Post on 07-Oct-2020
TE HONONGA
HE MIHI E rere a tai mihi tangata ki runga i ngā ngaru o Kiwa – ki te tai whakararo, ki te tai
whakarunga. Tātou katoa o ngā one tawhito e ponitaka i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, tēnei e
mihi manahau atu, e whakamānawa atu ki a koutou katoa, kei aku rangatira.
Well whanau – first I must say a Merry Christmas for 2017 and a Happy New Year to
everyone and best wishes for a productive and prosperous 2018! I can’t believe yet
another year has literally flown by – seems the older you get the faster the calendar
moves! But as you will see from this newsletter we had a very full 2017 and it is looking
like 2018 will be no different.
We’ve been involved in some amazing projects this past year and continue to work with
wonderful passionate people who care about their communities and environments and
building capacity of people they work with. It is always a pleasure and something we are
so proud to be involved in. We completed a National project which involved us travelling
to many First Nations communities across the country and being hosted in such welcoming
ways. We’ve continued our local work in BC with communities and health authorities. A
big accomplishment this year was the opening of our Hawaii office where we are now
officially registered and where we’ve started some projects. However our roots are always
in New Zealand and it’s been a pleasure continuing to work with our friends and whānau
in Aotearoa managing several projects there including some key indigenous health events
and hikoi to the northern hemisphere.
We’ve had many visitors grace our shores from Aotearoa over the year and there always
seems to be someone from home who comes here for conferences and visiting various
people across the country. It’s awesome when we get to share some hospitality and host
manuhiri from home and catch up on the news!
For me personally, and my sister it has been a tough year with the unexpected loss of our
dear Dad Dick Andrews in August as well as our only great grand-Aunty Kotiro August.
Losing people so close to you who have supported us as whānau as well as our little
company has a huge impact. Both Dad and Aunty were strong supporters of us and our
mahi and we will forever miss them and appreciate that never-ending support. Thankfully
they have left us amazing memories!
Thanks to everyone for your continued support and friendship. Don’t forget if you are ever
in Canada come and see this group of homesick whānau and bring us some weetbix,
peanut slabs and Watties spaghetti!
Much love to everyone – and all the best for 2018! Arohanui, Mara
www.kahuitautoko.com
He mihi – a welcome
He maimai aroha – a
dedication to our dad
and aunt
Aotearoa Mahi – an
update of work within
New Zealand
Canada Mahi – an
update of Canada
work
Te Tini a Māui 2017
Merry Christmas to all!
IN THIS TE HONONGA:
HAKIHEA | DECEMBER 2017
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Rangiataahua August (Aunty Kotiro) died 22 August 2017
at Opotiki. Only sister to our late grandfather Teiwiwhati
Anaru (Dick Anaru). This photo was taken at Henley UK
where Aunty attended Mara’s MBA graduation!
Richard Andrews (Dick Anaru II) passed 3 August 2017 from a
sudden illness. Our Dad was a strong hardworking man who
taught all his kids and moko’s the meaning of hard work; to
respect the old people; to be humble and to always look after
visitors. He also made us kids wash the car after every long
trip and we weren’t allowed inside the house until we did LOL!
Loved and missed by his kids and mokos.
HE MAIMAI AROHA Kai kinikini ai te mamae i a ahau e. Te kūkū o te manawa, e kai ngoto nei te aroha i te ngākau – mō kōrua kua riro.
E te ura o te rangi, e te hihi o te rā, kua tau te pōkēāo ki runga i a mātou i tō ngarohanga. Kei te poutokomanawa o te
whare o tāukiuki, te kaipupuri i ngā āhuatanga o onamata, nei mātou e haku atu nei, ānō ko te horu o tō moana e papaki
nei i Te Rae o Tāngoio.
E te ipo kahurangi, te kura a Hineteiwaiwa, e tū tahanga nei mātou i tō ngarohanga. Kei te wahine marae, kei te
whakakanohitanga o te hūmarie, o te ngākau māhaki, e heke ana a roimata me he wai ka pari ki Kauaetangohia.
