Ralph Regenvanu: Difference between revisions
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'''Ralph Regenvanu''' (born in 1971 on [[Malakula|Malakula Island]], [[Malampa Province]], [[Vanuatu]])<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> is a ni-Vanuatu [[anthropologist]], [[artist]] and [[politician]]. He has been a [[Parliament of Vanuatu|Member of Parliament]] since September 2008, and is the Director of the Vanuatu National Cultural Council. |
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==Work in the field of culture== |
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Regenvanu studied [[anthropology]], [[archeology]] and [[development studies]] at the [[Australian National University]], obtaining a [[Master's degree]] in anthropology in 1991, before becoming [[curator]] of the [[National Museum of Vanuatu]]. ''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'' describes him as "Vanuatu's first anthropologist".<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/culture/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=3578&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html "M. Ralph Regenvanu: Anthropologue, Directeur du Centre culturel de Vanuatu"], [[UNESCO]], 2003</ref> <ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.lnc.nc/articles/article_70192_225173_70375.htm "« Ralph », un anthropologue passionné de politique"], ''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'', September 4, 2008</ref> |
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From 1995 to 2006, he was the director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, and was subsequently tasked with overseeing Vanuatu's ongoing "Year of [[Kastom]] Economy" (2008), in accordance with a government policy which aimed at preserving or reviving traditional indigenous economics.<ref>[http://www.vanuatuculture.org/documents/CustomEconomyBlurb.doc "The Year of the Traditional Economy – What is it all about?"], Ralph Regenvanu</ref> In 1994, he helped formulate a Vanuatu Cultural Research Policy, and has been a prominent advocate for the protection of the country's biodiversity. He has advocated the use of [[Custom (law)|customary law]] -as opposed to a legal system derived from [[Law of the United Kingdom|British]] and [[Law of France|French]] models- in the [[juvenile justice]] sector.<ref>[http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2008/04/27/regional-leaders-making-a-difference "Regional Leaders Making a Difference"], ''Pacific Magazine'', April 27, 2008</ref> He has stated that, although the Constitution recognises both "traditional Melanesian values" and [[Christianity]] as the bases of contemporary ni-Vanuatu society, the latter tends to overshadow the former. He has attempted to highlight the importance of indigenous customs and their present-day relevance.<ref>[http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Online/Vanuatu/Bolton.htm "Praying for the revival of kastom: Women and Christianity in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre"], Lissant Bolton, Emalus Library Online Documents Collection, November 1998</ref> The ''Vanuatu Daily Post'' describes him as "a world authority on [[Kastom|custom]]".<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> |
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In 1996, he spearheaded the setting up of Fest'Napuan, an annual musical festival, described by the Vanuatu Tourism Office as "the premier cultural event of the year", and by the ''Vanuatu Daily Post'' as "one of the major music festivals in the South Pacific". In 2007, the festival lasted four days and attracted an audience of over 30,000 people. In the past, it has attracted musicians from [[New Caledonia]], the [[Solomon Islands]], [[Fiji]], [[West Papua]], [[Easter Island]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], and in 2004 it was broadcast live by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/export/sites/VTO/en/events/fest_napuan.html "Fest Napuan Musical Festival 2008"], Vanuatu Tourism Office</ref> <ref>[http://australianetwork.com/pacificpulse/stories/2469427.htm "Celebrating contemporary music"], Australia Network</ref> |
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In 1998, he began working in collaboration with [[UNESCO]] as a delegate of Vanuatu and of the [[Pacific Islands]] more generally. Since then, he has represented Vanuatu in a number of international conferences. As of 2003, he was Secretary of the Executive Council of the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA).<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/culture/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=3578&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html "M. Ralph Regenvanu: Anthropologue, Directeur du Centre culturel de Vanuatu"], UNESCO, 2003</ref> As of 2007, he was a member of the Advisory Committee of Experts for the UNESCO World Report on Cultural Diversity.<ref>[http://www.vanuatuculture.org/organisation/20070513_ralph_expert_meetings.shtml "Ralph Regenvanu represents Pacific in expert meetings of UNESCO"], Vanuatu Cultural Centre, May 13, 2007</ref> |
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In 2004, Regenvanu initiated the process to have sites associated with [[Roy Mata]] inscribed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], the first in Vanuatu, which was accomplished in 2008.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00379.htm "Forbidden Island First Pacific World Heritage Site"], Australian National University press release, July 14, 2008</ref> |
