Bad Fiji Gyals Collective logo. Text reads: Bad Fiji Gyals. Sugarcane graphic is on both sides of text.

Viti
We want to acknowledge KaiViti/Indigenous and iTaukei communities across Viti (Fiji) and pay our respects to their elders of the past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their continuing connection to the Vanua, ocean and community.

Aotearoa
I want to acknowledge the Mana Whenua of Tamāki Makaurau, Ngāti Pāoa; Ngāi Tai; Ngāti Whātua; Te Wai-o-Hua/Ngā Oho; Ngāti Te Ata; and Te Kawerau-a-Maki, whose stolen land I live and work from. As tauiwi (non-Māori) Indo-Fijian woman I recognise that I benefit from living on this stolen land in the settler state of New Zealand. As tauiwi I also seek to honour and commit to upholding Māori sovereignty in Aotearoa through our partnership in He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.


U.S.
I aim to break down all kinds of supremacy within the communities that I come from and that also means accepting how I benefit from living on stolen land in North America. I pay my respects to the Jalquin, Lisjan, Chochenyo and Karkin peoples (Ohlone communities across the East Bay, California) while knowing that all Indigenous and Black communities continue to face genocide, displacement and police brutality across the U.S.

The Bad Fiji Gyals Collective

Tamil Girmitiya Heritage and Queer Politics with Salvin Kumar

Image collage of Salvin. Close up image of Salvin looking towards the camera and smiling. Graphics of pink hibiscus flowers, rainbows and books are surrounding him. Upper right corner is an image of an adult and a child smiling and reading Fiji-Baat the book together. Lower left corner is an image of the cover art for Fiji-Baat the book. Upper left corner text reads: Salvin Kumar.

CLICK HERE TO READ TRANSCRIPT

About Salvin

Salvin Kumar (he/him/his) is a social worker, living and working on Gadigal and Bidjigal lands of the Eora nation. He was born and raised in Vitogo Village, Fiji and is a descendant of Tamil Girmitiyas. After finishing a teaching degree, Salvin taught on the island of Taveuni, Suva City and his hometown of Lautoka before migrating to Australia in 2013.

Salvin is passionate about creating visibility and empowering the Fijian LGBTQIA+ community. He has performed dance, storytelling and spoken word poetry at various Queer events. In 2020 he co-founded a closed group on Facebook called Global Queer People of Fiji and has since run programs such as Queer-Talanoa where one talks about LGBTQIA+ issues and Queer-Dost which is a peer-mentoring program aimed at reducing isolation and supporting the community.

In his free time Salvin practices yoga, cooks Mandraaji food, draws and writes poetry. "A Darker Shade" (2015) and "This Story" (2018) are two of his published poems. In mid 2020, he self-published "Fiji-Baat" as a tribute to his heritage. "Fiji-Baat" hopes to reconnect children to their carer's/parents and grandparents, so that inter-generational teaching and learning can continue as the world sees change and deals with a pandemic like COVID.

He hopes that through his life, he helps make other people's journey easier than his.

Link to buy Fiji-Baat the book

Performance: Salvin Kumar – How My Brown Family Reacted To My Gay Wedding

Also available on YouTube

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Vinaka vakalevu to the ongoing support of the Fiji Museum in accessing archival material and research.

Vinaka vakalevu to our family and friends who have contributed to our work and this collective. Without your support we would not be here today.

Vinaka vakalevu to everyone who contributed to our GoFundMe fundraiser.

© Bad Fiji Gyals 2020