4/29/2023 0 Comments Ngapuhi hapu mapThis important narrative, among innumerable others, should be something that Māori students from Te Tai Tokerau learn at school. Hineāmaru is still revered in contemporary Māori narratives as an ancestor who demonstrated great industry, fortitude, and proficiency. This location, as well as much of the land surrounding it, is still Ngāti Hine land today. Kūmara was planted in three ways-‘rapiki’ (with the stem facing east), ‘retu’ (facing north), and ‘ratou’ (facing west)-and the resultant crops were so abundant that Ngāti Hine decided to settle in Waiōmio permanently ( Rerekura 2006). Without delay, she led expeditions into the Waiōmio Valley, to the fishing grounds and pipi (an edible shellfish) gathering areas, and she had the dead rātā trees burned and the land cleared for the planting of their crops ( Shortland 2012). Some sources report that when her mother Hauhaua died after a long journey from Waimamaku to Waiōmio and her father Torongare became old and no longer possessed the strength to lead the hapū, Hineāmaru-as the eldest child-immediately became the rangatira ( Rerekura 2006). After Torongare fell out with his wife’s people, they left Waimamaku in search of fertile land ( Shortland 2012). Hineāmaru’s mother was Hauhaua, who was the daughter of Uenuku and the granddaughter of the famous Ngāpuhi ancestor, Rāhiri. Hineāmaru was a Ngāti Hine rangatira (leader) of great mana (power, status, reputation) who was famed for her fearless leadership of her tribe, her agricultural skills, her sharp intellect, and the fire in her belly regarding the sovereignty of Ngāti Hine. This wider study has examined, contextualised, and celebrated diverse characteristics recurring in Te Tai Tokerau pūrākau (genealogical stories), pepeha (tribal sayings), waiata (songs), karakia (incantations), televisual materials, and written histories. This paper draws on data produced from a Marsden-funded study-led by Te Tai Tokerau descendents-that has collected and re-presented multifaceted hapū/iwi-based narratives that celebrate Te Tai Tokerau distinctiveness, success, history, and identity. The paper discusses how these narratives can be used as powerful pedagogical tools that enhance Te Tai Tokerau Māori students’ self-efficacy, aspiration, optimism, and cultural pride, presenting them as powerful agents of their own destiny. This paper presents a number of strengths-based narratives-focusing on tūpuna (ancestors) from Te Tai Tokerau whakapapa-that act as counter-narratives to this rhetoric. However, ruinous media narratives that focus without relent on poverty, low employment, inadequate housing, and lagging educational outcomes-particularly among Māori-continue to negatively impact the ways students from this region define their identity. The numerous iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) have a long whakapapa (genealogy) of influential leaders that have made a significant impact on the Māori world and beyond.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |