Island Culture Archival Support (ICAS) will conduct its next project in Suva, Fiji, from June 20 to July 2, 2016. We will be helping the National Archives of Fiji and the archives at the Oceania Marist Province, respectively. ICAS is no stranger to working in Fiji, and we look forward to coming back to this very unique country with some the most friendliest people on earth.
The National Archives of Fiji was established in 1954 as the Central Archives of Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission. The name of the department was changed to the National Archives of Fiji after Fiji attained its independence in 1970. The mission of the archives is to:
(1) Inspire Fijians to explore the records of their country.
(2) Safeguard their recorded cultural heritage by preserving archival materials in accordance with international standards.
(3) Support evidence based governance by providing sound recordkeeping policies, standards and training.
(4) Build a sense of shared responsibility for recordkeeping in the Public Service.
(5) Expand Fiji’s knowledge base by encouraging in-depth archival research.
(6) Utilise appropriate technology to popularize the archives and ensure the security of archival data.
ICAS will be there to help process and describe records from the very special collection of the Secretariat of Native Affairs. The date range for the records in this collection are from around 1877 to 1956.
The Oceania Marist Province (The Society of Mary) was approved by the Pope in 1836 when it undertook to send missionaries to the southwest Pacific. In the early 1800s the Roman Catholic Church defined Oceania as that vast area of the world now known as Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the other Pacific Island countries. The Marists arrived in Fiji in about 1844. Today, they have the responsibility of five parishes throughout Fiji:
1.Nadi Airport
2.Laucala Bay (in Suva)
3.Levuka (on the island of Ovalau)
4.Wairiki (on the island of Taveuni)
5.Rotuma Island
ICAS will helping the archives process and preserve their unique photograph collection that tells the story of Marists’ activities throughout the Pacific Islands of which they administered. The collection dates back to the late 19th century to early 20th century, and consists of several hundred photographs.
A snippet of the Photograph Collection at the Oceania Marist Province Archives, Suva Fiji
ICAS is proud to be back in Fiji. Check back on this blog for updates regarding this project. Don’t forget that it is never too late to help ICAS’s mission. Donations are welcomed and very much appreciated. For a project such as this one in Fiji, donations go towards procuring the much needed archival supplies that hard to find in this very isolated part of the world- Vinaka! If you feel the need to help, please visit our Website.
Island Time 