BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
High in the mist-covered hills of Choiseul Province, Oliveti Village sits among green forests and towering mountains.
It was a place where time seemed to move slowly, and the old ways of the village people is still very much alive.
But within this peaceful landscape, it is the women of Oliveti who carry the weight of the village on their shoulders, weaving the fabric of daily life through their work, their wisdom, and their strength.
Each day in Oliveti begins before the first light of dawn, where the women rise early, long before the roosters crow or before the sun begins to peek over the horizon.
Their homes, built from local materials like bamboo, timber, and palm leaves, are simple but durable, and filled with the quiet hum of daily activity.
As the cool morning mist began to lift from the valley, the women go about their chores, preparing breakfast for their families.
Breakfast is often healthy root crops like taro or potatoes which are cooked and served with vegetables plucked from their own gardens.
The morning meal was simple but nourishing, a reflection of the land that feeds them.
“The women are the bridge between the old and the new,” said Vaelyn Voqa a mother of five.
“One of the most important roles the women play is gardening.
“They managed the gardens that feed the village or families—gardens filled with root crops like sweet potatoes, yams, as well as fruits. Their hands work tirelessly in the soil, planting, weeding, and harvesting to provide for their families,” she said with smile.
The women in Oliveti like many others, ensure crops are harvested at the right time.
In the afternoons, after a day’s work in the garden or after spending time with the children, the women would engage in various crafts.
“The skill of weaving was passed down through generations. I learn the art from my mother before I moved here with my husband in 2012. I weave baskets, a skill that took years to perfect. Sometimes I send them to Honiara and Taro to sell at the market,” she said.
For the women of Oliveti, weaving was not just a means of making a living; they were expressions of their identity, their connection to the land, and their role in the community.
A traditional craft and one as an identity of the women of Oliveti.
Life in Oliveti was not lived in isolation for women as they share everything, from the burdens of daily chores to the joys of raising children. The community was built on mutual support, and it is the women who ensure that this support system remains strong.
Like women across the Solomon Islands, the women of Oliveti are no strangers to hardship. There were times when the rains didn’t come, and the crops withered. There were times when sickness struck the village, and many were unable to afford medicine. But even in the face of difficulty, the women stood strong. They were the backbone of the village, the ones who kept things running when life was tough.
“Women here work together. To achieve what we want, or the community want, we usually come together, discuss as sisters, and carry on with what we want. At the end of the day, we see our achievement,” she said.
Oliveti village has begun to seeing the arrival of new ideas and technologies. Solar-powered lights replaced the kerosene lamps, and mobile phones now make it easier for families to stay in touch with the outside world.
“With these new changes came new opportunities and challenges for the women,” she said.
The women of Oliveti work hard, as they do every day, to ensure that their families and their village thrive. They carry with them the strength of generations, the strength of women who had always known that their role in Oliveti was not just about surviving, but about shaping the future of their community.
It is the women who keep the heart of the Oliveti. They are the silent draftswomen of Oliveti’s story, a story of strength, community, and love that will continue to echo through the hills for generations to come.
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