Hạina lū vạsu
Women are unbreakable ropes
E. Inia
Elizabeth Kafonika Inia’s (Elisapeti) roots trace back to the Island of Rotuma which is situated 500kms north of Fiji, roughly the same distance to travel from Auckland to Wellington. Born in 1925 to Karisto Vai and Kijiana Surkafa from the village of Savlei, where she spent her formative and adolescence years surrounded by the rich ingredients which add to the beauty of Rotuma.
She is described by colleagues as “the best representation of Rotuman culture and a brilliant mind and love of learning” (A. Howard & J. Rensel)
Elisapeti like many Rotumans on the island had to follow the equation of leaving the island for better pastures in Fiji. Attending the Davuilevu Teacher’s Training Institution, then Lelean Memorial School in Davuilevu where she was the first (and only at the time) Rotuman woman to become a certified teacher after passing the Senior Cambridge Exam in 1945. Where there is an end, there also sparks a start of a new beginning. So, while World War II was ending, it was only the beginning of Elisapeti’s journey in academia and teaching.
This is also where Elisapeti met her husband Wilson Inia and the duo hitch on her 22nd birthday in Savlei on March 18th, 1947. After teaching in Fiji for a number of years both Elisapeti and Wilson returned to Rotuma in 1953 to pioneer and start the first ever High school on the island. Rotuman high school was established in 1958.
Elisapeti’s work
Rotuman culture—Fäeag ‘es Fūaga: Rotuman Proverbs 1998
This book takes stock and inventory of a snapshot in Rotuman history of the proverbs and their meanings both in Rotuman and English consisting of 473 sayings. Accumulated over a period of years this highlights the level of work and dedication one must balance while operating at a level where most people would have given into their circumstantial commitment and societal priorities. In the words of Alan Howard “This book is Rotuman culture as reflected in its sayings”.
A New Rotuman Dictionary 1998
Elisapeti connected with Alan Howard and Jan Rensel to revive a dictionary by missionary linguist Maxwell Churchward in 1940 who spent 16 years in Rotuma. Alan invited Elisapeti to his home in Hawaii where they worked on Fäeag ‘es Fūaga: Rotuman Proverbs and co-write the new Rotuman Dictionary. While in Hawaii Elisabeti presented the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge system to a well-received packed class of university of Hawaii students from two classes. Specifically mentioning Professor Vilsoni Hereniko and his Pacific Drama & Literature class who is a fellow Rotuman residing in Hawaii and is a scholar himself.
Kato‘aga: Rotuman Ceremonies 2001
After Elisapeti retired from teaching, she had one more book in her to gift Rotumans globally which centres Rotuman ceremonies as another snapshot of various rituals and components of the Rotuman ontology. The book is broken into two parts, firstly the essential foundation regarding what equipment and resources is utilised for a typical ceremony and the second half goes into specificities of 15 ceremonies she identified.
As a thought leader in the Rotuman space, I am so grateful for Esapeti’s hard work in and out of the academy. The recipe for her to push out 2 major documents while co-writing, raising a family amongst other responsibilities, goes to show that she was operating at a level where I aspire to be at, especially during my trials and tribulations in my current walk.
Reading whaea Linda Smith’s work earlier in the semester and doing the 10 practical lesson’s I took away from the book made me appreciate from a different lens how beautiful and intelligent Esapeti was and is. I stated that my favourite approach to articulating research was through testimonies, storytelling and envisioning with is just 3 of the 25 suggested by Linda.
When I look at the work that Esapeti has collated I see similarities in the path she took to painting her intelligence while capturing the essence of the Rotuman approach and Rotuman-ness. Fäeag ‘es Fūaga: Rotuman Proverbs 1998 speaks of the oral histories and perspectives of our elders and acts as a timepiece for us to look too for guidance and support in the present. Because the Rotuman language is evolving at an alarming rate this book allows us to revisit words and phrases that are not used by the current generation while reviving values and beliefs. This is the best type of #throwback due to the depth and wealth of connection to our past thought leaders. Which in term allows us to appreciate the process of acquiring, packaging and presenting knowledge from inside out rather than vice versa.
Shawn Wilson’s Research is Ceremony hits home with Esapeti’s second book. As the book highlights the “how to” and “what to do”, it also allows for various frameworks and philosophies about the Rotuman way of being that I can draw from to enrich my writings. Esapeti’s provides guidelines how ways in approaching ceremony which aligns with how we could follow similar approaches to engaging in research as well. This is the hidden gifts that have made me feel so comfortable and loved with the literature and shoulders of Rotuman excellence.
There is something special about the first in the family to venture new fields in achieving new heights but on the flip side to this perspective which we lift up so much is the horror of being alone in your field and having to push up hill your values because they are not seen as equal.
What Esapeti has down is left clues and traces for Rotumans and non Rotumans to engage with her work as she invites us for a conversation. I myself see and feel the depths of her work through adversity and am inspired to tackle my own journey in allowing the same for future generations.
I privilege the route of Elisapeti’s story because the odds were not in her favour to achieve what she did for the Rotuman community. The work has ripple effects for many generations.
Her reach is still blessing students at Rotuma High School today through her dedicated scholarship which was founded by her dear friends Alan Howard and Jan Rensel in honour of her name.
Faiakse’ea e garue maha
(thank you for your hard work in its totality)
Source:
http://www.rotuma.net/os/NewsArchive/Archive2004/archive0411.htm
http://www.rotuma.net/os/NewsArchive/Archive2009/archive0904.htm
http://www.rotuma.net/os/NewsArchive/Archive2009/archive0904.htm
http://www.rotuma.net/os/NewsArchive/Archive2005/EKItribute1.htm
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