PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 2:29 PM by Luigi

Pandanus weaver keeps artwork alive

Fiji Time, Tuesday, 14 June, 2005

IT is unusual to find women living in villages on the mainland still enjoying the art of weaving mats these days.

On the outskirts of Tavua is Drauniivi Village where most of the inhabitants depend heavily on income from the Yaqara Pastoral Farm and the Fiji Water.
There is no stress over employment.

But among the coastal village is a hardworking woman who supplements the family's income by weaving mats which she sell.

Age has crept in for Makereta Raisole but the tireless mother-of-two takes pleasure in what she does every day.

Weaving is a daily chore for the 49-year-old and she says it means extra earning to supplement what her daughter earns at Yaqara.

"I enjoy weaving. I've known how to weave since I was a little girl and selling mats has been helpful to our daily living," she said.

"At the start, I thought of making mats to sell to help my daughter who works at Fiji Water.

"Now over the years, it's been very helpful to the daily needs of our family," she said.
Like other women in the village, Makereta also goes out fishing to sell but weaving is her main source of income.

She earns more from selling mats.

Some of her orders come from long distance for special traditional occasions.

Her day usually starts with the daily housework before she sets out to collect pandanus (voivoi) leaves.

After collecting the leaves, she piles it in a heap and walks back to the village along the King's Highway with the pandanus leaves on her back.

The hard part is the preparation of the voivoi leaves. It is cooked and left in the sun to dry.
After that, she prepares the leaves before she starts weaving.

It takes several days or a week or two for a mat to be weaved, depending on size.
"It's not an easy task and requires a lot of patience.

"You have to have the passion for it in order to make it through," she said.
"I usually receive orders from women around the village if they are preparing for special events such as a wedding or a birthday," she said.

Apart from the usual mats, she also weaves a variety of special mats such as the Vakabati, Coco, Katu-dua and the Katu-rua. Makereta is one of the few women in the village who is still utilising her talent well and reaping great rewards at the end of the day.

She says young Fijian women should not forget their roots.

They should be taught in the art of weaving mats and other handicraft.

It is an asset for a young Fijian woman and can earn her money.



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DIVA-GIS	Tuesday, June 14, 2005 Posted 2:29 PM by Luigi Pandanus weaver keeps artwork alive Fiji Time, Tuesday, 14 June, 2005 IT is unusual to find women living in villages on the mainland still enjoying the art of weaving mats these days. On the outskirts of Tavua is Drauniivi Village where most of the inhabitants depend heavily on income from the Yaqara Pastoral Farm and the Fiji Water. There is no stress over employment. But among the coastal village is a hardworking woman who supplements the family's income by weaving mats which she sell. Age has crept in for Makereta Raisole but the tireless mother-of-two takes pleasure in what she does every day. Weaving is a daily chore for the 49-year-old and she says it means extra earning to supplement what her daughter earns at Yaqara. "I enjoy weaving. I've known how to weave since I was a little girl and selling mats has been helpful to our daily living," she said. "At the start, I thought of making mats to sell to help my daughter who works at Fiji Water. "Now over the years, it's been very helpful to the daily needs of our family," she said. Like other women in the village, Makereta also goes out fishing to sell but weaving is her main source of income. She earns more from selling mats. Some of her orders come from long distance for special traditional occasions. Her day usually starts with the daily housework before she sets out to collect pandanus (voivoi) leaves. After collecting the leaves, she piles it in a heap and walks back to the village along the King's Highway with the pandanus leaves on her back. The hard part is the preparation of the voivoi leaves. It is cooked and left in the sun to dry. After that, she prepares the leaves before she starts weaving. It takes several days or a week or two for a mat to be weaved, depending on size. "It's not an easy task and requires a lot of patience. "You have to have the passion for it in order to make it through," she said. "I usually receive orders from women around the village if they are preparing for special events such as a wedding or a birthday," she said. Apart from the usual mats, she also weaves a variety of special mats such as the Vakabati, Coco, Katu-dua and the Katu-rua. Makereta is one of the few women in the village who is still utilising her talent well and reaping great rewards at the end of the day. She says young Fijian women should not forget their roots. They should be taught in the art of weaving mats and other handicraft. It is an asset for a young Fijian woman and can earn her money. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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