the difference between the Pacific Peoples attitude to land and the modern economic developers' is that the latter tend to regard land as a commodity that could be sold to, and bought by the highest bidder in the Market. At the risk of being overly simplistic one could say that the "commodity view" is the individual ownership of land, whereas the traditional, is the customary ownership of land. Many well planned developments by both local governments and overseas investors have met with problems due to failure to recognize or even consider this difference in perception of land and property.

Activity 2 . Material Culture and M u s e u m Development

O n e of the important activities of Module 3 is the preservation and protection of cultural heritage not only in M u s e u m s but also in living performance of song, dance oral history, carving, weaving etc. This reflects the concept of a M u s e u m as something more than a place for the display of static material and visual objects but also a place for the active participation of old and young people in the transmission of their living heritage.

But M u s e u m s , however they are perceived, are not high on the priority list of the Pacific Islands, as they are seen as "the whiteman's store house of information and knowledge of indigenous peoples... established to benefit the whiteman." The Vaka M o a n a Programme sets out to attract support for the M u s e u m s and related institution such as libraries, archives, and to persuade the indigenous peoples that their traditional and sacred places and cultural heritage are endangered and must be protected.

Activity 3. Arts and Crafts and the Development of Cultural Industries

This is a wide-ranging topic which cannot be dealt with unless it is divided into specific areas of cultural industries and activities.

For example:

(i) Preservation of static monuments, historical sites, m u s e u m s

(ii) Creativity : The making of Arts and crafts peculiar to artists, artisans and peoples of particular islands,.

The Vaka M o a n a Programme stands ready to assist networking opportunities for the cultural industries of the region. For example, the Pacific Countries could concentrate on national local production, while Vaka M o a n a acts as central agency in the finding and establishing of industries, and assisting in the search for markets.

Another area of attention under this development strategy are films, video, television and sports. A n increasing number of countries have established national television. M a n y of their programmes are imported, and will continue to do so for a long time. Nevertheless an attempt should be m a d e to address the development of this area on a regional basis producing materials and activities that contribute to the making of programmes with Pacific orientation.

There is a strong argument against, because it is expensive, if each country tries to develop its o w n indigenised television. But if effort and resource could be pooled, it should be possible to produce relevant and Pacific - related television Programmes, at reasonable cost.

SPORTS

The Pacific Societies are keen on sports, particularly the modern and introduced sports like, rugby football, soccer, cricket, basketball, volleyball, touch football, golf, tennis. Through international g a m e s like the World C u p and Hong Kong Seven, the Pacific Islanders have viewed (through their televisions) the performance of their countrymen against teams from countries that are bigger, more populous and industrialized. The opportunity to develop national heros especially for the young people in village and town, has thus been m a d e possible. The Vaka M o a n a Programme seizes the opportunity to extend the experience to include indigenous g a m e s in the sporting programme of the Pacific Peoples.

Activity 4 : Migration and Voyaging

Migration and voyaging encompasses the traditional world of the ocean going canoe. This activity highlights the cultural importance of the traditional canoe or Vaka M o a n a to the peopling of the Pacific Islands. It will deal with the materials related to the canoe as a c o m m o n cultural heritage of the people of Oceania: Detailed activities such as the building of traditional canoes for inter island navigation along the early sites of the "Lapita People" will reconstruct one of the routing of Pacific migration, demonstrating possible " c o m m o n descendant" of the Pacific People. It is hoped that the demonstration of c o m m o n origins will enhance inter cultural tolerance, goodwill and peaceful co-existence.

18

Activity 5 :

CULTURAL AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY

O n e of the important functions of the Vaka Moana Programme is the dissemination of information as widely as possible within the Pacific Island countries and further abroad, about the existence of the Programme and its philosophical underpinning, that it is essential for proper and sustainable human development to understand, appreciate and include the cultural dimensions.

This is behind the competitions in arts and crafts for school children throughout the Pacific, which began in 1995. Likewise the essay writing competitions for the primary and secondary schools; the competitions in - poster making; in carving and weaving.

The Status of the Vaka Moana Programme and the Vaka Moana Board.

The Vaka Moana Programme c a m e into being as the Pacific M e m b e r States of U N E S C O ' s response to the World Decade for Cultural Development 1988 - 1997. Therefore the planned life of the Ocean Roads of the Pacific officially ended in 1997. However in the 1995 Vaka Moana Board Meeting, the thought w a s expressed, that the Vaka Moana might continue its life as "flagship" of U N E S C O and the Pacific M e m b e r States, after the Decade for Cultural Development ends. That Meeting was unanimous in their wish to keep the Vaka Moana afloat, to continue, to perpetuate the idea of the vehicle which the vast, varied and competitive Pacific Peoples, seem to have accepted and with which they could comfortably identify.

