Daily Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji 50 Years Ago : Animals

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Ono-i-Lau's Domesticated Animals.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Small horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Chasing Down Goats

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Girl runs to catch a goat. A-131

Search Terms: Banana plants, grazing, field, 3 goats, girl running, Fiji.

Boy Rides Horse Across Island

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Riding a horse. A-29

Photo of Filipe Tabuisulu.

Search Terms: Boy on horse, island path, banana plants, burlap saddle, Fiji.

Girl Carrying Baby Goat

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A multi-coloured baby kid gets a ride with a girl. A-4

Search Terms: Baby goat, girl, Fiji, banana plants, island life, children.

Goat By The Kitchen

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Tin kitchen with dish drying rack, woven coconut baskets, banana plants and breadfruit. A-105

Search Terms: Goat, bananas, trees, dish drying rack, palm basket, tin kitchen, Fiji.

Cow At Pasture

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Cows were used primarily for major island-wide feasts. A-50

Search Terms: Fiji Islands, cow, pasture, tropical trees, latticed stick fence.

Horse Racing In Ono On The Beach

Ono-i-Lau
Two boys race their horses along the inner lagoon in Ono-i-Lau. A-51

Search Terms: South Pacific, island, lagoon, beach, 2 horses, boys, riding, bareback.

Riding Horseback Through The Village

And Here's Our Dog

Ono-iLau, Fiji
Three children In a bure with their pet dog. A-53

Photo of Atelaite Maraia, Vilisoni Bale Raturaga & Epeli Jinikisawana.

Search Terms: Fiji, kitchen bure, pandanus, thatching, 3 children, tea kettle, dog.

Bringing Water To The Cow

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Boy brings water to his cow at pasture. A-48

Search Terms: Cow, grazing, palm tree, young boy, pasture, tropical trees, water bucket, carrying on shoulder, woven palm basket.

Background

Ono-i-Lau is, by far, the remotest community in Fiji. There are six tiny islands within the reef at Ono-i-Lau. On Onolevu, the largest island, there are three villages: Nukuni, Lovoni and Matokana. There's a fourth village, Doi, on another island. These photos were all taken on Onolevu.

From 1970 to 1972, Ono was reached by either copra boat or a larger boat, the Uluilakeba. Boats came very rarely, every few months, bringing mail and goods for the store, and taking back copra and other items, along with passengers. Tragically, the Uluilakeba sank in a storm, with Ono people on board, in December, 1973. The ship went down only a year after the last of these photographs was taken.

Although sugar, salt, tea, and other basic items entered the island through the store, much of what people ate came from the island itself: Shellfish, fish, octopus, land crabs, bananas, leafy vegetables, coconut, root crops, breadfruit… and, during special times, pork, chicken and beef.

In the early 1970's, copra was the cash crop. Many residents were Methodists, and attended the Methodist church. Onolevu District School, which ended in Class 8, had a large number of students. In October, 1970, Fiji gained independence from Great Britain.

Everyone in Ono walked everywhere; there were no vehicles. Sometimes older boys rode the family horses. All boats were classic takias, or outrigger canoes, in the Fijian tradition.

Fiji's indigenous people come from two different roots. Western Fiji is Melanesian. The islands in the eastern, or Lau group, are Polynesian. In some ways, Ono is almost Tongan. Its art, the physical appearance of its people, and even the language all tend toward the Polynesian.

For example, the Fijian "v" was not used in Ono. It was replaced by the very Polynesian "p." In Western Fiji, that most basic of foods, the pig, is known as "vuaka." But, in Ono, a pig is a "puaka."

About These Photos

When we went to Ono 50 years ago, we were very young and just married. The people of Onolevu taught us many things. We hope this portrait of local life reveals the warmth, capabilities, dignity and confidence that we saw in the people of Ono. We think these photos of everyday life show the lessons we learned:

1. Working together is important.

2. Division of labour gets the job done.

3. Make time for yourself, your family, and your community.

4. Men, women and children all have equal value.

5. Respect tradition.

Linda & Jeremy Weld

Peace Corps Volunteers, Fiji IV

Onolevu District School

Sitiveni Gaunavinaka, Headmaster

Daily Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji 50 Years Ago

Animals Of Ono

Ono-i-Lau's Domesticated Animals.

Pony Tied To A Tree

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Small horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

Chasing Down Goats

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Girl runs to catch a goat. A-131

Boy Rides Horse Across Island

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Riding a horse. A-29

Photo of Filipe Tabuisulu.

Girl Carrying Baby Goat

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A multi-coloured baby kid gets a ride with a girl. A-4

Goat By The Kitchen

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Tin kitchen with dish drying rack, woven coconut baskets, banana plants and breadfruit. A-105

Cow At Pasture

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Cows were used primarily for major island-wide feasts. A-50

Horse Racing In Ono On The Beach

Ono-i-Lau
Two boys race their horses along the inner lagoon in Ono-i-Lau. A-51

Riding Horseback Through The Village

And Here's Our Dog

Ono-iLau, Fiji
Three children In a bure with their pet dog. A-53

Photo of Atelaite Maraia, Vilisoni Bale Raturaga & Epeli Jinikisawana.

Bringing Water To The Cow

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Boy brings water to his cow at pasture. A-48

Ono-i-Lau's Domesticated Animals.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSmall horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

Ono-i-Lau, FijiGirl runs to catch a goat. A-131

Ono-i-Lau, FijiRiding a horse. A-29

Photo of Filipe Tabuisulu.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiA multi-coloured baby kid gets a ride with a girl. A-4

Ono-i-Lau, FijiTin kitchen with dish drying rack, woven coconut baskets, banana plants and breadfruit. A-105

Ono-i-Lau, FijiCows were used primarily for major island-wide feasts. A-50

Ono-i-LauTwo boys race their horses along the inner lagoon in Ono-i-Lau. A-51

Ono-iLau, FijiThree children In a bure with their pet dog. A-53

Photo of Atelaite Maraia, Vilisoni Bale Raturaga & Epeli Jinikisawana.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiBoy brings water to his cow at pasture. A-48

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Small horse in an Ono-i-Lau yard, 1970's. A-60

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Girl runs to catch a goat. A-131

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Riding a horse. A-29

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
A multi-coloured baby kid gets a ride with a girl. A-4

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Tin kitchen with dish drying rack, woven coconut baskets, banana plants and breadfruit. A-105

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Cows were used primarily for major island-wide feasts. A-50

Ono-i-Lau
Two boys race their horses along the inner lagoon in Ono-i-Lau. A-51

Ono-iLau, Fiji
Three children In a bure with their pet dog. A-53

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Boy brings water to his cow at pasture. A-48