2013 Reunion of the Buatava Family Reunion

1. This presentation is dedicated to our
forefathers and relatives who have
gone before us and it is our prayers
that one day we will all meet again.
Happy Reunion and God Bless
gone before us and it is our prayers
that one day we will all meet again.
Happy Reunion and God Bless

2. And Melanesian Roots:
Fiji

4. …then, to Fiji!

5.  Saint Peter Chanel was martyred on the Island of
Futuna in 1841.
• Some of his conspirators later became strong
followers of the Catholic faith.
 One of these men was SULIANO TEUKE who was
from the village of Lavegahau on the Island of
Wallis (Uea).
• Suliano and his brother volunteered to
accompany Bishop Vidal as missionaries to the
Fiji Islands.
 The BUATAVA and YAVALA families of
Lomanikoro, Rewa; the KAVENI and TUKANA
families of Nasilai, Rewa; are direct descendents of
Suliano Teuke.

6.  In Fiji, Suliano lived in Lomanikoro, Rewa. The ROKO TUI
DREKETI heard about a ‘Wallisian’ in his village. He
summoned Suliano, gave him land for a house, and made
him a helper in his home. Some Tongans were also living at
the village of Nasigatoka at the time.
 Suliano married a Lomanikoro woman, presumably
BUATAVA whose residence (yavu) was “Marakinakula”,
and had 2 sons, SEVARO and WALUSIO.
• WALUSIO married MELANIA from Lomanikoro, mataqali Nasimiti,
yavusa Sauturaga, and had 2 sons BATITA and WALUSIO Jnr who
died young.
• SEVARO married ELA from Nasilai, mataqali Daunakelo, yavusa
Vulagi and moved from Lomanikoro to Nasilai.

7.  Sevaro and Ela stayed in Nasilai village until the Roko
Tui Dreketi summoned them to Lomanikoro
permanently. They belong to the family known as Qase
Vale Levu, mataqali Naivikivai, yavusa Burenivalu,
tokatoka Bure o Rewa. Their traditional role is
heralds of the Roko Tui Dreketi with traditonal links to
other villages around Fiji. Their plant is the famous
misimisi. Their children were ABARAMO, SISILIA
and RESINA

8.  ABARAMO married ELA VOSA from Nasilai, and
her father was Mateo Baraiwai from the vale o
Nakuna, mataqali Vuaniboro, yavusa Vulagi, while
her mother was Makarina daughter of a Catechist
from Nakaseleka Kadavu.
• They had 5 sons: MILIKADE, TUIMATEO,
SEVARO, WALUSIO, JOE KINGDOM; and 2
daughters: JOSIVINI and MAKERETA.
We are the grand-children, great
grandchildren, and great, great
grand-children of Abaramo and
Ela Vosa.

9.  Abaramo and his family settled in Lomanikoro and their
household names or yavu were Beqa, Marakinakula and
Waya.
 He was a self-sufficient, skillful, very religious and well respected.
His plantations included Naselesele, Navukica and Naikorokoro.
 He was also a great masseur, widely known for healing all sorts of
sicknesses in Lomanikoro and surrounding villages.
 His strong faith in Christianity has been passed down to all his all
his children.
• One of his grandsons became a priest, Father Vitori Buatava
(ordained ‘83 and deceased on 27/07/1997);
• His yaca (namesake) Abaramo is a talatala (pastor) in the
Assembly of God faith.

11. Tukaqu
Abaramo
Bu Ela
Nau Mili
Nau Tui
Nau Walusio
Nei Ma
Nau Joe
Nau Sevaro

12. Lorosio Makereta
Karolina
Milikade Maria Bai
Maika Siteri

13. Tuimateo
Tabua
Josivini Milikade Abaramo

14. Sevaro Maria
Batita Lora Paulina Salome Rosalia

15. Abraham
Isaac
Ioane Batita
Linda

16. Patrick
Rosalia
Vernon
Vernon Snr

17. Maria Johnson
Salome
Sevaro Johnson

18. Avisake

19. Teuke Family
Walusio Avisake
Fr Vitori
Sevaro Walusio Maria Lavenia Manoa Kelera

21. Jessica Vitori
Amelia
Christine

23. Ilisoni Lepani Ilisoni Jnr

24. Makereta Baraki
Patemo
Taniela Abaramo
Sireli
Joe Sekove
Diana
Emele

25. Mary
Voreqe Abaramo
Tuimateo
Sevaro
Diana
Milikade
Ela Ana
Joe