Today marks International Year of Indigenous Languages and it’s important for the iTaukei community to keep their culture alive through the use of language.

ITaukei Affairs Ministry Senior Officer, Simione Sevudredre refers to language as embedded in the performing of arts and traditional indigenous arts.

He says there is danger of Indigenous Fijians losing the transmitted body of vocabulary embedded in these traditional Arts.

“The ministry is creating this platform to remind the public especially ITaukei communities about this heritage. It needs to be revitalized, it needs to be foregrounded needs to be brought out to the open because at the end of the day they ITaukei people owns it.”

The indigenous values that promote food security, preservation and celebration of language diversity have been showcased today.

Meanwhile, Sevudredre is advising the iTaukei community to uphold and protect their traditional language and customs.