[ 16 ] DAILY POST | Saturday, July 17, 2021 FEATURE NEWS New Taf Tumas stories now available A year ago, for Vanuatu’s Tumas: Different journeys, one was launched. Here are some also visit www.taftumas.com are available at the Alliance community-driven initiative 40th Independence people children’s story book new Taf Tumas stories for you for audio stories in English, Francaise and the Tana to encourage greater literacy anniversary, the wonderful Taf about inspiring ni-Vanuatu to enjoy and share. You can French and Bislama. Books Russet Plaza. Taf Tumas is a for all of Vanuatu’s children. “The delicious ‘Constitution Soup’ of ...” “The unifying politics of ...” CLEMENT MARTINEZ JOHN NARINAM NAUPA Chef and restaurateur Independence Leader | BORN 1941 ERROMANGO | 1940–93 Independence leaders who expected to finalise friendships and a strong foundation for the the draft Constitution that day in preparation emerging Independence movement. for Independence in 1980. “Ten o’clock passed, John’s first job included sailing our islands eleven o’clock, midnight ... but still no sign of and connecting with New Hebrideans of all all the men who were involved in the drafting,” cultures and languages. His next was with the Clement recalls. “The wives gave up waiting at British District Agent touring Central District 2. home when it became clear there was to be no John developed a burning vision for a strong, celebration dinner that night.” democratic nation. He joined the As Clement started to lock up, he received a National Party when it was founded in 1971. phone call from Father Walter Lini, the soon-to-be In 1975, John and his wife Anne agreed Prime Minister of the new nation of Vanuatu. they would work as a family to support “Clement”, he said, “we’ve finally agreed on the Independence. As the Party spokesperson Constitution! Can we come and eat now?” “Bien and Independence activist for Aneityum, sûr (of course),” agreed Clement, who returned Futuna, Aniwa and Erromango, John worked to his kitchen and began to whip up a perfect full time preparing people in the south for recipe for the occasion even though it was three Independence. In 1978, he was elected into o’clock in the morning! The many drafters of the Government of National Unity and served Vanuatu’s first Constitution – including Walter John Napau as Minister for Health, and in 1979, was Lini, , John Naupa, Barak Sope, part of the small team that drafted Vanuatu’s , Vincent Boulekone and As one of 10 children, Narinam knew the Constitution. Clement Martinez Gerard Leymang – descended on L’Houstalet, value of hard work and doing his part to help John also served as Vanuatu’s first Minister where Clement served special French onion soup. his family in north Erromango. “We must work for Transport, Communications and Public Once there was a boy in Carcassonne, France “You should call this ‘Constitution Soup’!” the together to help each other in this world,” he Works, and he and colleagues worked together who loved to cook. Little did he know that he satisfied leaders said. thought. to champion Independence for other Pacific would cook for the birth of a new nation in the To this day, the L’Houstalet is a historic At the mission school, Narinam was given Islands, including supporting Kanak voices in Pacific! landmark, holding an important place in the English name ‘John’. When he went to and French Polynesia. “Cooking and people are my passion,” says Vanuatu’s history of Independence. board at Onesua High School on Efate, he “Everything we achieved for our Clement, who moved to the New Hebrides in the was surprised to learn colonial rule banned Independence was because we did it together,” 1970s, when it was ruled by Britain and France, Adapted by Anna Naupa from Clement indigenous people from Vila after sunset. It said John. and started a French restaurant in Vila called Martinez’s account in the critically acclaimed did not seem right. L’Houstalet. On 4 October 1979, Clement was documentary Stamba blong Fridom (2020), with John made friends whose eyes were also Author: Anna Naupa ready to serve a celebratory dinner for Vanuatu’s permission. French translation by Georges Cumbo. opening to inequalities. They forged lifelong Artist: Ava Howlett

“The brave keeper of Independence secrets ...” “The young man who changed the future of his islands ...” KELMA NAUPA ISHMAEL PETER TAURAKOTO Typist and administrator Founder of Independence and former Ombudsman ERROMANGO | BORN 1949 LELEPA | BORN 1940 you who have been through talking about their ideas for help them secretly draft all NHCA meeting the school would come back Independence. records and independence notices. ‘You and lead us away from colonial “That night, we agreed to mustn’t tell anyone what we are doing’, powers, not take money from fight hard together for our they said, ‘or we could be arrested’.” us on their behalf!” Independence, to write to the Kelma got permission to borrow the Peter and Donald sat under colonial powers requesting typewriter. “People saw me walking with a mango tree reflecting on this and to seek the attention it down the road, it was hard to not be these frank words. “He’s of the United Nations on our noticed! They asked me what I was doing, right,” Peter said. state of affairs,” Peter recalls. so I had to make up some stories … I had “We have to do something “Agreement was also made to be careful because not everyone was to unite the New Hebrides for Peter and Donald to keep supportive of Independence, but I was.” population and protect and the NHCA operating from Kelma’s secret typing for the NHCA’s preserve our way of life!” Santo, and for Father Lini to activities established the foundation And so, the idea to establish produce the New Hebrides from which the Vanuatu Independence the New Hebrides Cultural Viewpoints newsletter from movement was born. Association (NHCA) was born. Ambae. Kelma Napua Ishmael Kelma served with the NHCA through Peter and Donald hurried Peter’s chance confrontation its renaming as the New Hebrides National back to Luganville and with Elder Avea on Malo set in The beginning of Vanuatu’s Party in 1971 and the Vanua’aku Pati in spent the rest of the day train events that helped bring Independence movement holds many 1977. Peter Taurakoto brainstorming. a nation to Independence. little-known stories about brave young “As we got closer to Independence, my “The Avunarani In 2006, Peter, Donald Melanesians eager to reclaim their islands brother John Naupa, who was also part In 1971, Peter and his confrontation was a blessing and Elder Avea met again from the colonial powers. of the political movement, asked me to cousin Donald Kalpokas were in disguise. It helped us make at Avunarani to perform a This one is about a young woman help drive secret advisers in his car to visiting Malo collecting school a life-changing decision reconciliation ceremony and named Kelma, who volunteered to be important meetings, even when we were fees for the British National that would lead along the commemorate the events of the typist for a pro-Independence group, banned from doing this,” Kelma recalls. Service. path to eventual political that fateful day. the New Hebrides Cultural Association “It was a dangerous time for us all, with At Avunarani, Presbyterian independence,” Peter (NHCA), when such groups had to hide fighting and lots of risks.” Church Elder Moli Avea recalls. Adapted by Anna Naupa from their political activities. Kelma’s bravery and courage to do what confronted them. A few months later, Peter Peter Taurakoto’s words in 25 “In 1971, I worked in the British District she believed in is an inspiration to us all “You are a disappointment met Father Walter Lini and Tingting (Presbyterian Church of administration in Santo with the NHCA today. to us,” Elder Avea said. Father John Bennett Bani, who Vanuatu), with permission and co-founder Peter Taurakoto,” Kelma says. “We struggled to build had studied with Donald in special thanks to Peter and Michael “Peter and his cousin Donald Kalpokas Author: Anna Naupa Onesua High School in the New Zealand. Taurakoto. asked to borrow my work typewriter to Artist: Uruntong hope that young people like The men spent hours Artist: Uruntong