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In April 2005, when the [[Malvatu Mauri]] (National Council of Chiefs) imposed a ban on the custom of the [[bride price]], he organised a meeting of chiefs aimed at finding "a realistic balance between tradition and modernity" in the customs of contemporary Vanuatu.<ref>[http://lyris.spc.int/read/messages?id=40026 "Interdiction de dots monétaires lors des mariages au Van uatu"], Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 29, 2005</ref> |
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In June 2006, as director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, he participated in a discussion on the ownership of cultural objects, organised by the [[Musée du Quai Branly]] in [[Paris]].<ref>[http://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/actualites/actualites-par-rubriques/archives-des-actualites/rencontres-au-musee-du-quai-branly/qui-possede-les-objets/index.html "Qui possède les objets ?"], [[Musée du Quai Branly]]</ref> |
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On November 10, 2006, he was awarded the title of ''[[Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]'' ([[knighthood|Knight]] in the Order of Arts and Letters) by the government of [[France]], for his work in the field of culture, and more specifically for his years of work with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. Seven days later, he was awarded the title ''Libehkamel Tah Tomat'' (Caretaker of the Sacred Nakamal (men’s house)) by Chief Matthias Batick of the Nende people of South West Bay, [[Malakula]]. The Vanuatu Cultural Centre explains that the title "comes with his attainment of the first grade in one of the traditional grade-taking systems" of the region. Regenvanu retired as Director of the Cultural Centre in December<ref>[http://www.vanuatuculture.org/fieldworkers/20061204_director_honoured.shtml "Director Ralph Regenvanu honoured with medal and customary title"], Vanuatu Cultural Centre, December 4, 2006</ref>, and subsequently entered politics. As of 2008, however, he remains Director of the Vanuatu National Cultural Council<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200804/s2217300.htm "Anger in Vanuatu over death while filming traditional diving"], ABC Radio Australia, April 15, 2008</ref>, combining his work in the cultural field with his political career.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/ra/programguide/stories/200804/s2217742.htm "Cultural Council director to stand in Vanuatu election"], ABC Radio Australia, April 15, 2008</ref> |
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==Political career== |
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''Pacific Magazine'' stated in April 2008 that "Regenvanu is seen as one of Vanuatu's future political leaders".<ref>[http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2008/04/27/regional-leaders-making-a-difference "Regional Leaders Making a Difference"], ''Pacific Magazine'', April 27, 2008</ref> When he announced his intention to stand for election to Parliament, the ''Vanuatu Daily Post'' expressed the following opinion, which garnered favourable comments from readers' feedback: |
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:''"It will not be easy but if Regenvanu can get young people behind him and voting in numbers as well as women and people who are fed up with seeing the same politicians come into power and achieving little, then he could pave the way for a new trend of highly educated Ni Vanuatu politicians to enter politics and see change that everyone wants."''<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> |
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''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'', a [[New Caledonian]] newspaper, emphasised his relative youth (he was 37), the fact that he was a new voice in politics, and his apparent public support.<ref>[http://www.lnc.nc/articles/article_70192_225173_70375.htm "« Ralph », un anthropologue passionné de politique"], ''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'', September 4, 2008</ref> |
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He was [[Vanuatuan general election, 2008|elected]] to [[Parliament of Vanuatu|Vanuatu's parliament]] representing [[Port Vila]] as an [[independent candidate]] on September 2, 2008.<ref>[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41814 "Two political veterans in Vanuatu may have lost seats in yesterday’s poll"], Radio New Zealand International, September 3, 2008</ref> ''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'' and ''Islands Business'' reported that he had received a record high number of votes.<ref>[http://www.lnc.nc/articles/article_70192_225175_70375.htm "Regenvanu, la surprise des législatives"], ''Les Nouvelles calédoniennes'', September 4, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=18188/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl "NATAPEI LEADS BUT FEARS OF INSTABILITY LOOM: Independents offer a fresh new face to Vanuatu politics"], ''Islands Business'', September 2008</ref> Despite remaining an independent, he described politicians [[Ephraim Kalsakau]] and [[Moana Carcasses]] as people "I can work with and have respect for".<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> Caracasses is leader of the [[Green Confederation]] and [[Whip (politics)|whip]] of the parliamentary Opposition to Prime Minister [[Edward Natapei]]'s government. The press describe Regenvanu as being a member of the Opposition.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3513 "MPs to challenge any motion to suspend them"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', January 17, 2009</ref> |
