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By JOSHUA ARLO
A FIJIAN delegation travelled to East New Britain last Saturday via Port
Moresby to attend a reconciliation celebration.
The delegation was treated to a warm reception by the Tolai and other
affiliated New Guinea Islands groups upon their arrival at the Jackson
International airport.
The reconciliation celebration between the Fiji and East New Britain
communities is to mark 132 years since the first early Fijian
missionaries came to PNG, particularly to East New Britain to spread the
word of God.
The celebration marks an important chapter – the process of healing and
relationship building – between the people of these two communities.
It was through the spirit of bravery, faith and understanding by the
Fijian missionary that Rev George Brown first sealed this relationship
by travelling from Fiji to the island of New Britain, then a savage and
hostile land.
The reconciliation was a way for the descendents of the cannibalistic
Tolai people to ask forgiveness from those who came after Rev Brown
including other missionaries, who were killed and eaten by the Tolais.
It was a way for the East New Britain community to apologise, repent and
beg for forgiveness on behalf of their forefathers’ actions, which was
critical for the healing process between the two communities.
The Fijian delegation accepted the East New Britain traditional way of
apologising by laying ‘tanget leaves’ at their feet and also by allowing
them to put strands of ‘tabu shells’ around their necks.
Tabu shells are traditional money used as a means of social standing in
the Tolai community during weddings, funerals and other occasions.
The East New Britain community said they were proud of the Fijian
missionaries, who braved the odds to come spread the word of God with
them.
The delegation, who arrived in Port Moresby at around 11am, flew out to
East New Britain at around 3pm, where the main celebration will be held.
They will return to Port Moresby on Thursday and depart for Fiji on
Friday.
 
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