A LITTLE known linguistic group is shining culturally. The Gula’alā people is the smallest linguistic group in Malaita province.
At the July Vaka Pasifiki Education Conference, Gula’alā community members will be speaking about fānanaua, an indigenous ethics education at the clan and family levels.
While the name Gula’alā may be unfamiliar, many will have heard of Kwai and Ngongosila islands off the East coast of Malaita. These are the Gula’alā people. Their language is called Gula’alā; until recently, spoken by residents of two villages only. Although surrounded by bigger linguistic groups such as the Kwaio, Kwara’ae, Fataleka and Lau to the north, the Gula’alā remains culturally resilient. The Gula’alā are taking actions to maintain their culture, language and Christian heritage.
Led by Joe Sanga and Johnson Fangalasuu of Gula’alā, two panel discussions will showcase the efforts of the Gula’alā towards clan revitalization. The Gula’alā thinkers will be sharing about their on-going story wherein the Gula’alā are re-creating their identity as a community. They will share about their efforts to flourish in beholding the mysteries of their Gula’alā heritage. They will talk about how as a cultural group, they are attempting to fully live and participate in a wider global community. Further, the Gula’alā will share the “Gula’alā Framework,” a model of ethics education which places primary responsibility with parents and the clan, advocates for dedicated and daily family teaching via oral conversations, using indigenous language and knowledge.
According to Dr Kabini Sanga, himself a wela (child) of Gula’alā, “It is sad to see that the schooling system of Solomon Islands has side-lined the educational role and minimized the responsibility of clans and family members. Consequently, many parents have surrendered their educational responsibility to the school system and or organized Church.” In direct response to this dismissive strategy, Dr Sanga had written and published a resource book [Fānanau Lā ‘i Gula’alā, 2014] containing basic indigenous ethics teachings for use by family and clan members in home settings.
Participants at the Vaka Pasifiki Education Conference can look forward to a heart-warming conversation with the Gula’alā speakers as they share insights from their story of clan education.
Presentations by community speakers at academic conference are rare; making the Gula’alā contributions much-welcomed. Their topic is also very timely and important for all Solomon Islands clan and family groups. Shine on Gula’alā. Shine on!
Dr Jack Maebuta
Senior Fellow of Leadership & Administration
The USP Institute of Education.
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