Ki a kōrua kua riro nei i ngā ringa makihuhunu, i ngā ringa nopenope o Aituā, takahia te ara o Tāne ki te huinga i
Tūpaengaru, ki tō rahi e pōhiri atu ki a kōrua. Haere, okioki.
E kore e mutu te aroha…
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AOTEAROA MAHI It is great to continue working with our New Zealand whānau. Whenever we are home we try our hardest to visit everyone and it’s always great to hear the developments that are occurring around the motu. It is also exciting to continue helping out wherever we can. This year we have continued to develop an international collaboration with the support of Tumu Whakarae and other indigenous health leaders from Hawai’i, Canada and the wider USA. This collaboration is super exciting and has great potential. We have also continued to work with some of our long time clients such as the team from Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga in Dunedin. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate a close friend of ours, Brenda, for her recent developments with Central Health and the beginnings of her new journey!
TUMU WHAKARAE: HE HIKOI RANGAHAU There were further opportunities this year for Tumu Whakarae members to connect with health leaders around the Pacific Rim and Kahui Tautoko was once again privileged to be able to organize, escort and write up the report of the 2017 hikoi. We want to acknowledge Whaea Naida Glavish and the team for demonstrating such leadership to make these connections and learn from one another. Tumu Whakarae continues to find opportunities to learn more about what other indigenous health leaders are doing to accelerate indigenous health gains in their respective countries, and to bring those learnings home for the benefit of Maori.
NEW BEGINNINGS FOR CENTRAL HEALTH Central Health has been an avid supporter of Kāhui Tautoko since our inception. We have worked with Central Health, under the direction of Brenda Kupa for many years, helping out where ever we can. Central Health grew out of Te Whatuiāpiti Trust in Central Hawkes Bay which was set up in 1993-1994 in response to strong calls from the local community to have their own health services provided by their own people. Central Health strive to deliver holistic quality services that improve whānau wellbeing that lead to a better quality of life while still retaining the values and principles established by Te Whatuiāpiti Trust. Since Central Health emerged it grew to become a well-respected service provider within the wider Hawke’s Bay region and also on a regional and national level as well. Brenda has now handed over the reins of Central Health to Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and we wish both the Taiwhenua and Brenda all the very best for the future. We want to acknowledge the hard work of the team, and of course Brenda, in developing such a sound organisation. The commitment to quality, the ongoing pursuit for innovation, the cultural underpinning ensured that the services that were delivered were of a high quality and standard. You never forgot where you were from and who you were serving. The growth in services and the expansion of the organisation is a result of the efforts that were put in for all of those years. We were fortunate to witness and be part of the growth of the organisation. Kāhui Tautoko Consulting is thankful for your commitment and support of us and helping us grow to where we are today. We are thankful for continuing to believe in us and making us part of your story. We want to thank all individuals that we have worked with for your ongoing support and patience when we have been hassling you for information! We want to wish you all best wishes on your journeys ahead and congratulate Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga for the quality services that they have received.
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This year, the group reconvened in Anchorage Alaska and was part of the National Indian Health Board Tribal Public Health Summit, in June 2017. The week-long conference began with a dinner to meet members of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) over dinner. This was an opportunity to informally discuss the coming conference and to talk about the work of the collaboration. Also in attendance were health leaders from Hawaii.
NIHB is a national body that advocates for the rights of all federally recognised American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes through the fulfilment of the trust responsibility to deliver health and public health services. The theme of the conference was “Together We Rise: Sustaining Tribal Public Health as a National Priority” with presentations falling within 5 tracks which focussed on health promotion, youth wellness, public health policy, behavioural health and environmental health.
Members of Tumu Whakarae had opportunities to present at various parts of the conference: as a break-out session panel and as plenary panel members. For Tumu Whakarae in particular, the conference was an opportunity to share with everyone developments that are occurring within New Zealand – putting NZ on the map! The conference overall was a great opportunity to network and to discuss future work within the collaboration. After the conference, and spending time in the great State of Alaska (in the somewhat mild weather),
the hikoi group travelled to Phoenix, Arizona (to drastically different weather!).
