The Family History Library has microfilmed 117 reels of records from the Native Lands Commission at the Ministry of Fijian Affairs in 1981-1982.
Includes evidence books, clan genealogies, and registers of native land owners. The evidence books consist of sworn testimony on the extent of the communal land holdings of Fijian clans. Clan genealogies consist of sworn statements and pedigree charts. The land owner registers list the members of each clan along with their birthyear or birthdate, references to parentage and death date if known. In most cases there is an original set of land owner registers that was updated with a supplement; and a second set of registers that were continuously updated with new children born into the clan. Also includes evidence books for reserve lands and fishing rights.
The set of registers listed under each province as “Land owner registers (new)” is indexed by a card file that was also filmed. The index cards include information on birthdate and family relation- ships. The index number on each card consists of a: clan no., line no., and province abbreviation. For example: (7-676)Tl refers to clan no. 7, individual on line no. 676, in Tailevu Province
Land records were generated by the Native Lands Commission to provide legal title for clans to their traditional land holdings. A land commissioner was sent to each province to obtain oral testimony on holdings and clan genealogy. Information was then compiled into registers (Vola ni Kawa) of clan members that shared in the communal ownership of the clan. Vital information goes back to early 1800’s.
They are not available for loan within Fiji. See Film Notes for details of each reel.
i wish to search for the first original map that contain the lautoka city and the original clan that first inherit or own this place and if its Navatulevu clan,i wish if i can have a copy of this map and its sworn testimony as i one of them searching for my clan geneoligy and match with mine today.
Your best bet is the National Archives of Fiji. They have records from the first white settlers onwards, and particularly Land Claims Commission reports for land claimed by Europeans.
Thanks Carole for this post! I was wondering if this was accessible to view in Fiji. Happy to hear that I can get it from the LDS Family Centre.
Although if it says “No circulation to family history centers in Fiji” does that mean they still will send it to Australia?
They will send films to Australia that can’t be sent to family history centres in Fiji, including all the birth, marriage and death registration films.
Hi Carole
I wish to research land title probate and crown grant for Fiji 1879 to 1935 How do I do this.
I now live in Australia
Start with the Family History Library – you can find their libraries (now called FamilySearch Centers) and catalogue of films at https://familysearch.org/
Hi Carole, I just wanted to say thank you for this post. I first read it back in 2012 and finally made an effort this year to order microfilms for Bua province from the Native Land Records 1890-1980 at FamilySearch.
I finally was able to piece together my bubus (maternal grand-mother) family tree and confirm oral history. I have been able to add hundreds to my family tree from the land records (VKB). Although if I was persistent and pedantic about it, I could add thousands more as I’m pretty sure from just going through the records I’m related to everyone from Tikina vou (sub-district) Lekutu!
I wish it was that easy to trace my other Fijian female relatives.