Traditional canoes carrying young Pacific activists sailed to Honiara this week, calling for climate justice, peace and marine protection when leaders gathered at the Pacific Islands Forum. The voyage was timed to coincide with the opening of the Regional Summit on Monday, September 8th.
Kakara Tevi, 20-year-old from Tongan and Fiji heritage, a young Anglican woman in Polynesia, joined other young people on the sailing mission and highlighted contemporary issues that are important to her generation, reported the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS). She traveled on the traditional Vacca ship Your Yaro, representing the “next generation of Pacific leaders and sea guardians,” to defend climate justice, peace and protection of creation.
“As one of the young crew on board, I want to learn from all the older, more mature sailors… I can’t wait to go out to the sea,” Tevi said in a video message before the Baka departed from Suva, in the Solomon Islands.
The forum will discuss issues and concerns with the aim of bringing in broader regional leaders together and agreeing to a common goal. According to ACNS, young people on the boat heading for the conference hope to “amplify the voices of young people in the Pacific and call on leaders to act as true guardians of the ocean and to direct this message towards the world.”
Founded in 1971, PIFLM has 18 members of Australia, including Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kilibati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Summon Islands, Banbato, Martial Islands,
PIFLM’s vision is “to be a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, ensuring that all Pacific people can live a free, healthy and productive life.”
Uto ni Yalo sails in solidarity along with traditional Taumako Tepke canoes upon reaching Temotu, paying tribute to the historic voyage heritage of the Solomon Islands and supporting the Motalaba Treaty for Maritime Demarcations.
This is the second time the ACNS has reported that Pacific Voyagers will “act as a symbol of Pacific prosperity and unity, like last year’s journey, and embrace the roots and traditional knowledge of ancestral origins to address modern environmental challenges.”
The voyage conveys an important Pacific message for forum leaders listed by ACNS as “a call for the Pacific without fossil fuels, the perception of the Pacific as a sea of peace, and the affirmation of the protection of indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge to address today’s environmental challenges.”
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and the Rev. Sione Uruirakepa, a primate, led a blessing ceremony for the voyage before it left, evoking God’s protection and guidance to the Vaka and the crew.
“This Vaka has not only the hopes of the crew, but also the prayers of the people of the Pacific,” Archbishop Sione said at the ceremony.
“We remember the Psalmist that those who sail through the sea have witnessed the wonders of God’s creation and are called to thank him for his immoral love.
Climate change commissioners at Aotearoa Church in New Zealand and Fair Akitau Kaho Tevi in Polynesia also spoke about the importance of voyages.
“As we prepare to set sail on the voyage of Wangsorwara, we remember that the ocean is not only the source of our highways and our food, but also the centre of our identity and survival, the Pacific Ocean for the future.”
According to ACN, Polynesia’s Anglican parish is a “prideful partner” of the Pacificiki Navigation Alliance, and “please the safe passage of crew, the strength of their testimony, and will connect with the Oceanian community for the success of Wansolwara’s voyage.”
