Tūturu Episode 5: Mātauranga Māori

Summary

This transcript delves into the concept of Mātauranga Māori, explaining its origins, evolution, and significance. The speaker discusses how the term Māori and the knowledge system Mātauranga Māori are responses to colonization and how they’ve become modern concepts reflecting deeper indigenous ways of knowing. It highlights the importance of understanding the world through indigenous knowledge systems, rooted in careful observation of the natural environment. The speaker critiques Western knowledge frameworks for their limitations, emphasizing that indigenous knowledge offers valuable insights for living harmoniously with the environment.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Maori was not a term traditionally used by the indigenous people of New Zealand; it emerged as a response to colonization to unite tribes under one identity.
• 📚 Maturanga Maori (Maori knowledge systems) evolved in response to Western education systems and colonization, with words like 'maturanga' and 'Maori' being modern developments.
• 💡 Maturanga Maori is a modern term but reflects ancient ways of knowing and understanding the world, passed down through generations.
• 🏞️ The Maori knowledge system is deeply connected to the environment, focusing on understanding and respecting nature's patterns and the living world.
• 🌍 Maturanga Maori encompasses spiritual, physical, and ecological aspects, all rooted in the careful observation of natural patterns over time.
• 🧠 There is no single concept of Maturanga Maori; rather, it varies across tribes, regions, and different Maori communities.
• 🔄 The Maori ways of knowing are based on interconnectedness—how natural events, like the migration of birds, are tied to environmental cycles.
• 🛑 Western academics often criticize Maturanga Maori, but indigenous knowledge has deep value and cannot be easily compared to Western scientific methods.
• 🧬 Indigenous knowledge systems, like Maturanga Maori, have guided generations in living sustainably with their environment long before colonization.
• 💬 The speaker emphasizes that understanding Maturanga Maori requires listening to Maori voices, as they are the true holders of this knowledge, not outsiders.

Q & A

What is the origin of the term 'Māori' according to the script?

The term 'Māori' was not originally used by the indigenous people themselves but was adopted as a response to colonization to unite various tribes. It was a term imposed by others to collectively refer to the indigenous people of New Zealand.

What is the meaning of 'mātauranga Māori' as explained in the script?

'Mātauranga Māori' refers to Māori knowledge systems. However, the script highlights that it is not a traditional Māori term but a modern development that arose as a response to colonization and the Western education system.

How did the term 'mātauranga Māori' come into use?

The term 'mātauranga' was adapted to mean education, and 'Māori' was used to refer to the collective knowledge systems of the indigenous people. These terms were responses to colonization, but they have since been embraced by the Māori people.

How does the script describe the nature of Māori knowledge systems?

The script emphasizes that Māori knowledge systems are deeply rooted in their environment and culture. It is based on careful observation of natural phenomena, passed down through generations, and intertwined with spirituality, physicality, and connection to the land.

What are some of the traditional Māori terms for knowledge?

The traditional Māori terms for knowledge include 'korero' and 'wānanga,' which were used before 'mātauranga' became the modern word for education and knowledge.

How does the script explain the relationship between Māori knowledge and the environment?

The script explains that Māori knowledge, or mātauranga Māori, is deeply connected to the environment. It involves long-term observation of natural patterns, such as the migration of birds and whales, and how various environmental changes are interconnected.

What criticism does the script mention regarding Western academic perspectives on mātauranga Māori?

The script mentions that some Western academics criticize mātauranga Māori, seeing their own scientific methods as the only valid way of knowing. The speaker finds this perspective insular and misinformed, as it dismisses indigenous ways of understanding the world.

How does the speaker in the script respond to criticisms from Western academics?

The speaker argues that Western academics are not qualified to define or criticize mātauranga Māori. The speaker believes that only Māori people can truly understand and define their own knowledge systems, and dismisses criticisms as fear-based and misinformed.

What is the significance of observing the natural world in Māori knowledge systems?

Observation of the natural world is fundamental to Māori knowledge systems. This involves understanding how environmental changes are connected and how these observations, built up over generations, guide Māori practices and beliefs about living in harmony with nature.

How does the script suggest mātauranga Māori can contribute to global sustainability efforts?

The script suggests that mātauranga Māori offers locally relevant knowledge and practices for living in harmony with the environment. It emphasizes eco-centric approaches to sustainability, which align with some of the UN’s sustainability objectives.