Several meetings were organised in Phoenix. The organisations we visited included Phoenix Indian Medical Centre (a federal hospital that is run by Native Americans), Gila River Tribal Health Corporation (a tribally run and owned hospital) and Desert Visions Tribal Treatment Centre (a treatment centre that incorporates traditional concepts).
Overall, the study tours are opportunities to: gain first hand exposure to international indigenous examples of work associated with accelerating indigenous health gain; strengthen relationships with indigenous peers; expand learning on performance measurement related to indigenous health progress and outcomes
It’s always great to get out and see all of the great initiatives that are being run by indigenous people!
Me mihi ka tika ki ngā pakiaka e totoro ki ngā one o tata, o kōkēi.
Above: NIHB Board Members with indigenous leaders of the collaboration
Below: The presentation team from left to right, Naida Glavis, Sheri Daniels,
Diane Paloma, Riki NiaNia and Leslie Bonshor
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DENA’INA WELLNESS CENTER - KENAITZE During our time in Alaska, Tumu Whakarae made a day trip to Kenai. The trip to Kenai
was to meet the staff of the Dena’ina Wellness Center, a Kenaitze Indian Tribe
healthcare facility which operates their version of the now famed Alaska Nuka model.
The Kenaitze Indian Tribe was federally recognized as a sovereign, independent nation
in 1971 under the Indian Reorganization Act.
Today, they have more than 1,600 tribal members who live across the Kenai Peninsula
and beyond. They employ about 300 full-time and part-time employees.
The tribe delivers a variety of programs and services that promote the wellness of
their people and the community. In 2014, they opened the 52,000-square-foot
Dena’ina Wellness Center, a fully integrated healthcare facility offering a wide range
of services beneath one roof. They also operate a tribal justice system, early childhood
education centre, elders centre, social services program, and more many of which we
managed to see and hear about.
INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS HEALTH COLLABORATION The leadership of Tumu Whakarae has led to the emergence of an exciting International Indigenous Health Collaboration that involves indigenous health leaders from Pacific Rim countries – NZ, Canada, US (Hawai’i, Alaska and other States) and Australia. This collaborative has been growing over the past 3 years and members now ensure they connect whenever there is opportunity to come together at conferences, site visits and by skype and phone. The collaboration aims to accelerate indigenous health gains and eliminate health inequities for indigenous peoples through the creation of a formal and collaborative International Indigenous Health Collaborative that fosters the active and real-time sharing of knowledge on indigenous health and innovative practices. A visit with the Australian Aboriginal Infonet folks has shown what is possible after their 20 years of experience in operating that technology-based platform for information and research sharing. Knowledge and relationships have increased significantly since the first 2015 Hikoi Rangahau by Tumu Whakarae, to parts of North America. The networking has continued from then to an international symposium hosted by Tumu Whakarae in Auckland (Sept 2015) then an April 2016 Tribal Self-Governance in Orlando to He Huliau in Hawai’i in Oct 2016 and to Anchorage in June 2017. As indigenous people, we share similar stories, challenges and experiences. The collaboration is an attempt to regularly share those stories and collectively share ideas about managing these experiences and overcoming these challenges. In the future the collaborative aims to work with philanthropic partners to look at creating a technology platform for sharing information, research and best practices in a more real-time manner across the Pacific Rim.
A range of social services including foster parent support, sexual assault response, social assistance for those in need
including grants for burials/funerals; adoptions; youth development; housing and a food bank for those without food
A variety of health and wellness services are also available including primary care; dental; pharmacy; optometry; mental
health counselling and groups; café; physical activity / gym and home care services.
We spent the day with various staff and was hosted by the Executive Officer, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren. We were honoured
to have the opportunity to learn about the services and to view the amazing facilities. Me mihi manahau atu ki ngā tohunga
o te manaaki.
