This research examines how Indigenous Fijian communities are responding to changes in land use and climate, and what supports their resilience. Indigenous communities across Fiji are facing increasing pressures from cyclones, droughts, and shifting farming practices, affecting not only food production, but also culture, livelihoods, and wellbeing.

Working with four rural Indigenous communities with diverse food systems and ways of living, the study compares how these pressures are experienced and managed using traditional knowledge and practices. By comparing these communities, this research intends to identify the factors that strengthen resilience.

The research combines community knowledge with structured data to build a clearer understanding of what resilience looks like on the ground. Using simple indicators across environmental, social, cultural, and economic areas, it assesses how resilience can be supported and strengthened. Data collection is carried out through a talanoa approach, alongside group discussions and household surveys, ensuring community voices remain central.

Talanoa is a Pacific research approach based on open, respectful conversation, where people share stories, experiences, and perspectives in a way that builds trust and generates meaningful, culturally grounded knowledge.