fiji

Vanua

land; also means the people, culture, and spiritual connection to a place.

Wai

water; can refer to rivers, lakes, or general water.

Wasawasa

the sea or ocean.

Dogo / Uciwai

river or stream.

Ulunivanua / Colo

mountain, inland, or highlands.

Nabuka / Drauniulu

forest or thick vegetation.

Vunikau

tree.

Cakau

coral reef or rocky seabed.

Co

grass.

Cagi

wind.

Uca

rain.

Mata ni siga

sun (“eye of the sun”).

Lagi

sky or heaven.

Bula vakavanua

“life of the land”; holistic view of environment, people, and culture.

Maroroi

conservation; to protect or preserve.

Veimaroroi

sustainable or mutual stewardship of resources.

Tabu

forbidden area; traditional system for protecting land or sea.

Qoliqoli

customary fishing ground owned by local clans (mataqali).

Manumanu ni wai

marine life; animals of the sea.

Mataqali

social group or clan that owns land collectively.

Veika bula kece

all living things; the natural world.

Kena dukadukali

pollution or contamination.

Vanua ni bula

ancestral land; the land of life.

Kalou ni vanua

guardian spirit of a land or place.

Sevusevu

traditional offering or ceremony made when entering or using another group’s land.

Vakasaqaravi vanua

caring for or blessing the land/sea; environmental respect practice.