Above: EO Jaylene and Whaea Naida
Glavish
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We have been fortunate to have provided some additional assistance to another
whānau we have supported in the past. Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga was initially
born out of a National Organisation in 1985 and remained part of a network until
1992.
With the establishment of an office in Otepoti in 1992, named Te Roopū Tautoko
Trust/Māori Action on AIDS, their initial role was to inform and educate
communities on the issues relating to HIV/AIDS.
In 17 April 1997 a concerned group, sought independent funding and attained legal
status as “Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga Incorporated”. This saw the establishment
of the first Māori Non-government organisation in Dunedin. Established as a
kaupapa Māori service - by Māori for Māori – a focus was placed on Māori models
of practice making a difference. Since about 1990 they have branched out to
provide other services.
Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga operates today from Dunedin as a community based
health and social service provider. The purpose of Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga is
to provide a range of holistic and innovative quality services under the philosophy
of Tino-Rangatiratanga and self-determination for Māori and their whānau.
Te Roopū Tautoko ki te Tonga work in collaboration with specific community
providers and agencies to ensure clients receive relevant services for the needs of
children and families/whānau. Some of the specific services that are available
include:
Whānau Ora Navigation (Support for whānau/families to tailor a plan to
address the specific needs identified by whānau)
Mauri Ora – Healthy Individuals (Support to Māori individuals to meet
their immediate and future health needs from prevention to treatment)
Rongoā service - Māori Massage (Mirimiri/Māori massage healing
process which clears, releases and energises one’s entire being)
Problem gambling (A support service to help those who are struggling
with gambling addictions)
Te Puna Manawa - Domestic violence counselling programme (A support
programme specifically designed for and facilitated by Māori men to
reduce and prevent violence in domestic relationships)
Kaumātua Group Support (A weekly support service for kaumātua to
reduce social isolation and to meet identified kaumātua needs)
It is always a privilege working with this whānau and it is great to see that the
kaupapa of the organisation has maintained over 20 years of business. We’re very
excited to see further developments over the next 20 years!
Te Roopū Tautoko ki te
Tonga’s logo depicts the
spiritual and physical being of
a person moving through the
physical world into the
spiritual worlds gathering
mātauranga or knowledge.
The ‘Manaia represents the
‘Ira Atua-the spiritual being’
and the Te ‘Ira Tangata- the
physical being’.
The curve pattern represents
the journey from the physical
into the spiritual realms. ‘Te
Kāhui o te Rangi’.
The indentations of the
curved pattern are the ‘Rua’-
the reciprocals of Knowledge.
The straight lines represent
western influences.
TE ROOPŪ TAUTOKO KI TE TONGA
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CANADA MAHI As our Canada Office approaches 10 years in Vancouver (yes May 2018 is our 10 year anniversary!), First Nations’ development remains at the forefront of the work that we do. We continue to strengthen relationships with our clients, we continue to build new relationships with various organisations and we continue to learn about the colourful First Nations communities across the country.
In this edition, we would like to highlight two of our projects – the development of a resource of Aboriginal Cultural Practices AND an update of the three on-reserve First Nations primary care clinics in Vancouver we supported to get established (including a First Nations & Aboriginal Primary Care Network that arose from this work).
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL PRACTICES BOOKLET FOR VANCOUVER COASTAL A project that was originally started by our former staff member Cain Kerehoma, was the development of a First Nation
information booklet called ‘Aboriginal Cultural Practices’. This is one of the first resources of its kind here in Canada.
It’s a directory of First Nation customary practices. It focusses on customary principles that relate to First Nations health
care and is a guide for health practitioners working with First Nations patients and clients. The project was born from
First Nations exposure to a ‘Tikanga guideline’ developed through the work of our very own Whaea Naida Glavish. After
reviewing the content and purpose of the document the First Nations requested a similar booklet that captured cultural
customs related to their culture that could inform health professionals of culturally appropriate practices when
interacting with First Nation patients.
