Te Hau Mihi AtaTe Hau Mihi Ata

Te Hau Mihi AtaTe Hau Mihi AtaNga Pae o te Maramatanga ConferenceNga Pae o te Maramatanga Conference

Te Tatau Pounamu Te Tatau Pounamu 9 June 20089 June 2008

Te Hau Mihi Ata - backgroundTe Hau Mihi Ata - background

A four year project funded by FRSTA four year project funded by FRST

Based on earlier and on-going research by Based on earlier and on-going research by the Native Science Academy the Native Science Academy www.oneearthoneuniverse.org www.silverbuffalo.org

Rose von Thater-Braan, Leroy Littlebear Rose von Thater-Braan, Leroy Littlebear

Te Hau Mihi Ata - backgroundTe Hau Mihi Ata - background

Research Team:Research Team:

Linda Smith Linda Smith (PVC Maori Waikato (PVC Maori Waikato University)University)Maui Hudson Maui Hudson (ESR)(ESR)Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai (Te Whare Wananga (Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi)o Awanuiarangi)Murray Hemi Murray Hemi (Tahitanga)(Tahitanga)

Te Hau Mihi Ata – earlier researchTe Hau Mihi Ata – earlier research

Te Hau Mihi Ata – earlier resaerchTe Hau Mihi Ata – earlier resaerch

Helped to: Helped to:

Distinguish/describe Matauranga Maori Distinguish/describe Matauranga Maori knowledge systemsknowledge systems

Record the negative impacts/experiences Record the negative impacts/experiences of non-dialogue-based interactionsof non-dialogue-based interactions

Outline what ought to occur so as to avoid Outline what ought to occur so as to avoid future further negative experiences future further negative experiences

Te Hau Mihi Ata - researchTe Hau Mihi Ata - research

Aims to contribute positively to: Aims to contribute positively to:

Process and tools for dialogue between Process and tools for dialogue between knowledge systemsknowledge systems

Capability of science and traditional Capability of science and traditional knowledge to engage in joint researchknowledge to engage in joint research

Informed debate on new and emerging Informed debate on new and emerging technologies technologies

Te Hau Mihi Ata - researchTe Hau Mihi Ata - research

Aims to support the: Aims to support the:

Creation of new knowledge Creation of new knowledge

Continued evolution of mātauranga Māori Continued evolution of mātauranga Māori

Te Hau Mihi Ata – researchTe Hau Mihi Ata – research

Te Hau Mihi Ata - barriersTe Hau Mihi Ata - barriers

General: General:

AgeAge

GenderGender

LanguageLanguage

Historical experienceHistorical experience

Traditional/contemporaryTraditional/contemporary

Written/oral recordWritten/oral record

Status/validityStatus/validity

TimeTime

Te Hau Mihi Ata - barriersTe Hau Mihi Ata - barriers

Science: Science:

Assumes to know or to be able to know Assumes to know or to be able to know everything that is observable/measurableeverything that is observable/measurable

That which cannot be observed/measured That which cannot be observed/measured does not exist in a science paradigmdoes not exist in a science paradigm

Knowledge transferred above and beyond Knowledge transferred above and beyond social context (universal phenomenon) social context (universal phenomenon)

Te Hau Mihi Ata - barriersTe Hau Mihi Ata - barriersMatauranga: Matauranga:

Hidden from the emotionally unstable, mentally Hidden from the emotionally unstable, mentally unprepared, and the spiritually unworthy unprepared, and the spiritually unworthy (Brahmin)(Brahmin)

Questions met with questions – Questions met with questions – challenge/test/titivate the mindchallenge/test/titivate the mind

Knowledge transfer always exists in a social Knowledge transfer always exists in a social context –location or group specificcontext –location or group specific

Te Hau Mihi Ata - barriersTe Hau Mihi Ata - barriers

Overall: Overall:

There are significant barriers:There are significant barriers:

One side wants to lay out all its trump cards One side wants to lay out all its trump cards asapasap

The other throws out its little cards holding The other throws out its little cards holding its trumps tightlyits trumps tightly

Te Hau Mihi Ata - opportunitiesTe Hau Mihi Ata - opportunities

Despite the barriers there are still significant Despite the barriers there are still significant reasons to pursue dialogue for each partyreasons to pursue dialogue for each party

Te Hau Mihi Ata - opportunitiesTe Hau Mihi Ata - opportunities

Science: Science:

Needs to be located in the context/norms Needs to be located in the context/norms of community – public good scienceof community – public good science

Ought to recognise there aspects of our Ought to recognise there aspects of our earthly existence that defy science – earthly existence that defy science – quantum physicsquantum physics

New paradigms provide new insights to New paradigms provide new insights to old problemsold problems

Te Hau Mihi Ata - opportunitiesTe Hau Mihi Ata - opportunitiesMatauranga: Matauranga:

Primary focus on Primary focus on preservation/retention/protection – museum preservation/retention/protection – museum artifactsartifacts

Seeks revalidation – of itself / by other systemsSeeks revalidation – of itself / by other systems

To flourish needs to be current and relevant for To flourish needs to be current and relevant for today’s issues and technologytoday’s issues and technology

Te Hau Mihi Ata – in a nutshellTe Hau Mihi Ata – in a nutshell

In order for dialogue to occur:In order for dialogue to occur:

Science needs to accept that it cannot Science needs to accept that it cannot explain all things and ought not to seek to explain all things and ought not to seek to preserve its own dominance at the preserve its own dominance at the expense of other ways of knowing expense of other ways of knowing

Matauranga needs to engage (or not) with Matauranga needs to engage (or not) with the concept of today and consider the the concept of today and consider the consequences of doing so – knowledge consequences of doing so – knowledge used and changed unused and lost used and changed unused and lost

Te Hau Mihi Ata - todayTe Hau Mihi Ata - today

We have completed our first wananga. We have completed our first wananga.

Key negotiation points identified are:Key negotiation points identified are:

Approach – speak to opportunity rather Approach – speak to opportunity rather than constraintthan constraint

Identity – individual, group, male, female, Identity – individual, group, male, female, young, old, expert, tohunga young, old, expert, tohunga

Relationships – people and personalities Relationships – people and personalities

Te Hau Mihi Ata - todayTe Hau Mihi Ata - today

We have still to consider the following We have still to consider the following challenges:challenges:

Time remains a barrier – Maori dialogue Time remains a barrier – Maori dialogue processes are time (in)dependent and processes are time (in)dependent and relationship based relationship based

Language is a barrier – lost in translationLanguage is a barrier – lost in translation

Is Mātauranga ready to engage? Is Mātauranga ready to engage?