Mana MāoriMana MāoriMāori Identity and ways of knowingMāori Identity and ways of knowing

An Indigenous World-viewAn Indigenous World-view

Paper presented Paper presented By Tānia M. Ka’aiBy Tānia M. Ka’ai

Monday, April 23, 2007Monday, April 23, 20077:00 PM – 8:30 PM7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Princess Ruth Ke’elikōlani Performing Arts CenterPrincess Ruth Ke’elikōlani Performing Arts CenterChoral Room – 3rd Floor / Kamehameha Schools KapālamaChoral Room – 3rd Floor / Kamehameha Schools Kapālama

Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of WaitangiTe Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi Founding document of Aotearoa/New Founding document of Aotearoa/New

Zealand signed on 6 February 1840Zealand signed on 6 February 1840

2 versions of the Treaty: one in Māori 2 versions of the Treaty: one in Māori signed by Māori and the other in Englishsigned by Māori and the other in English

The English version is used by the Crown The English version is used by the Crown and accordingly it states that Māori ceded and accordingly it states that Māori ceded their Sovereignty to the Crowntheir Sovereignty to the Crown

Māori were guaranteed their Māori were guaranteed their tino tino rangatiratangarangatiratanga (chiefly rights) (chiefly rights)

Mana (Mana (a cultural concept that is used to a cultural concept that is used to refer to authority, power, control, refer to authority, power, control, influence and prestige in relation to the influence and prestige in relation to the people, land and the environment).people, land and the environment).

Māori Māori nevernever ceded theirceded their sovereignty sovereignty

The Māori RenaissanceThe Māori Renaissance

Schooling can only be described as a primary Schooling can only be described as a primary instrument for taming and civilizing the nativesinstrument for taming and civilizing the natives

forging a nation which was connected at a concrete forging a nation which was connected at a concrete level with the historical and moral processes of level with the historical and moral processes of Britain. Britain.

The education system was established in accordance The education system was established in accordance with the “civilizing” agenda of the nineteenth-century with the “civilizing” agenda of the nineteenth-century state, specifically to facilitate the “Europeanising” of state, specifically to facilitate the “Europeanising” of Māori (Simon and Smith (ed.) 2001 pp 1-11). Māori (Simon and Smith (ed.) 2001 pp 1-11).

Māori have struggled to have their language, culture Māori have struggled to have their language, culture and knowledge systems validated in dominant and knowledge systems validated in dominant mainstream New Zealand education for almost 200 mainstream New Zealand education for almost 200 years. years.

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events 1816: Formal education began in New Zealand. Education 1816: Formal education began in New Zealand. Education

provided by missionaries was conveyed in Māori.provided by missionaries was conveyed in Māori.

1840: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed.1840: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed.

1847: George Grey introduced the Education Ordinance Act, 1847: George Grey introduced the Education Ordinance Act, that is, an assimilation policy.that is, an assimilation policy.

1850s The Pākehā population exceeded the Māori 1850s The Pākehā population exceeded the Māori population. The Mäori language became a minority language population. The Mäori language became a minority language in Aotearoa/New Zealand society.in Aotearoa/New Zealand society.

1867:The introduction of the Native Schools Act. Māori 1867:The introduction of the Native Schools Act. Māori people provided the land, and the Government provided the people provided the land, and the Government provided the buildings and teachers.buildings and teachers.

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events

1880: James Pope, the Inspector of Schools, drew up a Native School 1880: James Pope, the Inspector of Schools, drew up a Native School Code. Code.

1896: The official census recorded the Māori populations as reaching 1896: The official census recorded the Māori populations as reaching its lowest point of 42 113.its lowest point of 42 113.

1900: Education authorities took a hard line against the Māori 1900: Education authorities took a hard line against the Māori language, which was forbidden in the playground. Corporal language, which was forbidden in the playground. Corporal punishment was administered to children who disobeyed.punishment was administered to children who disobeyed.

1907:The Tohunga Suppression Act was introduced outlawing 1907:The Tohunga Suppression Act was introduced outlawing tohunga tohunga practices. This, like the assimilation policy of 1847, had the effect of practices. This, like the assimilation policy of 1847, had the effect of eroding Māori societyeroding Māori society..

1930/31: There was a change in direction of educational policy. This 1930/31: There was a change in direction of educational policy. This was in response 1925 Advisory Committee on African Education. The was in response 1925 Advisory Committee on African Education. The report recommended that education should be adapted to the traditions report recommended that education should be adapted to the traditions and mentality of the people and their institutions.and mentality of the people and their institutions.

