Traditional Knowledge

Vanuatu is home to over 100 indigenous languages, each one holding the rich histories and stories of the many culture groups that call this place home. Traditional knowledge, measured in the 2020 NSDP Baseline Survey through knowledge of traditional songs, dances, games, and stories, is showing signs of decline. This is related to the decline in use of indigenous languages which carry knowledge forward from one generation to the next. This is also related to the decline in traditional production skills captured in the last two surveys of Melanesian Wellbeing. This episode describes the intricacies of "kastom", it's importance to the well-being of the people in Vanuatu, and it's important role in promoting tourism. It also speaks of the collective responsibility to learn and pass knowledge, the key to which is language.