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

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Independence Day On Ono-i-Lau

Ono Celebrates Fiji's Independence.

Ono Kids View An Aeroplane For First Time

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Schoolchildren erupt with laughter as they see their very first aeroplane during a Fiji Independence Day fly-by. C-11

Independence Day, 1970, Men's Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men dancing in meke. MEK-208

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.

Independence Day Celebrations, Ono-i-Lau, 1970

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
People of Ono celebrate independence from Great Britain. IND-182

Ono Boys Practice Meke For Independence Day

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Boys practice Independence Day meke. IND-183

Independence Day, Onolevu District School

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Raising the flag of Fiji. IND-184

Women Sing On Fiji Independence Day

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Ono women celebrate. IND-185

Independence Day, 1970. Headmaster With WWII Military Medals.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Ono celebrates Fiji becoming a Dominion. IND-258

Photo (standing) of District School headmaster Sitiveni Gaunavinaka.

Formal Preparation For Independence Day, 1970

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Women on Independence Day in Ono. IND-185

Fijian Independence Day, October 10th, 1970

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Formal acknowledgement of Fijian Independence, October, 1970. IND-186

Fiji Declares Its Independence At Ono-i-Lau, October 1970

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Medallions are dropped on the school grounds celebrating Fiji's independence from Great Britain, October, 1970. IND-143

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

Ono Celebrates Fiji's Independence.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSchoolchildren erupt with laughter as they see their very first aeroplane during a Fiji Independence Day fly-by. C-11

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMen dancing in meke. MEK-208

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPeople of Ono celebrate independence from Great Britain. IND-182

Ono-i-Lau, FijiBoys practice Independence Day meke. IND-183

Ono-i-Lau, FijiRaising the flag of Fiji. IND-184

Ono-i-Lau, FijiOno women celebrate. IND-185

Ono-i-Lau, FijiOno celebrates Fiji becoming a Dominion. IND-258