We started meeting with those individuals and or groups who were identified by or within their communities as cultural
experts, elders and knowledge keepers. Engagement occurred to identify particular cultural principles, concepts, and
or traditions that could be included in the guide. Topics were explored such as customs related to: the significance of
body parts including hair and organs, traditional practices such as prayers and or ceremonies; and information about
local communities including their perspectives on health. The information was consolidated and the guidelines were
drafted. These were taken back to the Nations and cultural experts to have the information affirmed. The same
information was taken to Elders in other Nations within the wider health Region to check whether the concepts were
relevant to them too. Once these stages were complete, the document was sent for production.
The final product of the practices was developed as a small A5 size flip book with a coil spine. The information has
category tabs to help the user navigate through the information. This resource has since been distributed throughout
the health authority to help inform and educate staff. The resource is now in phase two of development – since it was
spotted by clinicians, particularly doctors. The doctors have also seen the value in the resource and has requested that
the resource be turned into a mobile type App for easier access to the information.
We are very excited for the next steps of this piece of work. It has been a privilege working with the elders, customary
experts and knowledge keepers regarding this important resource. It has managed to capture their traditional concepts,
beliefs and traditions and articulate these into a resource that is understood by health professions – both clinical and
non-clinical.
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PRIMARY CARE HEALTH CLINICS
Our relatives and friends from the three local Vancouver First Nations continue to
grow and it is very exciting to be part of this growth. The three Vancouver based
Nations – Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations were funded to
develop and expand on-reserve primary health care services. This meant that
primary care became more accessible within their communities, meaning less
travel to seek assistance, cheaper services (for many being free) and services that
could be managed by and for them.
In 2015, the nations received access to a fund with the purpose of establishing
primary care on reserve. For two communities, primary care on reserve was not
a completely new concept. Squamish and Musqueam Nations both had some
degree of primary care available to their communities. Squamish had a part time
General Practitioner (GP) and a part time Nurse Practitioner (NP), while
Musqueam had been operating a NP-based clinic. The fund enabled these Nations
to expand on the existing clinics in to create a more sustainable platform from
which to eventually operate full-time primary care on-reserve, which was a vision
for both Nations. The photos on the left show the three clinics on-reserve which
are now operating.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation has not had a primary care clinic up until now. This is a
completely new development and one which brings excitement to the community
which will also build on current health services. Supporting them to refurbish and
establish this clinic was a true highlight for Kahui Tautoko.
All three communities are aware that many community members, especially the
high numbers of youth, do not have a regular GP/NP that they see for primary
care. These clinics had a key goal of “attaching” community members without
regular GP/NP care to receive primary care and prevent chronic conditions and
illness later in life.
We worked with the communities to help establish, and or expand, their primary
care services. We provided support in establishing the plans for the three clinics,
from the project plans through to establishing the physical sites, to resourcing the
sites, to recruiting physicians and staff, to developing policies and procedures for
the clinics and maintaining and increasing clinic capacity moving forward. We are
very proud to say that we helped bring primary health care into the communities.
To check the effectiveness of the clinics, the three Health Directors of the clinics
were invited to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinics. The evaluation of the
project was based on achieving the original goals of the project.
These included:
“A better environment
because I am with my
people and I feel
comfortable”
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Innovation and transformation: new ways of
improving health care are introduced that contribute
to a development of a First Nations driven health care
system
Health services improvement: access to health
services is improved, increased access to regulated
health professionals and sustainability of services
Impact: patient and provider experience is improved
which reduces use of acute care and improves health
outcomes
Collaboration: support from regional health authority
and Divisions of Family Practise
The team of Health Directors added another goal, which
was ‘culturally safe staff and services’. This meant that staff
practice in a culturally appropriate manner and that
community members feel culturally safe in these services.
To receive this feedback, interviews and surveys were
undertaken with stakeholders. These included patients,
clinic staff, staff from the health authorities and other
support organizations and included reviews of data that
had been received by the clinic. Much of the feedback was
positive – from patients, to the doctors and even feedback
from the external organizations was very positive.
