 Activities to learn about Fiji
Explore the culture of Fiji with your family this
month with some of the following fun activities.
Pottery Making
One of
the traditional pottery making techniques of the Fijian people
is referred to as “coiling and paddling”. Try
making some clay pots using this traditional Fijian technique.
If you don’t want to use clay, try using salt dough*.
To start
your pot, cut a round and flat piece of clay to form the bottom.
Work from this bottom piece to build up the sides of your
pot with coils and strips of the clay. When it is formed to
your satisfaction, place a large rounded stone inside and
knock the outside of the pot into a smooth, rounded shape
with a wooden paddle. Carefully remove the stone and let your
pot dry. If you are using salt dough, your creation will be
finished at this step, though you may consider painting it.
Please note that salt dough is not water safe. If you have
used clay, you can fire it, paint it, then fire it again to
achieve a fully functional piece of kitchen art.
*Salt
Dough Recipe:
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 ½ cups water
Directions:
Combine the flour and salt, then stir in ½ cup of water
at a time until you can’t mix it any further (it will
be very tough at this point). Knead for 10-15 minutes on a
clean surface until a soft, pliable clay is formed. If it
is too wet or too dry, add 1 tbsp of either flour or water
at a time until desired consistency is achieved. Keep in a
sealed container until ready to use (will keep for about one
week if kept sealed in the fridge).
Yaqona (Kava)
Drinking
 Yaqona
drinking is a very important aspect of the Fijian culture
and one of the favoured pastimes of the Fijian people. Yaqona,
or kava, is an infusion made from the root of the kava plant
(Piper methysticum – a type of pepper plant). Referred
to as “having a grog”, drinking yaqona is done
by villagers and urban dwellers alike. Local healers use kava
to help cure ailments such as tooth decay and respiratory
diseases. It is a known diuretic.
Ancient
Fijian cultures used the drink in religious ceremonies and
only chiefs and priests partook in the special drink. The
traditional preparation was done by young women who chewed
the root to blend it with their saliva and make the mildly
narcotic effects more potent.
While
kava is not an intoxicating drink, it does have its effects
(ranging from light-headedness to a mild feeling of euphoria).
It is a social drink and a social experience. Today, kava
is made without the addition of saliva, and instead is diluted
by pounding the kava root in water in the tanoa (a large wooden
bowl designed especially for this purpose) until the water
becomes muddy looking. There is a certain etiquette to drinking
kava and there is still much ritual attached to it, especially
in the more remote areas of Fiji.
When the
kava is ready to serve, guests (who sit cross-legged facing
the tanoa) are offered a drink from a bilo (half a coconut
shell). When offered the bilo with kava in it, guests clap
once, accept the bilo and say “bula!”
, drink the contents of the bilo all at once, then clap
three times to show appreciation of the drink. The drink is
shared until the tanoa is empty. While it is not necessary
to drink every bilo offered, it is considered very rude not
to accept the first one.
If you
are serving a Fijian meal this month and exploring the Fijian
culture together as a family, consider kicking off “Fijian
night” with this ritual. If you don’t have a tanoa,
try using a wooden salad bowl or other large bowl. Instead
of kava, try preparing an infusion with less effects so the
whole family can partake. Try making mint or chamomile tea,
or serve coconut water, which is favourite drink among Fijian
children (it can be purchased at large supermarkets or Asian
or grocery stores). Drinking form coconut shells is half the
fun, so be sure to have a couple especially for this purpose.
Sand Castles
 Fiji’s
tropical climate and occasional sandy beaches are an invitation
to sand play. While you may not be able to visit this month,
you can create your own Fijian beach with a bag of play sand.
If it’s nice enough outside create a beach in your garden,
sandbox, or empty tot pool. If it’s too chilly to head
to the beach outdoors, create it inside with an empty tot
pool or large, lined box. Add water and a few sand toys for
some fabulous beach fun.
Storytelling and
Singing, Fiji Style
 Fijian
myths and legends are passed down the generations in informal
storytelling gatherings or around a bowl of kava. The stories
and songs which make up the beautiful oral culture relate
the origins of the Fijian people and explain the nature of
local plants and animals. Incorporate this fabulous way of
sharing time and information into your family Fijian celebrations.
Consider creating your own family myths and legends, or share
Fijian stories with one another. To learn about some of the
Fijian stories, check out one of the following titles:
Turtle
Songs: A Tale for Mothers and Daughters
By Margaret Olivia Wolfson, Illustrated by Karla Sachi
The
Faber Book of Contemporary South Pacific Stories
Edited by C.K. Stead
Island board game
Create
a Fijian island board game to play and learn about Fijian
culture. Make a course of islands to land playing pieces on,
and inscribe a short set of directions on each island. Incorporate
some Fijian facts on your board, grab some dice and go island
hopping.
Drumming
 Drumming
accompanies many Fijian rituals, including the Meke dance
performances which tell stories of Fijian legendsvwith every
movement of the bodies that perform them. Drumming is always
a fun family activity, so, whether you have drums to beat,
or just pots and spoons, strike up a beat together and think
of what kind of dances would tell the stories of your family
legends.
SCUBA Diving
 With
large coral reefs teeming with life found throughout the Fijian
islands, snorkeling and SCUBA diving are very popular sports
there. In fact, the waters of Fiji are considered by many
to have some of the world’s most beautiful coral reefs,
and many species of marine life are found in and around the
reef systems.
 Explore
the undersea world of Fiji by making an Under the Sea room
at your house to “dive” through. Use blue and
green crepe paper strung along the ceiling to create the top
of the water. Then, together, populate the room with marine
life.
- Make
fish mobiles by hanging pictures of fish from yarn suspended
from the ceiling
- Make
jellyfish out of paper bags or paper plates and streamers
of scrap paper or plastic – again, hang them from
the ceiling
- Decorate
the floors and furniture with seashells
- Incorporate
any stuffed marine animals into the room
- Make
papier-mâché sea turtles (the leatherback turtle
of Fiji can grow up to seven feet and is a protected species)
- Make
a small coral reef with pipe cleaners stuck into floral
foam or even an empty egg carton
Once
your room is decorated be sure to go on a family SCUBA trip
and enjoy the sites!
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