Claiming Spaces: Prioritizing Maaori Worldview

Lyn DohertyMera PenehiraElaine SparkAroha Gray

Ohomairangi Early Intervention Services

2007 National Maaori and Pacific Graduates of

Psychology Symposium

Overview

• Engagement vs Consultation

• Disengagement• Power Relations• Self Determination• Historical Context• Contemporary

Context• Agents of the State

Engagement“…there will not be a need to involve Maori in discussions on all treaties but that the focus must be on ensuring that this occurs on international treaties concerning issues of relevance to Maori … Maori involvement would be expected on any treaty action affecting the control or enjoyment of Maori resources (te tino rangatiratanga) or taonga as protected under the Treaty of Waitangi.” (p.1)

Engagement“Linking history, politics, economics, and class to the concepts of culture and power to develop both a language of critique and a language of hope. These work conjointly and have proven successful in helping generations of disenfranchised peoples to liberate themselves”. (Freire 1998; 90-118).

Engagement vs Consultation

“The more students work at storing the deposits entrusted to them, the less they develop the critical consciousness which would result from their intervention in the world as transformers of that world….passive role equals adaptation to the world as it is…minimizes creative power” (Freire)

Engagement Implies Disengagement

• Does this mean we engage then disengage?

• Does this mean we follow previous disengagement?

• What are the implications?

Kaupapa Maaori and Power Relations

• The indigenous space exists within other spaces

• State funding + State agent = family? X

• The isolation of the family and impact on sense of power

• Interventionist view: family in need vs family strengths

Self Determination

• Implicit in Kaupapa Maaori• Collective self determination

of the family• Indvidual success formula of

neoliberalism• Understanding and practising

the ‘indigenous research agenda’ (Smith LT 1999)

Self Determining Communities

“A society that has ready access to a pool of talent from which to draw is a society that can and will build a strong infrastructure. With knowledgeable people they become more self-reliant at all levels of their social, economic and civil services… powerful societies are not despotic regimes led by corrupt dictators who have little care over the welfare of their people – they are politically motivated societies who recognize that the wealth of their country rests in the well-being of their people.” (Jenkins K 2005)

Historical Context of Engagement and Disengagement

• Parihaka• Whaingaroa• Bastion Point• Ruatoki

Contemporary Context of Engagement and Disengagement

• State engage in terrorism

• Maaori engage in self determination

Agents of the state take responsibility

• Extended quality relationships

• Code of ethical practice

• KM assessment planning and evaluation system

• Hikoi: Walk the talk