Tikopian delegation highlights SI in France

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

FRANCE is looking to support Solomon Islands after the film on Tikopia and its way of life was showcased in Paris, France.

Two weeks ago, a high Chief from Tikopia and five elders representing their tribes left Honiara to go to France for the premiere show. In France they met with politicians there after the screening.

With the inspirational stories documented in the film, France is interested to support Tikopia and Solomon Islands in the area of climate change.

During their stay in Paris, Mr Onomarie said they met with French politicians through their visits in cities across France.

He said during the screening and discussions a lot of organisations that attended met with them to talk about climate change and pledging their support to assist in near future.

“Our discussion is based on climate change as it affecting the Tikopia Islands and Solomon Islands as a whole. We did well during our discussion about climate change with the politicians in France,” Onomarie said.

“We manage to secure some support from France as few organizations have shown interest to support Tikopia and Solomon Islands in near future.”

Onomarie said they pledged to support with machines first.

“This is one of the fruitful trips where we did not focus much on ourselves but Solomon Islands as a whole. They recognised Solomon Islands and even the country’s flag put up in every meeting we attended,” he said.

Ms Freda Tuki who was behind the project from the start said she is excited to see the trip is successful along with the new partnership with France.

She said they have been working in this project since 2015.

As a result, they received donations last year from other organizations in France, particularly solar and machine to turn saltwater into fine drinking water.

With the new partnership, Tuki said the organisations are looking forward to work on the water sanitation and other assistant and climate change to extend a sea wall on Tikopia Islands.

She adds not only the Tikopian community but whole of Temotu islands as well.

Meanwhile, the delegation arrived in Honiara on Friday November 9th.

The screening of the documentary tittle in France “Nous Tikopia” and in English “We Tikopia” is at Good Planet Foundation in Paris.

The documentary was captured in Tikopian language with French subtitles, and it was viewed across France and also on TV.

The film director is Corto Fajal.

Representative of Tikopia tribes welcome by Tikopian community at the Honiara International airport.
Ms Freda Tuki and other representative of Tikopia tribe who joined the delegation to France.

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