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events 1940s: The 28th Māori Battalion joined the World War II allied forces. 1940s: The 28th Māori Battalion joined the World War II allied forces.

As a consequence of this, a generation of male native speakers As a consequence of this, a generation of male native speakers across a number of across a number of iwiiwi never returned home. This depleted the never returned home. This depleted the numbers of speakers of the language.numbers of speakers of the language.

The Māori urban migration began, leaving rural communities The Māori urban migration began, leaving rural communities depleted.depleted.

1950s: Western influences in the cities began to have an influence on 1950s: Western influences in the cities began to have an influence on Māori families who, as a consequence raised their children as Māori families who, as a consequence raised their children as predominately English speakers.predominately English speakers.

1952: Māori Studies was first taught as a university subject at 1952: Māori Studies was first taught as a university subject at Auckland University.Auckland University.

1960: The Hunn Report drew attention to the educational disparity 1960: The Hunn Report drew attention to the educational disparity between Māori and Pākehā. Only 0.5% of Māori children reached the between Māori and Pākehā. Only 0.5% of Māori children reached the Sixth Form as against 3.78% of Pākehā. One of the significant Sixth Form as against 3.78% of Pākehā. One of the significant contributions of the report was the rejection of the assimilation policy. contributions of the report was the rejection of the assimilation policy. Māori-Pākehā relationships were redefined in terms of ‘integration’. Māori-Pākehā relationships were redefined in terms of ‘integration’.

1963: The Currie Report emphasised the need to centralise the 1963: The Currie Report emphasised the need to centralise the notion of Māori educational underachievement, and so began a flood notion of Māori educational underachievement, and so began a flood of compensatory education programmes.of compensatory education programmes.

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events 1967: The report on Māori Education reflected a growing awareness of 1967: The report on Māori Education reflected a growing awareness of

biculturalism. ‘It must be remembered that a Māori is both a New biculturalism. ‘It must be remembered that a Māori is both a New Zealander and Māori. S/he has an inalienable right to be both…’Zealander and Māori. S/he has an inalienable right to be both…’

1970: 1970: Ngā TamatoaNgā Tamatoa and the Te Reo Māori Society lobbied for the and the Te Reo Māori Society lobbied for the introduction of Māori language in schools.introduction of Māori language in schools.

1971: The Report of the National Advisory Committee on Māori 1971: The Report of the National Advisory Committee on Māori Education took Māori education off the plateau of the sixties and Education took Māori education off the plateau of the sixties and advanced the concept of bicultural educationadvanced the concept of bicultural education

1973: All seven Teachers Colleges had established courses in Māori 1973: All seven Teachers Colleges had established courses in Māori Studies. Presentation of Māori language petition to Parliament by Studies. Presentation of Māori language petition to Parliament by Ngā Ngā TamatoaTamatoa..

1976: 123 secondary schools were recorded as teaching Māori 1976: 123 secondary schools were recorded as teaching Māori language as a curriculum subject.language as a curriculum subject.

1979: The 1979: The Te ĀtaarangiTe Ātaarangi Movement was established as a community Movement was established as a community initiative to teach Māori language to adults.initiative to teach Māori language to adults.

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events

1980: The Report of the Advisory Council for Māori Education stated “…1980: The Report of the Advisory Council for Māori Education stated “…impressive as these gains in education appear, deeply entrenched attitudes impressive as these gains in education appear, deeply entrenched attitudes are not changed overnight…negative attitudes to things Māori remain the are not changed overnight…negative attitudes to things Māori remain the legacy from our colonial history of cultural imperialism.legacy from our colonial history of cultural imperialism.

Television New Zealand screened Television New Zealand screened KohaKoha, a 30-minute Māori magazine , a 30-minute Māori magazine programme. Experiments and pilots in Māori radio broadcasting led to the programme. Experiments and pilots in Māori radio broadcasting led to the establishment of Te Ūpoko o te Ika in Wellington.establishment of Te Ūpoko o te Ika in Wellington.

1981: The 1981: The Hui WhakatauiraHui Whakatauira of Māori leaders proposed and established the of Māori leaders proposed and established the first Te Kōhanga Reo as a response to the imminence of language death.first Te Kōhanga Reo as a response to the imminence of language death.

