A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education

The numerous iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) have a long whakapapa (genealogy) of influential leaders that have made a significant impact on the Māori world and beyond. However, ruinous media narratives that focus without relent on poverty, low employment, inadequate...

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Main Authors: Melinda Webber, Kapua O’Connor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
Series:Genealogy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/3/3/41
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author Melinda Webber
Kapua O’Connor
author_facet Melinda Webber
Kapua O’Connor
author_sort Melinda Webber
collection DOAJ
description The numerous iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) have a long whakapapa (genealogy) of influential leaders that have made a significant impact on the Māori world and beyond. However, ruinous media narratives that focus without relent on poverty, low employment, inadequate housing, and lagging educational outcomes—particularly among Māori—continue to negatively impact the ways students from this region define their identity. This paper presents a number of strengths-based narratives—focusing on tūpuna (ancestors) from Te Tai Tokerau whakapapa—that act as counter-narratives to this rhetoric. The paper discusses how these narratives can be used as powerful pedagogical tools that enhance Te Tai Tokerau Māori students’ self-efficacy, aspiration, optimism, and cultural pride, presenting them as powerful agents of their own destiny. This paper draws on data produced from a Marsden-funded study—led by Te Tai Tokerau descendents—that has collected and re-presented multifaceted hapū/iwi-based narratives that celebrate Te Tai Tokerau distinctiveness, success, history, and identity. This wider study has examined, contextualised, and celebrated diverse characteristics recurring in Te Tai Tokerau pūrākau (genealogical stories), pepeha (tribal sayings), waiata (songs), karakia (incantations), televisual materials, and written histories.
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spelling doaj-art-c46382dd4bfe462c86afa16363aaa2872025-08-20T01:54:54ZengMDPI AGGenealogy2313-57782019-07-01334110.3390/genealogy3030041genealogy3030041A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in EducationMelinda Webber0Kapua O’Connor1Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New ZealandFaculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New ZealandThe numerous iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) of Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) have a long whakapapa (genealogy) of influential leaders that have made a significant impact on the Māori world and beyond. However, ruinous media narratives that focus without relent on poverty, low employment, inadequate housing, and lagging educational outcomes—particularly among Māori—continue to negatively impact the ways students from this region define their identity. This paper presents a number of strengths-based narratives—focusing on tūpuna (ancestors) from Te Tai Tokerau whakapapa—that act as counter-narratives to this rhetoric. The paper discusses how these narratives can be used as powerful pedagogical tools that enhance Te Tai Tokerau Māori students’ self-efficacy, aspiration, optimism, and cultural pride, presenting them as powerful agents of their own destiny. This paper draws on data produced from a Marsden-funded study—led by Te Tai Tokerau descendents—that has collected and re-presented multifaceted hapū/iwi-based narratives that celebrate Te Tai Tokerau distinctiveness, success, history, and identity. This wider study has examined, contextualised, and celebrated diverse characteristics recurring in Te Tai Tokerau pūrākau (genealogical stories), pepeha (tribal sayings), waiata (songs), karakia (incantations), televisual materials, and written histories.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/3/3/41whakapapacultural prideMāori student engagementnarrativessocial-psychologyeducationidentity
spellingShingle Melinda Webber
Kapua O’Connor
A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
Genealogy
whakapapa
cultural pride
Māori student engagement
narratives
social-psychology
education
identity
title A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
title_full A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
title_fullStr A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
title_full_unstemmed A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
title_short A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru: Using Whakapapa as a Pedagogical Tool in Education
title_sort fire in the belly of hineamaru using whakapapa as a pedagogical tool in education
topic whakapapa
cultural pride
Māori student engagement
narratives
social-psychology
education
identity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/3/3/41
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AT kapuaoconnor afireinthebellyofhineamaruusingwhakapapaasapedagogicaltoolineducation
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