Dr Christiane Leurquin was recently awarded $NZ164,300 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to preserve New Caledonian women’s stories and traditions by creating a documentary and educational material for schools.
She left yesterday for New Caledonia, where she will be asking middle-aged Kanak mothers about what they had learned from their own mothers and grandmothers, and what they taught their daughters regarding traditions and morals.
She will be talking to women who grew up before television (and in some cases, radio) entered homes and traditions were challenged by globalisation.
The idea for the project came from her research on the part women played in traditions, as well as talking to older women in her family.
She realised there were very few women telling their stories, and that when this generation was gone, a lot of their knowledge would be lost.
The official language of New Caledonia is French, but there are 28 other languages on the island nation.
The interviews would be recorded and filmed in a language chosen by the women.
"The recording of these mainly oral languages will also help preserve an important aspect of the cultures."
New Zealand wanted to be a key player in the Pacific, but that could not happen without an understanding and respect of the many rich cultural traditions that were features of many disparate populations across this vast geographical region.
"It is important for New Zealand and France to keep their relationships with these islands to make sure that it is not to their detriment — that they don’t go with another superpower to help them.
"To understand their culture and their languages is a component in that."
The project would be completed next year, she said.
It would be used by primary schools in New Caledonia and would be available in English in New Zealand.
