Knowing and Learning: An Indigenous Fijian ApproachIn Knowing and Learning: An Indigenous Fijian Approach, author Unaisi Nabobo-Baba has employed a decolonized 'vanua research' method to explore how her people, those of Vugalei, in southeastern Vitilevu, acquire and transmit knowledge. By documenting the various dimensions of knowledge and their value and applications in Vugalei society, the author enables the indigenous voice to be heard. Nabobo-Baba's finding have obvious implications for formal education models - and she discusses how they impinge on evrything from school architecture to teaching methods, curriculum development and educational research, and how they go some way toward explaining the apparent failures of the past affirmative action strategies. This ground-breaking book provides an 'insiders' view of how an idigenous society percieves itself and the world around it, and is set to raise the level of debate on the development of Fiji as a post-colonial nation. |
Contents
Undertaking research in the Fijian village | 24 |
seeing with | 37 |
Ways of knowing analysis acceptance | 60 |
Silence clan boundary space and gifting | 94 |
Teaching and learning in Vugalei | 116 |
Epilogue | 138 |
Research questions for the interviews | 140 |
Vugalei history as told by a clan member | 148 |
References | 157 |
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Common terms and phrases
acceptable acknowledge ancestors appropriate attend behaviour believe belong bibi blessings boundaries called ceremony chief child church clan considered criticism culture custom customary daily death discussion elders emphasized ensure epistemology especially example expected Fiji Fijian forests gift give given hear heard important important knowledge indigenous indigenous knowledge interview involved knowing knowledge land learning live lotu means meeting Nadaro native nature noda noted observed one's Pacific particular person position present protocols questions Ratu referred relationships relatives request respect role seen shared sick silence social space speak spirits story suggested talanoa talk taukei teachers teaching tell things told tovo traditional truth uncle University usually values vanua village voices Vugalei woman women yagona Yavusa young