Indigenous Storytelling and Sustainability
The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture was convened in Hawaiʻi, 6 -16 June 2024. The Festival is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders, initiated by the South Pacific Commission in 1972 to prevent the erosion of traditional practices through cultural exchange. The theme of the conference this year was “Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania.” The word hoʻoulu means to let or make grow, lāhui means nation, though it can also mean people.
While participating in the Festival as a volunteer member, I absorbed a lot of new information. There were booths that offered valuable insights into sustainable living through both scientific knowledge and Indigenous wisdom. One of the exhibition rooms was dedicated to Indigenous storytelling, where many books, magazines, and old-time newspapers were on display. The space invited reflections on how Indigenous storytelling traditions can convey ecological wisdom, stewardship, and resilience in the face of environmental degradation and climate crises. I also found the corner on Polynesian tattoos interesting (picture on the left) because they are similar to those in the Ryukyuan Islands in South-West Japan.
Oftentimes, we lack opportunities to learn about Indigenous cultures or interact with the people upholding them. However, this festival offered constant engagement, creating an immersive environment for all participants, including foreign tourists who stopped by. For example, on the first floor, vendors and customers were discussing similarities and differences in basket-weaving techniques, while on the third floor, painters, regardless of whether their work was on display, shared their visions of cultural art. The interaction and sharing of Indigenous traditions truly help to grow a sense of understanding amongst the people.
