Storian blong Gudfala Laef

Traditional leaders carry cultural norms forward through their duty of practice, acting as the keepers of kastom. But their performance does not go without scrutiny by the villagers that depend on their leadership. Statistics are reported on perceived performance of Chiefs in their roles as peace keepers, representatives of the community, vessels of traditional knowledge, and managers of community resources. In this episode, a villager gives an outside perspective of what he sees challenging traditional governance in Vanuatu and points to the causes and potential solutions as he sees them in his opinion.

Chiefs have tremendous influence in communities across Vanuatu as traditional leaders that have earned their leadership status through traditional payment systems or through birthright and family status. As the authorities of traditional governance, Chiefs play critical roles in peace keeping, ceremonial activities, and resource management, among other duties. This episode features a Chief from the island of Tanna explaining some of the duties he holds, and describes how traditional governance is changing with time.

Fish, invertebrates, shellfish, and crab have been important sources of protein and a dietary staple for most people in Vanuatu for as long as there have been people living on these islands. Traditional fishing practices, such as trapping and using a spear, enabled fishermen to obtain what they needed to feed their families. Taboos and other traditional means of conservation protected the crabs and shellfish from overharvesting. Modern fishing practices, coupled with economic incentives to take more than what is needed, have left inshore fisheries with dwindling fish populations. The storyteller in Episode 15 tells the story of his island of Emae and how fishing and harvesting has changed since he was young. This episode is a wakeup call to protect fisheries for future generations to enjoy.

Vanuatu is both the country most exposed and most at risk to natural disasters according to the UN World Risk Index, and it has held those titles since the publication of the World Risk Report in 2012. The natural environment and people of Vanuatu are constantly prepared for or in a state of recovery, particularly as the frequency and severity of natural disasters has increased in response to climate change. In this episode, the storyteller speaks of the tremendous resilience of the people in the face of mounting crises with communities supporting one another until some level of normalcy is restored. The story also touches on the government's response to disasters, particularly in recent years, and how those efforts impact people's ability to move forward.

Kava has tremendous cultural significance in Vanuatu and has since become a major export and source of income for many farmers. Nearly half (47%) of all men ages 15 and older are active kava drinkers, and more and more women are starting to drink kava. This episode of "Storian blong Gudfala Laef" features a storyteller that actively drinks kava. He discusses how he was introduced to kava, and how his relationship to kava has changed over the last 16 years since he started drinking kava as a school boy in secret. He discusses the good AND the bad associated with kava drinking and stresses the importance of responsible kava drinking.

Traditional healing, through herbal or leaf medicines and massage treatments, is considered safe and effective by most people in Vanuatu. For many with simple ailments, they are able to get treatment without having to leave their community. They don't require an ID to receive treatment - in fact, in most cases they are familiar with the person behind the medicine and are able to feel comfortable with them. In many parts of the country, traditional healers are more accessible than nurses and doctors based at hospitals, clinics, and aid posts. Episode 12 of "Storian blong Gudfala Laef" features the story of one such traditional healer on Epi island.

Smoking is a public health issue predominantly driven by young men in Vanuatu. More than 1 in 3 males smoke cigarettes or tobacco regularly. Smoking is highly addictive regardless of educational attainment or location and can lead to severe consequences, from cancers to heart problems and more. Smoking shares a relationship with kava consumption, however, the data suggests young males are smoking before they have started drinking kava, making tobacco a potential gateway to kava drinking. A small percentage of the smoke free population reported having regularly smoked cigarettes or tobacco in the past, providing a silver lining and hope for those looking to stop. The storyteller in this episode is a reformed smoker - this is his story.

Those born with a disability and those having developed a disability at some point in their life experience life differently than those without a disability. From education to public transportation, the challenges facing families of people with disability are greater in size and number, and these challenges prevent some people from living a good life. Episode 10 features a storyteller that has experienced life once without a disability and now lives with a lot of difficulty with her mobility. Hers is a story of thousands of ni-Vanuatu living with disability today. It is a story of adversity but also of promise for a better future if both Government and society is willing to accommodate those with special needs.

A large majority of ni-Vanuatu are food secure, and a large majority of ni-Vanuatu households feel their families have enough or more than enough access to healthy local foods. Beyond food security a majority of ni-Vanuatu enjoy food sovereignty, able to control food production systems and actively engaged in agricultural production. Much of this benefit is through the continuity of recognized indigenous land rights and the continuity of traditional knowledge and food production skills. This episode features a storyteller that is blessed with an abundant food supply that sustains her and her family and will continue to do so for generations.

Many adults in Vanuatu recall a time when every small store sold kerosene used to fuel lanterns. Families gathered around the lanterns to eat, talk, and even read at night. Solar energy has overtaken and almost eradicated kerosene as the most common form of energy used by households in Vanuatu. This transformation came at cost to the consumer, with successful programmes supported by the government to subsidize home solar systems in an effort to push for renewable energy independence. Episode 8 tells the story of a family from East Efate that made the move from kerosene to solar and haven't looked back.