Dr Charles Royal (Te Ahukaramū) Freelance Musician, Researcher, Teacher The Pae Roa Lecture

Towards the New Indigeneity The Tangata Whenua of Tomorrow Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal 2

Contents Introduction Four themes of Māori history since the 19 th century Markers of the Contemporary Threshold Towards the New Indigeneity 3

Introduction We are crossing an historical threshold today Life is changing for us How can we make sense of this time and place we find ourselves in? How can we prepare for the future? Review where we have been to determine certain themes and trends 4

Worldview Changes in Māori Communities Arrival in Aotearoa and Te Wai Pounamu – Different climate, resources, size of the whenua, ‘gods’ in the world Arrival of Europeans – New technologies, fundamentally different worldview, God outside of the world, the world is at our disposal 21 st century? 5

Four Themes of Māori History since the 19 th century The Search for Survival The Quest for Social Justice The Desire for Cultural Revitalisation The Achievement of Creative Potential 6

Creative Potential Has been coming to conscious articulation for some time Motivated by what we have, our possibilities, rather than what we have lost Ultimately about mana Creative potential include Survival, Social Justice, Cultural Revitalisation 7

8 Mana: Creative Potential Social Justice Cultural Revitalisation Survival

A New Threshold in History We are crossing an historical threshold now It is as significant as when our Polynesian ancestors arrived here in Aotearoa and when our European ancestors arrived Some of our historical concerns will continue New issues, problems and opportunities will arise 9

Markers of the Threshold: Internal Treaty settlements – Diminishment of historical grievance (contemporary concerns are another matter) – Increased capacity/capability/confidence to manage our affairs, to plan for a future Population dynamics – Majority are young Cultural dynamics – Increased ability and confidence with expressing distinctive identity viz a viz rest of country 10

Markers of the Threshold: External Post 9/11 world The end of God? Infinity of space and time Increasingly globalised world 11

Into The Future Future will be influenced by both internal and external forces Settlements need to achieve more than just increased participation in existing structures and activities What can we, as Māori, bring to life that is distinctive to us? 12

Into the Future We have: – Created Māori broadcasting, tourism, education, businesses – Increased our involvement in conventional sectors of the economy e.g. fishing, forestry, agriculture – Reinvigorated the collectively owned economy – Significant institutions such as the Kīngitanga, Rātana Church etc But what is all this for? What are we trying to achieve? 13

Towards the New Indigeneity: Internal What lies at the heart of our distinctive knowledge? A kinship based relationship with natural world environments Ultimately, this is what our reo, our tikanga, our history, our culture is based upon and seeks to advance 14

Towards the New Indigeneity: External Disconnection between humans and natural world environments ‘Distance’ now exists between human consciousness and the natural world Superiority of humans to natural order has brought about unsustainable costs We have to recalibrate human culture, society and economy in ways that are mutually enhancing of the planet 15

Reimagining Human Existence Beyond merely being ‘green’, being ‘nice’ to the planet A fundamental understanding and acknowledgement that our destiny is inextricably connected with the destiny of the planet Indigenous position – a kinship based relationship with Papatuanuku, the earth is our mother 16

Tino rangatiratanga and the collective, inter-generational economy Tino rangatiratanga should continue to provide alternative critique/view to Kāwanatanga Collective inter-generational economy is an opportunity to explore this new indigeneity, to give effect to it 17

Features Regional ‘ground up’ approach Human health and wellbeing is relative to the health and wellbeing of whenua Updating our existing tangata whenua rituals Creating new rituals and experiences Mana, mauri and wellbeing indicators 18