Some of the highlights of the project include:
Positive working relationships established with
other First Nations and regional health authority
and support agencies
Increased opportunities for wrap
around care, particularly with other
health authority funded programs in
each community
Increased staff numbers across the
three sites
Patients commenting on positive
experiences because the
environment is familiar to them and
so are the people within the clinic
Participants reported that the project
increased their understanding of
other partners and provided
increased networking opportunities
The overall success of this project has been the
community-driven nation-based process that has
guided all aspects of the evolution of these clinics.
Moving forward, future developments for the
clinics include expansions in: facilities, personnel,
internal processes and quality improvement,
patient numbers and even health professionals
(and hours) to service the clinic. Additionally, the
Nations hope to obtain long term sustainable
funding and to maintain collaborative relationships
with partners.
We are very proud of the way the Nations have
successfully worked together to develop additional
supports for their communities. We’re also very
proud for being part of this initiative and working
alongside the Nations during the process.This
project itself has led to further collaborations in
other areas too. This work benefits each individual
“It is comfortable for people – they don’t
feel foreign here – it is theirs in their
community”
“They’re happy we’re here and have an
option that they feel is their own. People
want to own it and know it is theirs”
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FIRST NATION and ABORIGINAL PRIMARY CARE NETWORK
The First Nations and Aboriginal Primary
Care Network is an informal collaboration
of the three new First Nations primary care
clinics with their urban (off-reserve)
Aboriginal primary care clinics located in
greater Vancouver. The collaboration
began in October 2016 through an
invitation by the three host Nations to the
urban Aboriginal health organizations
delivering primary care – to come together
for the benefit of First Nations and
Aboriginal patients in host Nation
territories. This photo shows the
Managers, Doctors and NPs together.
This is the first collaboration of its kind in this area – it is an exciting partnership with great potential especially since all 6
clinics use the same EMR and some have shared human resource with some Doctors and Nurse Practitioners working
across two of the clinics on different days.
The collaboration is an opportunity to bring a variety of services together. Amongst all organizations associated with the
network provide services that include: health promotion (disease prevention education); mental wellness and substance
services (counselling, cultural interventions and art therapy); home and community care (home care workers and
rehabilitation services); navigation and advocacy for accessing local health and or hospital services; and naturopathic
medicine (traditional and holistic healing). By connecting primary care patients with these other programs and services
there is true potential to provide holistic comprehensive care. The inclusion of the Elders and Knowledge keepers adds yet
another unique feature to these primary care environments.
MEMBERS OF THE PRIMARY CARE
NETWORK
- Musqueam Indian Health
Department: Primary Care Clinic
- Squamish Nation: Yúustway Health
Services Department: Kal’númet
primary care
- Tsleil-Waututh Nation: Health
Department: Helping House primary
care clinic
- Vancouver Native Health Society
- Urban Native Youth Association:
Native Youth Health & Wellness
Centre
- Lu’ma Medical Centre
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WORKING WITH TWO SPIRIT – TRANS CARE BC
The Kahui Tautoko team has continued to provide support to Trans
Care BC’s indigenous stream to identify support needs for Two Spirit
people across British Columbia. We have been travelling with a team
across different communities having conversations about the health
services available within their community and to seek advice around
how to better support Two Spirit people.
Two Spirit (2S) was a term developed in 1990 to describe members of
the LGBTQ community that also identify as First Nation (indigenous to
Canada or America). Two Spirit is a pan-tribal term that reminds Two
Spirit individuals of the traditional role of Two Spirit within their
traditional societies which was often highly revered.
During this process, we have also been working with a Two Spirit
expert, Harlan Pruden. The community meetings are also an
opportunity to provide teachings to the communities about the
traditional role of Two Spirit individuals within different First Nation
societies. The teachings include the roles of traditional Two Spirit
people (like community healers and mediators), the impact of
colonization on these people and work that is being done to restore
this role within society today.
We provide logistical support to these meetings including organizing
the meetings and managing the note taking of the needs assessment
discussion. We convert what we hear to advice for Transcare BC.
