Making Connections - The Power of Oral Storytelling | Trent Hohaia | TEDxUOA

Summary

The speaker, a young Maori man, shares his journey of self-discovery and the importance of storytelling in connecting to one's cultural roots. He discusses his upbringing in a diverse South Auckland, his struggle with identity as a Maori academic, and the profound impact of traditional Maori navigation stories on his understanding of his heritage. He advocates for the repatriation of storytelling in Maori homes to foster identity and resilience, drawing parallels between the strength of forests and the strength found in community and shared narratives.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👧 The speaker is the youngest of five siblings, with an older sister who was absent during his early childhood and has a tendency to act motherly towards him.
• 🏠 Growing up in South Auckland, the speaker cherished the cultural diversity and felt a sense of pride in being from a multi-talented family.
• 🎓 Despite not always being the best student, the speaker excelled academically, often being at the top of his class, which was surprising to him given the stereotype that being Maori and achieving academically were separate.
• 🧐 The speaker struggled with an identity crisis, feeling that his Maori heritage and academic success were at odds with each other, leading to a denial of his heritage for a time.
• 🌍 Traveling the world, the speaker sought to find his identity but was repeatedly asked where he was from, which led him to question his own origins and identity more deeply.
• 👨‍👦 A conversation with an older brother in London sparked a realization about the sacrifices made by his parents and the speaker's role as an inheritor of their legacy.
• 🏆 The speaker's academic achievements were seen as exceptional due to his Maori background, which perpetuated the stereotype that Maori people are not typically high achievers.
• 📚 A story shared by a man named Michael about Polynesian navigation skills helped the speaker see the value in his Maori heritage and the importance of storytelling in understanding one's identity.
• 🌳 The speaker founded a social enterprise called 'Toitoi Tito' to promote oral storytelling traditions, emphasizing the relational, developmental, and prescriptive power of stories.
• 🌱 Storytelling is described as foundational, with stories being the roots that give shape to the world and provide a sense of identity and purpose.
• 🌿 The speaker passionately advocates for the importance of storytelling in connecting to one's culture and history as a means to address contemporary social issues and foster a stronger sense of identity and community.

Q & A

What is the significance of the speaker's older sister being 17 years older than him?

The speaker's older sister being 17 years older gives her a maternal role in his life, which is reflected in her tendency to speak to him as if she were his mother. However, there's also a humorous twist as she was not around for the first year of his life due to being in Germany and recorded over videos of him with MTV music videos.

How did the speaker's upbringing among four brothers influence his perspective on life?

Growing up in the shadow of his older brothers, who were all good at sports, talented, or excelled in school, the speaker admired them and thought being their little brother was amazing. This likely instilled a sense of admiration for achievement and a desire to follow in their footsteps.

What was the speaker's initial struggle with his Maori identity in relation to academic achievement?

The speaker initially struggled with the notion that being Maori and achieving academically were separate and could not coexist. He felt that being Maori was seen as incompatible with being intelligent, which led to an identity crisis where he questioned his own achievements and identity.

How did the speaker's travel experiences contribute to his understanding of his identity?

Traveling the world made the speaker confront the question 'where am I from?' repeatedly, as people asked him about his origins. This led him to introspect and question his identity, realizing that the aspects he used to identify himself were mostly about his family, not his own individual identity.

What revelation did the speaker have during his conversation with his brother at the pub?

The speaker realized that he had been a worse son to his family than they deserved. This conversation made him reflect on the sacrifices and contributions his parents had made for him and his siblings, leading him to understand the importance of living up to his family's legacy.

What was the speaker's academic performance like during his university years?

The speaker excelled academically in university, being on the dean's list for academic excellence and receiving the Marti academic excellence award two years in a row. He maintained an average of about 90% on all his submissions.

How did the speaker's achievements at university affect his perception of his Maori identity?

Despite his academic success, the speaker felt that he was seen as an exception rather than the norm for Maori students, which perpetuated the stereotype that Maori students are unlikely to achieve academically. This realization deepened his identity crisis.

What impact did the story told by Michael King have on the speaker's understanding of his Maori heritage?

The story about the Polynesian navigators and their incredible feat of navigating the Pacific Ocean changed the speaker's perspective. It made him realize that being Maori and achieving great things were not separate but intertwined, thus resolving his identity crisis.

What is the purpose of the social enterprise 'Tota Tito' that the speaker started?

Tota Tito, meaning to compose verses in unison, is a social enterprise aimed at promoting oral storytelling traditions. The speaker believes that storytelling is relational, developmental, and prescriptive, and that it can help ground individuals in their cultural identity.

How does the speaker connect the concept of storytelling to the health of forests and the problems faced by Maori communities?

The speaker uses the metaphor of the kahikatea tree and its root system to illustrate the importance of connection and relationship in both nature and human society. He suggests that the problems faced by Maori communities, such as high suicide rates and domestic violence, may be a result of disconnection from their cultural roots and identity.

What is the speaker's vision for the future regarding the repatriation of traditional Maori learning methods?

The speaker envisions a future where young Maori are surrounded by stories that affirm their identity, making them feel relevant, meaningful, and capable. He believes that by understanding and connecting to their past through storytelling, they can achieve stability and navigate the future more effectively.