traditional way of life
Our customary relationship with land, ocean and sky gives us complete food, housing, work and social security, it fosters and strengthens the networks that hold our societies together, and it embodies our connections to the past, present and future, thereby sustaining everything that we aspire to.
As MILDA members hailing from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Fiji, Kanaky, Papua New Guinea, Maluku, Solomon Islands, West Papua, and Vanuatu, we reaffirm that our customary stewardship over land and seas under our customary laws has successfully preserved them for future generations, that our traditional customs, values and beliefs have secured the well-being of all members of our societies, and that our rich heritage of networking and community-building has guaranteed peace and social harmony in our traditional societies.
Slow Food & Cultural Festivals
Annual festivals , such as the Siloa Vanuatu Turi Food Festival in Penama Province, Maewo Island (21 -24 July, 2019), the Eton Mini Yam Festival in Eton vilage, Efate (16th July, 2020) and the Lantarr Slow Food Festival hosted by the Vuitemboso community at Vanua Lava, Torba province, Vanuatu (22 -25, August 2021), just to name a few, are designed to celebrate and continue the making of traditional foods and kastom and to strengthen community pride, national independence and cultural identity.
Siloa Slow Food Vanuatu Turi Food Festival
21 -24 July, 2019 Penama Province, Maewo Island, Gambule Secondary School
Maewo Island chiefs advocated for the Stik Faea to pass to them following the Tupunis Festival of 2016 on Tanna, to host the four day Siloa Vanuatu Turi Food Festival.
Eton Mini Yam Festival 2020
Eton Mini Yam Festival
16 July 2020, Eton Village, Efate, Vanuatu
The first yam festival to be held in Eton.
Lantarr Slow Food Festival
22 -25, August 2021, Vanua Lava, Torba province, Vanuatu
Sanimini Kastom Skul
Graduation of our students of the Sanimini Kastom school (July 23, 2021). Sanimini Kastom school teachers and volunteers ensure that traditional knowledge is made available to our children living in urban communities of Port Vila.
ni-Vanuatu sandroing
ni-Vanuatu sand drawing/sandroing is a complex and intricate intangible heritage. It is a form of storytelling and a mapping of time and space over centuries. The Vanuatu National Museum in Port Vila teaches youth and young adults this important tradition.
Sand-drawing by Edgar Hinge of the Vanuatu National Museum.
Bougainville
Reeds (Kaur) Festival, Tuviana, 24 -25 July, 2013
July 23-25, 2013 Tampara Du’anta Melanesia Inc., hosted its third Reeds Festival Programme.
The festival speaks of the traditional panpipes styles that we have in Bougainville. The festival provides an opportunity for our cultural groups to perform the skills of their respective Districts and Communities.
