Paddling as 'Pelagic Postcolonialism': Pacific voyaging resurgence, ocean justice and outrigger canoe racing (Va'a) in Fiji.

This article explores va'a, or outrigger canoe racing, in Fiji as a multifaceted sporting practice deeply rooted in Pacific seafaring heritage and shaped by postcolonial dynamics. Emerging in the 1980s amid regional decolonisation, Fiji va'a has developed notable inclusivity across gender, ethnicity, and age, contrasting with the racialised and gendered nature of dominant Fijian sports. The sport functions simultaneously as a competitive modern game, a cultural movement reclaiming indigenous voyaging traditions, and a socio-ecological practice aligned with ocean justice and climate activism. Fiji paddlers’ engagement with the ocean reflects a regional postcolonial resistance to historical subjugation and environmental threats, a phenomenon described as "pelagic postcolonialism." Despite challenges related to class and geographic access, va'a continues to grow as a distinctive expression of Pacific identity and environmental stewardship.