Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Arrival on Vorovoro
My arrival on Vorovoro was quite exciting the anticipation of what I would see and the new world to me never having been in the southern hemisphere. Meeting Chief Alice as we arrived and touring the island under her direction gave me a sense of the path Vorovoro was taking to lead the inhabitants into an eco-friendly world. This is the rainy season here and I am surprised at the rain, sometimes soft and light on your face like a soft mist and other times soaking you to the bone with the scurry of feet to find shelter in the big bure. I slept my first night in the big bure with others just arriving. After Chief Alice left I had the Chief bure which is like a mini house of my own.
New years celebration was well underway with a party in the evening and the next day being invited to a combination of three villages celebrating the new year. There was kava ceremony, meke by two groups, dinner, and an exchange of a whales tooth between the elders of the tribes. I couldn’t comprehend all of it or the procedures, but it was very exciting. We had practiced a meke in the boat if we were to perform, but the rains came
I’m still finding my way with the new language and the greetings as you walk through the village. What is expected of me as far as manners and customs I’m not sure yet. I get a lot of prompting by what is called your wing man. Past Chief Chris was great at passing on his knowledge of these things as Alice had left and he stepped in to answer my questions. What a wonderful atmosphere. Thank you all for allowing me to be chief for January.

We had a wonderful sustainability tour. This was an explaination of the bio gas converter from the pig poo. Apparently we need more pig poo so the other villages are going to contribute to the cause of bio gas with their pig poo.

We have Mariah a marine biologist staying on the island and she took a number of people on a reef tour. Vorovoro is lucky enough to have one of the best coral reefs in the world. She explained some of the marine life and took pictures and later showed the pictures to everyone on the trip. We have a couple of great books in the library with pictures and information on fish in the area that are great to look at before and after a snorkel trip. Great after working in the gardens.
h2. Why would you like to be Chief?

I would like to go to Vorovoro with a purpose in mind. I would like to talk to the children as I have on my job as an Environmental Educator. I have been working with the Environmental Education Program with my work. I don’t know how much would apply to an island, but I would like to show them what conservation is like in the west. I perform a magic show as the Water Witch and each element applies to water conservation or uses of water. I also have some teaching materials for the school. Working for the largest “Dam” agency in the western United States I think it would be a real treat for me to show them where I come from.

What would you like to achieve as Chief?

I am an engineer, so I have some understanding of the problems they are attempting to address. Although the difference in living in a cold climate in the middle of a continent would require me to listen to those that actively live there, but I might be able to give a fresh perspective.

What, other than your skills, makes YOU the right person for this role?

I’m a hard worker and my sub-conscious is always working on ideas and solutions. I am a good listener. I would appreciate the opportunity to serve.

What would you like to achieve as Chief?

I would like to be one more step in helping the island toward its goal. I would continue the ongoing projects ahead of me and maybe in starting with the children by helping with the educational program, they will remember that they are not alone in this quest to save the planet. Entertaining as well as educating is a powerful tool so that people retain what they learn. I would hope that they would learn as much from me as I will be learning from them.

As Chief you will be given a small pot of money with which to leave your legacy. How will you spend it?

I would like to spend it on something that could be used by the tribe or on maintenance of the existing projects. Another wind generator or solar power seems to be a viable project or an additional composting toilet. (I’ve always wanted a toilet named after me; people have always said I full of it.) I thought about farming implements or seeds, but the introduction on non-indigenous species would worry me. I wanted to send some solar path lighting. Not being on the island I don’t know the best use of the funds since a lot of initial work has been done. Since the Chief does not pay for time on the island I would donate back my three weeks to the island treasury.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I have been an amateur magician for over 30 years. I have developed my own act in water magic. Like I mentioned previously. I also do a parlor act. I plan on adapting my show and bringing what I can carry. I hope there are a couple of tables I can use to set up my act and perform some evening. I also have a couple of tricks associated with stories of the west and of course some weird things. I also swing dance and would be happy to teach basic lessons to the tribe.

In one sentence, why should the tribe elect you Chief?

I have want to be a part of something exciting my whole life and I see this as that opportunity.