January 16, 2014

IWRI Speaker Series: Lectures by Māori scholars, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014

IWRI is honored and proud to sponsor a panel of three, highly respected Māori scholars from New Zealand to the UW.  Please join the university community and local community members in welcoming Dr. Paul Reynolds, Dr. Cherryl Waerea-i-te-rangi Smith, and Mr. Adrian Rurawhe, all from Te Atawhai o te Ao: Independent Mori Institute for Environment and Health, New Zealand, as they present three engaging lectures in the Walker-Ames Room in Kane Hall, University of Washington, on Monday, February 10 at 6:00 p.m.

 
Dr. Paul Reynolds’s lecture is titled, “Working with the Silenced and the Angry.”  What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people!  This proverb reminds us to always have compassion for people and take care of others. It embodies the research principles that has underpinned the work that Te Atawhai o te Ao has conducted over the past 9+ years. This presentation will focus on the lessons we have learned from research with communities who have been exposed to traumatic events, and the ways we work together. Often these communities do not have a voice, are marginalized and silenced.

 
Dr. Cherryl Waerea-i-te-rangi Smith’s lecture is titled, “Generational Wellbeing.”  Return to the mountains to be energised by the winds of Tawhirimatea.  Whenever wellbeing is discussed it’s important to consider not only relationships with the world but also how each generation views wellbeing. As Indigenous Peoples we face enormous challenges to maintain health and wellbeing of our lands, our peoples, our families and ourselves.  As Māori we have strong traditions and teachings on what these generational roles and responsibilities are but we struggle at times to maintain these. Each generation has its challenges and its strengths. Research undertaken by Te Atawhai o te Ao has worked with extended families whose lives have been affected by trauma. From this body of work, Te Atawhai o te Ao have begun to gather together information from interviews, projects and literature on the ways in which Māori discuss wellbeing.

 
Mr. Adrian Rurawhe’s lecture is titled, “From the Smallest Seed:  Māori Wellbeing and Development.”  From the smallest seed grows the mightiest tree.  Over the last 25 years, hundreds of new Māori organizations focusing on health and education have developed and flourished throughout New Zealand. Small community-based initiatives have developed under the banner of “Kaupapa Māori” (by Māori, for Māori) and these organizations have attempted to make a difference in Māori wellbeing and development. This presentation will examine some of the challenges of running an organization and trying to be ‘Kaupapa Māori.’  There are challenges of working within a non-Kaupapa Māori (or mainstream) environment. How can we ensure that we remain guided by our own imperatives and our own protocols and values? How do our indigenous practices fit alongside of law, business and practice?  We often walk a fine line trying to balance these two worlds.

 

For more information, please contact Anastasia at IWRI stasiar@uw.edu.