BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
MALAITA province will soon see change in its dolphin culture.
This was expressed by Mr Michael Tolingikirio, the secretary of Kiriom Solomon who said that a concept paper based on transforming the dolphin culture in North Malaita is currently being worked on.
Tolingikirio said that in 2015, he had a meeting with government officials and representatives of foreign offices regarding the idea and components of the concept paper.
He adds that a pilot project is currently underway in one of the areas in North Malaita with another soon to occur at a later date.
The secretary also mentioned that the task has not been easy given that a few challenges have crept in along the way, however, persistent with their plan, they are still moving forward to fulfill the initiative.
Cultural wise, he spoke of how dolphin culture was practiced in North Malaita during the early days.
Tolingikirio explains that there were around eight slaughtering beach or pools where dolphins were done away with for power, peace and glory of the land.
He added that the popular dolphin headband, crafted with a thousand dolphin teeth, during that time was only worn by the high chiefs.
In regards to the former, Tolingikirio said that the tradition is dying out with only a few number of people still practising it today.
