The Vaka Taumako Project of
the Pacific Traditions Society
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Vaka Maintenance, Navigation Training, and Voyaging
Program of VTP, during May - September, 2006
— M. George, April 17, 06 The primary aim of the Vaka Taumako Project is to aid Paramount Chief (P.C.) Kaveia in building, sailing and navigation of traditional voyaging canoes for educational benefit of his community … to train a new generation of Polynesian voyagers from the home of Lata, who according to Taumako oral history was the first person to build and sail a voyaging canoe. The Vaka Taumako Project (VTP) has built three functional voyaging canoes since it began in 1996. These three voyaging canoes (vaka) are of two types - one is a minimal size "te puke," launched in 1997, and two are maximum size "te alolili," one of which was launched in 2002, and the other of which is structurally complete but has yet to be launched. One of the te alolili was promised to a VTP partner on Nifiloli by P. C. Kaveia in 2002. It must soon be delivered there so that educational training of Outer Reefs young people can begin. A canoe house (halevaka) was built at Taumako in 2001 to shelter VTP vogaging canoes and for maintenance and training activities by voyaging students. Paramount Chief Kaveia and his crew sailed the te puke to Nifiloli in 1998 and return sailed to Duffs in 2001. P.C. Kaveia also started the Lata Navigational School in 2001, but the training classes were interrupted by confusions and illegal activities which occurred because of lack of proper policing and other governmental functions during the civil war tensions in greater Solomon Islands between 2001 and 2005. The most recent day of rioting in Honiara, and subsequent political solution, is not expected to impact VTP programs and plans for 2006 in far away Temotu. In fact, the influx of several hundred more RAMSI (regional assistance mission to S.I.) personnel is likely to hasten efforts to make the court system work better.
At this time P. C. Kaveia is about 96 years old, and although he is still
willing and able to Captain a voyaging canoe voyage to nearby islands, it is
urgent that sea-going training of younger navigators begin immediately.
Sea-going learning is the most difficult of all voyaging skills and the VTP
will not succeed until there is a new generation of sailors and navigators.
The following is a proposed program of the Vaka Taumako Project for April - December, 2006. Also noted is are probable times of ongoing legal work by P.C. Kaveia and other community leaders, who are working with the new Police Commissioner in making court cases against politicians and pretenders who disrupted VTP programs in the past. Several criminal cases have been submitted and are awaiting court date scheduling…most likely court dates and venue are June/July in Duff Islands. Various civil cases are being discussed with the Police Commissioner. In any case, a restraining order will be sought in early May, and this will allow the VTP to proceed with 2006 programs. April - Dec, 2006 Schedule of Proposed VTP Programs
Program Needs and Costs:
Total $18,200. USD
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In Germany, donations for the VTP are tax deductible if you donate to the Verein zur Frderung kultureller Traditionen (a non-profit organisation) under the key word "Vaka Taumako Project". For address and bank account information see www.traditionen.org
Contact Dr. Mimi George, Principal Investigator
H. M. Wyeth, Permanent Secretary
Larry Williamson, President, The Pacific Traditions Society To get onto our mailing list and/or to send in a contribution, please mail your name, address, e-mail address, and phone / fax to Mimi George at the address above. | ||||||
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