Mana: The power in knowing who you are | Tame Iti | TEDxAuckland

Summary

The speaker from Ngāi Tūhoe, a tribe in New Zealand, shares his experiences growing up in a native community and the importance of 'mana', or personal power and connection to the land. He recounts childhood defiance against a school ban on the Māori language and his journey into political activism, advocating for indigenous rights, land return, and respect. The narrative culminates in the Crown's apology to Tūhoe for historical injustices, emphasizing the power of persistence and the equality of mana in all people.

Takeaways

• 🏞 The speaker describes the land of Te Urewera as their ancestral home and the source of their people's identity, emphasizing the importance of the land to the mana of Tūhoe.
• 👵 The speaker's upbringing was deeply rooted in Māori culture and language, with 'mana' being a central concept representing one's identity, connection to the land, and grounding in life.
• 👦 The speaker recounts their experience of being punished for speaking Māori in school, highlighting the suppression of their language and culture.
• 🤔 The concept of 'mana' is explored as a bridge between past, present, and future, and as a means of establishing equality and respect among people despite disagreements.
• 📚 The speaker's education included learning English and the peculiarity of first learning swear words, contrasting their home life with school life.
• 🐦 The speaker draws a parallel between the Māori language and the sounds of native birds, questioning the authority to suppress their language by comparing it to the natural world.
• 🌍 The speaker's journey to Christchurch broadened their perspective, connecting their local struggles with global issues and inspiring them to engage in political activism.
• 🚫 The speaker learned the importance of challenging authority without fear, especially when it attempts to suppress one's identity and culture.
• 📢 The speaker emphasizes the power of protest and activism in raising awareness and demanding recognition and respect for marginalized voices.
• 🧾 The speaker recounts a humorous anecdote about using a ladder to be on equal footing with a government official during a land claim negotiation, symbolizing the struggle for equality.
• 💼 The speaker describes the Crown's acceptance of a horse blanket as a symbol of land return, which was later turned into a piece of art, highlighting the ongoing struggle for land rights.
• 📈 The speaker reflects on the significance of social and political movements in shaping the country's identity and the recognition of the mana of the people as equal to any authority.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Maungapōhatu mountain, Ōhinemataroa river, and Te Rewa Rewa marae to the speaker?

These are significant cultural landmarks for the speaker, representing his ancestral home and identity as a member of the Ngāi Tūhoe tribe in New Zealand.

What does the term 'mana' mean in the context of the speaker's culture?

In the speaker's Māori culture, 'mana' refers to a person's prestige, authority, or spiritual power that comes from knowing one's identity, origins, and connection to the land.

How did the speaker's school experience shape his understanding of authority and language?

The speaker's school experience was confusing due to the prohibition of speaking Māori, which led to a confrontation with authority and a deeper understanding of the importance of language and culture in asserting one's mana.

What was the speaker's response to the school headmaster's ban on speaking Māori?

The speaker and his friends challenged the headmaster's authority by disobeying the ban and continuing to speak Māori, which resulted in punishment.

Why did the speaker and his friends write 'I will not speak Māori' repeatedly on the blackboard?

They were given this punishment as a consequence of defying the headmaster's ban on speaking Māori, which they did to test his mana and assert their cultural identity.

What did the speaker learn about the Māori language and its connection to nature?

The speaker learned that Te Reo Māori is derived from the sounds of birds, such as the tui and kiwi bird, emphasizing the deep connection between the language and the natural world.

How did the speaker's experiences in Christchurch influence his views on global issues and activism?

In Christchurch, the speaker was exposed to various social and political movements, which helped him realize that issues faced by Māori were part of broader global struggles, inspiring him to engage in protest and political activism.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Kanohi ki te kanohi tāngata ki te tāngata'?

The phrase, which translates to 'Eye to eye, person to person,' signifies the importance of direct, respectful engagement and the recognition of equality in all interactions.

What did the speaker do when he felt the Crown was not treating Tūhoe with respect during treaty negotiations?

The speaker used a horse blanket as a symbol of the land he sought to reclaim, and when it was taken and displayed without the land being returned, he sent an invoice to remind the Crown of their unresolved debt to Tūhoe.

What was the outcome of the 170 years of struggle for the mana of Tūhoe?

After a long struggle, the Crown unreservedly apologized for not honoring its obligations to Tūhoe under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and acknowledged its failure to respect Tūhoe's mana motuhake.

How does the speaker describe the role of social movements in shaping the identity of New Zealand?

The speaker highlights that social movements, such as the Māori language petition and the anti-nuclear campaign, have been crucial in shaping the country's identity by asserting the mana of the people as equal to any authority.