Mitiaro reaffirmed its deep cultural roots on Thursday with a powerful and symbolic traditional ceremony to welcome a seabed mining exploration team to the island.

Despite the strong ocean currents on arrival, the visiting team from Moana Minerals was greeted with a unique Ngaputoru custom – walking over a line of fire before meeting the island’s chief representatives and the rest of the Mitiaro community.

Julian Aupuni Jnr, the official spokesperson for three Arikis and the island of Mitiaro, led the welcome.

Carrying a spear and blowing a conch shell, he guided the ceremony that was steeped in the traditional practices of the southern Cook Islands sister islands of Ngaputoru – Mitiaro, Mauke, and Atiu.

“So this is one of our traditional customary things we used to do. Every visiting group coming on the boat, I do the welcoming, and that’s why you came across the fire,” Aupuni Jnr explained.

“That means to clean up your salt from the seawater. That’s why we set up a fire. You have to climb or walk over it no matter how hot it is. Don’t be scared. You won’t get burned. You have to cross.”

In the next stage of the welcome, the team leader was invited to approach a cooked pig – a sacred and symbolic part of the ceremony.

“So that’s why I asked the leader of the team to bite the right ear of the pig. So that means, it’s for you to listen to what the words will be given out by the leaders of the island. Even by our chief. Even by myself, as a speaker of the chief,” said Aupuni Jnr.

However, the team leader Hans Smit, president and chief executive officer of Moana Minerals, chose a gentler gesture.

“He was scared of biting the ear. I knew he was scared when I was looking at him so I said it’s okay, just kiss on the forehead (of the pig) is okay,” Aupuni Jnr shared.

While the tradition is specifically upheld in Mitiaro, Aupuni Jnr says it is a Ngaputoru custom.

“I don’t know about the other two islands, Mauke and Atiu, even though all the three islands are connected to each other. That’s why they are called the sister islands or Ngaputoru. But over here, I’m always doing that, even at the airport.”

The ceremony is conducted for all visitors arriving by sea – whether locals or guests. Importantly, school students are always involved.

“We will invite the school students to come and join us … to watch what’s going on, and what we are doing,” he said.

“To me, it’s better to uphold these traditions and cultural practices in our respective islands or in our country… Ngaputoru is supposed to uphold our heritage and our culture for the next generations.”

Moana Minerals, one of the three licensed companies currently undertaking seabed mineral exploration in the Cook Islands, visited the Ngaputoru – Mangaia, Mitiaro, Mauke and Enua Manu – as part of its community engagement tour.

• Talaia Mika is on board Moana Minerals’ exploration vessel Anuanua Moana, visiting Southern Pa Enua for consultations as part of its environmental and social engagement efforts.