1985: The first Kura Kaupapa Māori was established at Hoani Waititi Marae, 1985: The first Kura Kaupapa Māori was established at Hoani Waititi Marae, West Auckland.West Auckland.

1986: The Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Te Reo Māori Claim (WAI 1986: The Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Te Reo Māori Claim (WAI 11) asserted that 11) asserted that te reo Māorite reo Māori was a was a taongataonga guaranteed protection under guaranteed protection under Article II of Article II of Te Tiriti o WaitangiTe Tiriti o Waitangi..

1987: The Māori Language Act recognised Māori as an official language1987: The Māori Language Act recognised Māori as an official language

Chronology of dates and eventsChronology of dates and events 1989: The Education Amendment Act formally recognised Kura 1989: The Education Amendment Act formally recognised Kura

Kaupapa Māori and Wānanga as educational institutions.Kaupapa Māori and Wānanga as educational institutions. 1993: Te Māngai Pāoho, a Māori broadcasting funding agency was 1993: Te Māngai Pāoho, a Māori broadcasting funding agency was

established to promote Māori language and culture through the media. established to promote Māori language and culture through the media. 1997: There was a strong push from Māori involved in initiatives to 1997: There was a strong push from Māori involved in initiatives to

increase the numbers of speakers of increase the numbers of speakers of te reo Māorite reo Māori. The effects . The effects amounted to Te Kōhanga Reo, established since 1981, catering to 13 amounted to Te Kōhanga Reo, established since 1981, catering to 13 505.505.

54 Kura Kaupapa Māori, established since 198554 Kura Kaupapa Māori, established since 1985 Three Wānanga had been established since 1981. Three Wānanga had been established since 1981. Over 32 000 students were recorded as receiving Māori medium Over 32 000 students were recorded as receiving Māori medium

education.education. 55 399 students were recorded as learning the Māori language.55 399 students were recorded as learning the Māori language. 1998: The government announced funding for a Māori television 1998: The government announced funding for a Māori television

channel.channel. 2001: The number of Māori speakers stabilised at around 130 500 2001: The number of Māori speakers stabilised at around 130 500

people between 1996 and 2001, which constitutes 25% of the Māori people between 1996 and 2001, which constitutes 25% of the Māori population.population.

Redressing the injustices of Redressing the injustices of colonization colonization

lobbying,lobbying, making submissions,making submissions, presenting petitions, presenting petitions, mounting deputations, mounting deputations, occupying land under occupying land under

dispute, dispute, establishing various establishing various

movements,movements, marches, protests, boycotts, marches, protests, boycotts,

pickets,pickets, symbolic acts and symbolic acts and

demonstrationsdemonstrations establishing political parties.establishing political parties.

non-Indigenous peoples non-Indigenous peoples

attitudes of subjugation attitudes of subjugation reducing Māori to a reducing Māori to a powerless minority in their powerless minority in their own countryown country

Cultural RenaissanceCultural Renaissance

taonga pūoro taonga pūoro (traditional (traditional Māori instruments), Māori instruments),

Te Matatini (National Māori Te Matatini (National Māori Performing Arts Festival)Performing Arts Festival)

An increasing number of An increasing number of Māori weavers, carvers and Māori weavers, carvers and fashion designers profile fashion designers profile Māori artworks at their very Māori artworks at their very best.best.

Waka-ama Waka-ama (outrigger canoe (outrigger canoe racing) regattas racing) regattas

the revitalisation of the revitalisation of tā mokotā moko (tattoo)(tattoo)

Māori musicMāori music

Challenges Challenges

DecoloniseDecolonise Celebrate the feats of Celebrate the feats of

our ancestors gaining our ancestors gaining courage and courage and inspiration from them inspiration from them to fight for the to fight for the legitimacy of our legitimacy of our world-view in the world-view in the contemporary worldcontemporary world

He whakaaroHe whakaaroJohn Rangihau argued that it was John Rangihau argued that it was

about time that Māori:about time that Māori:

““were allowed to think for were allowed to think for ourselves and to say things for ourselves and to say things for our reasons and not for the our reasons and not for the reasons set down by Pakeha reasons set down by Pakeha experts. The Māori is content experts. The Māori is content to stand right where he is, to stand right where he is, retain his own culture and retain his own culture and retain his own identity, and be retain his own identity, and be himself, not a foreigner in his himself, not a foreigner in his own country”.own country”.