The obvious first question in the circumstance is, where and how it would keep body and soul together, n o w it is no longer attached to the Decade for Cultural Development. The answer, will c o m e from Unesco, from the Pacific M e m b e r States, from the Donor Agencies whose sponsorship and support is the raison d'etre of the Vaka M o a n a Programme Prospectus.

Assistance from Donor Agencies

Sponsorship is requested from a wide range of donor agencies in the field of human sustainable development. In particular, assistance is solicited from U N D P , F A O , W H O , the Asian Development Bank, A U S A J D , D A N I D A , A C C U , S P C , the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, S P R E P , E E C , the Asian Development Bank and other major donors.

The Vaka Moana Programme enhances many multidisciplinar/ activities and pilot projects which will require the assistance and competence of the cited instituions with the planning and implementation of activities under each module. The very

19

¡nterrelatedness of the issues targetted logically claims contribution from each of the donor agencies.

The majority of donors cited, have already identified the need for the integration of cultural factors into planning schemes for human sustainable development. Organisations like U N D P , S P R E P etc already demand in their human development strategies, that the maintenance of cultural values, knowledge and skills be central for the promotion of social cohesion and cultural identity. Many of the targetted donors give explicit preference to the participation and empowerment of the "grass-roots" level people in terms of responsibility and C o -management of development projects. By sponsoring the Vaka Moana Programme, therefore the major donor agencies, are using the programme to further their aims and objectives, and realize mutual desires.

Coordination Arrangements

A Programme Implementation and Appraisal Module (PIA) will Co-ordinate and m a n a g e the overall programme. Its role is to collect and analyse programme information and to establish rigorous monitoring techniques based on clearly defined and agreed "bench marks" for each stage of the Programme's components and activities.

The PIA module will consist of a Technical Management Advisory Group ( T M A G ) in which the respective donors as well as the Board of the Vaka Moana Programme sit. They will set the guidelines for programme implementation.

Counterpart Support Capacity

For the management and implementation of the operational activities of the programme, the Vaka Moana Programme has set up an institutional frame work viz U S P , S P R E P and S P C w h o have a regional mandate to develop and implement the targetted development problems outlined in the Vaka Moana Programme.

Development Objectives

The long term development objective of the programme is the integration of cultural factors into regional policies for human sustainable development. Its fundamental assumption is that culture and tradition can be combined with modern development, leading to the creation of employment, economic growth especially in the subsistent sector of Pacific Societies.

20

SPECIFICALLY. THE PROGRAMME AIMS AT REALIZING:-

(a) a better understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage;

(b) the development of cultures and attitudes which build on that heritage while taking advantage of contemporary technologies and opportunities;

(c) a greater understanding of, and tolerance for, the values, practices and attitudes of others.

Immediate Objectives-

Objective I

To strengthen the operational capacity of the Programme Management and Coordination Secretariat of the Vaka M o a n a Programme. The activities will cover the identification and training of a Programme Manager for the Vaka M o a n a . The Programme manager will assist the U N E S C O Cultural Adviser and Executive Director of the Vaka M o a n a Programme in the start of a regional network of collaboration with the specialized institutions of the region.

Immediate Objective 2

To develop and plan the specific projects and activities for implementation along the modules of the Programme with the respective Pacific island countries, regional institutions and the donor community.

The activities will include

(a) T o organize series of regional meetings and workshops to bring together the Vaka M o a n a Board and the Technical Management and Advisory Group of the Programme to produce specific implementation arrangements and planning for the projects and activities foreseen under the different modules of the Programme.

(b) At least three initial workshops will bring together the experts and donors and the respective National Committees for Vaka M o a n a to launch specific projects and activities:

21

INPUTS :

Immediate Object 3

The following section on the various technical, infrastructure! and human resource inputs from the various donors, national governments and regional organizations will be written after first negotiations with the respective bodies during which the specific modalities of their financial and technical involvement in the Programme are determined.

To advise planners and decision-makers in national governments of the importance of integration of cultural factors into sectoral planning for development.

The activities will invoive:

(a) An expert group to produce a regional methodology on culture and development to show, through practical examples, how cultural factors impact in development projects and what are the social and economic costs of neglecting cultural factors in development projects and national development plans.

(b) The regional methodology will be written in a multidisciplinary approach involving experts on the cultural, social, educational, political and economic realities of the small island developing states of the region.

RISKS

Factors which could affect programme achievements over time include changes in donor policy shifts which m a y alter contribution levels and Programme Management efficiency. Secondly the overall Programme is vulnerable to the degree of rigorous commitment and involvement of the respective Pacific island countries and the regional organizations involved, to stimulate debate on culture and development and to implement the programmes projects and activities by reaching the needs of the target groups.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

The Cultural Adviser, Unesco Office for the Pacific States, P. O . B o x 5766, Matautu P . O . Apia, Western S a m o a

Telephone : (0685) 24276 Facsimile : (0685) 22253

22

0t*

Printed by Le Lamepa Press Apia, Western Samoa