The meetings are being held across the province of British Columbia
in the various health regions. So far, we have completed meetings on
Vancouver Island and the Interior Region. We have more meetings
scheduled for Northern BC and then Fraser Region which includes
Vancouver.
The meetings are opportunities to build support networks amongst service providers, to identify support services available
within the various communities and to link community with information about what supports are available.
Themes that are emerging from the meetings so far include: a lack of physical resources with general information about
Two-Spirit; the importance of support services working collaboratively to service Two Spirit community members; the
need to appropriately including Two Spirit teachings and individuals within different institutions; expressing the need to
share these teachings with youth as a support mechanism; identifying methods of support to educate communities to
change negative attitudes.
The meetings are a great opportunity to engage with communities on a community level. The teachings are new for many
of the communities and it’s great to be part of their journey to learn about different aspects of their culture.
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TE TINI A MĀUI KAPA HAKA
HALA On top of our ever-growing work commitments, we have also had a pretty busy year on the kapa haka front.
All of the staff of Kahui Tautoko are (in their spare time) part of Te Tini a Māui Kapa Haka, a Māori cultural group that has
grown since its inception in 2009. Originally the roopū started as a KTCL work initiative to prepare staff for cultural events
here in Canada. From there it grew with other Vancouver-based Maori joining and these days, the group is fortunate to
attend a variety of events throughout the year. We do our best to represent Māori and the wider NZ throughout our events.
We must acknowledge the ongoing support of our Kapa Haka whānau who come and go (thanks to expiring work permits)
and who bring with them a variety of skills, abilities and attributes that everyone enjoys and learns from. From our NZ
whānau, to our Canada based NZ whānau and to our Canadian whānau – e kore e mutu te rere a mihi. We’re no Matatini-
level roopū – but we do our best and our heart is in the right place. The following pictures highlight some of the events that
we have performed at.
Waitangi Day and ANZAC celebrations in Vancouver 2017
Carson Secondary School: Cultural exchange between a First Nations class in a Secondary school in Vancouver. We were
invited to learn their dances and we invited to share some of our songs with them.
Mr. Paul
teaching the
class the haka
‘Ka Mate’ while
assistants Ben
and Morehu
also
demonstrate
the teachings.
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May 2017: Lower Kootenay Band Powwow, Creston BC, Canada
September 2017: Patrick Hape and Makere Kupenga representing at a Defence reception hosted by the NZ Embassy in
Washington DC.
July 2017: Tzeachten Powwow – Chilliwack, BC, Canada.
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October 2017: Sacred Springs Powwow, San Marcos, Texas USA (happily joined by returning performers Cain & Renay
Kerehoma) and our very own ring-in Makere Kupenga
September 2017: Team NZ Event: Royal Yacht Club, Vancouver BC
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October and November 2017 for Air New Zealand: This year Air NZ celebrated 10years of flying direct from Auckland to
Vancouver. We were fortunate to be part of several events celebrating this milestone with them. We performed on the
airport tarmac (pretty much the landing strips for the planes) at Vancouver airport, and at two celebratory events. One
based here in Vancouver and another in Toronto, Canada. Here are some snaps from the different events.
Even made the front cover of the local
Airline news!
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November 2017: Maori All Blacks vs Canada, BC Place, Vancouver: The Māori All Blacks played the Canada rugby team this
year. We were very excited to be part of the celebrations for this event. The announcement was made earlier in the year
and we were grateful to be part of the launch of this event. We were also invited to perform at the game as half-time
entertainment...in front of an audience of 30,000 people. The game was a complete sell out. This has to have been our
biggest audience yet! We were very privileged to support our boys and represent our culture on an international stage...in
front of 30,000 people. Here’s some snaps of our journey. Oh and the score was 51-9 to the Maori ABs!
ABOVE: At the media launch.
RIGHT: With our Squamish Nation relatives who also
performed before us at half-time and then joined us
for the haka
BELOW: Leading out for the Maori performance