At the Meeting House or the School House? Developing Tribal Language, Knowledge, and Identity

• In Event: Apuwai: Indigenous Spaces—Sites of Resistance and Transformation

Abstract

This paper focuses on findings from a project undertaken in the northern part of New Zealand, which began in July 2008 and was completed in 2011. Its aim is to contribute to strengthening the relevance of tribal marae and regional Maori language among indigenous Maori youth, which are identified as important to Maori cultural identity.
Inter-generational transfer of tribal knowledge and language is becoming compromised. Marae, traditional meeting places are spaces where knowledge transfer may occur. It appears that Maori youth are more and more disconnected from regional language dialects and marae knowledge.
This paper discusses experiences, including schooling experiences, pertaining to Maori language and tribal knowledge, as reported by over 500 Maori youth who participated in the project.

Authors

• Margie Kahukura Hohepa, The University of Waikato

• Arapera Bella Ngaha, The University of Auckland