ABSTRACT
During the colonial era in Fiji, the rights of native Fijians were taken into consideration to a greater extent than in many other colonies. As migrants from other countries and labourers primarily from India moved to Fiji, a large proportion of the land was reserved for the indigenous Fijians. This land could not be sold or otherwise permanently alienated. As a result of this policy and the continuity of local political structures, indigenous Fijian villages have a deep social and ecological grounding. There is a tremendous sense of place. Land-owning mataqali or family groups continue to manage lands in their territories, and often that control extends as far into the sea as local boats can go. Government consults with chiefs on fishing licences and other permits for the use of resources, and outsiders pay leases to the mataqali for such uses as hotels, dive areas, plantations and even access roads.
