The Nagilogilo clan (yavusa), who are traditional owners of the island, reside in the two villages of Nasau and Navuniivi in the Navitilevu District (tikina), within the larger traditional Nakorotubu District in the Ra Province.
traditional Nakorotubu District in Ra Province
The traditional Nakorotubu district refers to a historic boundary, which has since been broken up into seven smaller districts.
The Nagilogilo clan has strong cultural and historical ties to the island, as it was believed to be an old village site.
The Navitilevu region, of which Vatu-i-Ra Island is a part, has a diversity of habitats including fresh water systems and their associated natural resources. People in this region heavily depend on their natural environment for sustenance and income, given their distance from urban centers.
The customary right to this fishing ground (qoliqoli) is communally owned by the vanua Nakorotubu, which includes 45 clans within the 7 districts.
The area, which is referred to as qoliqoli Cokovata Nakorotubu, is shared by all 28 villages that are spread across amalgamated Nakorotubu District.
Decisions relating to qoliqoli Nakorotubu are made at the traditional forum known locally as the Bose Vanua Cokovata Nakorotubu.