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In January 2009, he announced that he would use part of his allowance as Member of Parliament to set up and finance scholarships for students at the [[University of the South Pacific]] Foundation in Port Vila.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3576 "Regenvanu initiates scholarship scheme for Port Vila USP Foundation students"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', January 23, 2009</ref> <ref>[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/archives/actualites/?p=2611 "Initiative intéressante et originale de Ralph Regenvanu"], ABC Radio Australia, February 9, 2009</ref> |
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Ralph Regenvanu's father, [[Sethy Regenvanu]], was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the government of Prime Minister [[Walter Lini]] in the 1980s.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=2507 "Ralph Regenvanu to stand in elections"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', April 17, 2008</ref> His mother, Dorothy Regenvanu, is a pastor in the [[Presbyterian Church]].<ref>[http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Online/Vanuatu/Bolton.htm "Praying for the revival of kastom: Women and Christianity in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre"], Lissant Bolton, Emalus Library Online Documents Collection, November 1998</ref> |
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===Arrest in December 2008=== |
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In December 2008, thirty inmates of Vanuatu’s main prison in Port Vila escaped after starting a fire in the prison. Regenvanu announced that he had received word in advance of the jailbreak attempt, from the prisoners themselves. He stated that he had found twenty-six of the escaped prisoners and taken them to the [[National Council of Chiefs]]'s [[nakamal]], where they would be cared for by "community leaders". He stated that they had been ill-treated while in prison, and that they feared being beaten by prison staff if they returned. The prisoners were re-arrested and taken back to prison. On December 19, Regenvanu and fellow Member of Parliament [[Moana Carcasses]] were arrested, detained for 24 hours, and charged with aiding the prisoners in their escape. Among the charges were "harbouring and aiding of prisoners", "obstructing police on duty" and "accessory after the fact" to the breakout. They were released, provisionally, and appeared in court in February 2009.<ref>[http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2008/December/12-22-02.htm "30 INMATES ESCAPE FROM PORT VILA PRISON"], Radio New Zealand International, December 19, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3462 "Carcasses and Regenvanu charged"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', December 23, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/archives/actualites/?p=1980 "Nouvelles allégations dans l’incendie de la prison de Port Vila"], ABC Radio Australia, December 26, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://24hdanslepacifique.com/archives/breves-du-pacifique/?p=2593 "Deux députés du Vanuatu comparaissent aujourd’hui devant la cour de première instance"], ABC Radio Australia, February 6, 2009</ref> <ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3661 "Magistrate refuses application to strike out MPs’ case"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', February 4, 2009</ref> |
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In January, Prime Minister [[Edward Natapei]]'s government stated that it would consider seeking Regenvanu's and Carcasses' suspension from Parliament over the charges.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=3513 "MPs to challenge any motion to suspend them"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', January 17, 2009</ref> |
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==Artist== |
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Regenvanu is also a [[Painting|painter]] and [[drawing|illustrator]] and, in 1996, published an article entitled "L'art contemporain au Vanuatu" in a French book on ni-Vanuatu art.<ref>Ralph Regenvanu, "L'art contemporain au Vanuatu" ''in'' Christian Kaufmann, Roger Boulay & Kirk Huffman (eds.), ''Vanuatu Océanie: arts des îles de cendre et de corail'', Paris, 1996, ISBN 2-7118-2914-6</ref> In 2004, he provided the illustrations for a book on ni-Vanuatu legends produced by the Vanuatu Cultural Centre.<ref>Vanuatu Cultural Centre, ''La légende de l'anguille et autres histoires de l'île d'Uripiv'', 2004, ISBN 982-9032-05-1</ref> |
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In May 2006, one of his paintings was exhibited at the [[British Museum]] during a temporary exhibition on Melanesian art.<ref>[http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/melanesia_project/visitors_to_the_collection.aspx "Melanesia project"], [[British Museum]]</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://books.google.fr/books?id=aMwAPtHcB74C&pg=PA194&lpg=PA194&dq=Ralph+Regenvanu&source=bl&ots=uGI_1aQzXa&sig=IwlnA51udI-cjxAlsxsgBndXH24&hl=fr&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA194,M1 "Educational Initiatives of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre"], Ralph Regenvanu, ''in'' Kabina Sanga, John Niroa, Kalmele Matai & Linda Crowl (eds.), ''Rethinking Vanuatu Education Together'', University of the South Pacific, 2004, ISBN 9820203619 |
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{{lifetime|1971||Regenvanu, Ralph}} |
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[[Category:Vanuatuan politicians]] |
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[[Category:Vanuatuan anthropologists]] |
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[[Category:Vanuatuan artists]] |
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[[Category:People from Malampa]] |
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[[Category:Australian National University alumni]] |
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