On 13 July 2000, Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase presented to the Great Council
of Chiefs in Fiji a document titled “Blueprint for the protection of Fijian & Rotuman
rights and interests, and the advancement of their development,” a set of proposals that
covered “issues which have been of great concern to Fijians and Rotumans regarding the
security of their rights and interests as the indigenous communities in Fiji, and also the
advancement and acceleration of their development, so that they can participate on an
equitable basis in the progress of our country” (Qarase, 2000). This paper presents an
analysis of a challenge to the grouping of Rotumans with Fijians as indigenes under the
Blueprint, and Rotuman responses to arguments denying their indigeneity.