Traditional Boat Builder Domonisera To Showcase Sacred Canoe At COP23
Setereki Domonisera’s traditional drua making skills will be displayed at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 23 in Bonn, Germany from November 6-17.
The Fijian drua or waqa tabu (sacred canoe) are large and fine seagoing vessels designed and built by traditional boat builders in the past.
It took three weeks for the 52-yearold of Naivicamu, Fulaga in Lau Group who resides at Koroba along the Suva Foreshore to build the drua.
The drua will first be displayed at the Pre-COP23 conference in Nadi next week before it is taken to Bonn. “It took me exactly 21 days and nights to build the drua. It is my own design and I had traditionally crafted and specifically designed it,” Mr Domonisera said. Initially he was surprised when told to craft a drua for COP23.
The traditional boat builder was informed by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs to build the drua. Mr Domonisera’s canoe has been the winner of the annual Veitau Waqa Competition (canoe race) since its inception in 2012.
“It is an honour to be given this opportunity. It was a proud moment for me to be told to design and build a drua,” he said.
“I have spent years making canoes but this is the first time for me to design a drua for such a big event. “This kind of appointment enhances my crafting creativity and skills. I gave my best designs to our Prime Minister.
“It is also an opportunity to share my knowledge and skills to those willing to learn.
“I had learned drua making from my father at a very young age back in Fulaga and with past experiences I have been able to make my own drua.
“That knowledge and experience have assisted me design canoes; I have been winning the canoe races for the past six years. “Climate change is real and we should all take pride in our Prime Minister’s achievement to chair the conference.
“I am privileged to make this contribution as my making this drua is also an opportunity to showcase our iTaukei culture and identity. “Every Fijian should be proud of the achievement Fiji and our PM has made by chairing the conference,” he said.