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Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by Jessica Hutchings and J Lee-Morgan

Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by... NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-018-0115-6 BOOK REVIEW Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by Jessica Hutchings and J Lee-Morgan NZCER Press. Wellington New Zealand. 226 pp., ISBN: 978-0- 947509-17-0 (softcover). E-book versions available: Digital edi- tions of the books are available from www.mebooks.co.nz and www.amazon.com Adreanne Ormond Received: 4 December 2017 / Accepted: 25 May 2018 / Published online: 4 June 2018 The Author(s) 2018 Decolonisation is understood by indigenous people as a cultural resurgence occurring within their community and nation across the globe, involving the reclamation of indigenous statehood and the associated cultural, spiritual, political and economic sovereignty (Alfred 2008). The phrase decolonisation was popu- larised through the work of the Ma ¯ori scholar-activist Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith in her book, Decolonising Methodologies (1999). As a Ma ¯ori, Smith wrote from an ontology influenced by her culture and, therefore, her scholarship with decolonisation has special relevance to Ma ¯ori people and their community within Aotearoa/New Zealand because of its philosophical connection to Ma ¯ori society, their legacy of resistance, and vision of tino rangatiratanga or self-determination. Enter Jessica Hutchings and Jenny Lee-Morgan, who represent another generation of Ma ¯ori decolonisation educators. Together, these two young intellec- tuals pick up the wero or challenge to continue scholarly provocation toward the settler colonial state through their expansive edited collection, Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education: Research and Practice (2016). The publication is timely; it coincides with 200 years of schooling within Aotearoa and discusses how the education system has been used to colonise, assimilate and domesticate Ma ¯ori into the values and society of the settler state. In keeping with the title, the book also focuses on decolonisation through exploring the emancipatory transformation that is occurring within institutions, including education, iwi, hapu, wha¯nau and commu- nity. With fifteen chapters, the contributing authors represent some of the renowned thought leaders and scholarly-activists, researchers, practitioners and community workers within Ma ¯ori society. Among the authors is the now deceased Professor & Adreanne Ormond adreanne.ormond@vuw.ac.nz Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 123 304 NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 Ranginui Walker—whose unfailing commitment to Ma ¯ori’s assertion of tino rangatiratanga was the embodiment of his renowned text, Ka Whawhai Tonu Ma¯tou: Struggle Without End (Walker 2004). A book that focuses on decolonisation within Aotearoa should privilege a Ma ¯ori worldview and this text meets the critical criteria by been underpinned by Kaupapa Ma¯ori or Ma ¯ori principles. It is written in the traditional Ma ¯ori narrative style of pu¯ra¯kau which is used in story telling about significant historical people and places. Pu¯ra¯kau is also useful as a methodological and pedagogical tool (Lee 2008) and the book utilises these elements by presenting the grievous cultural annihilation of Ma ¯ori through story-work. Thus, although factual, the content does not overburden the reader and allows for reflection and contemplation with the purpose of promoting engagement that is transformational for the individual, community, and wider society. Although consideration of the reader is given, the authors are rigorous in continually questioning assumptions based on colonial ontology that have led to the inequitable relationships of power between Ma ¯ori, the settler state and Pakeha. Critical questions include: Within Aotearoa, whose political and social agenda has the education system served? What do Ma ¯ori educators, community practitioners, iwi, hapu and wha¯nau view as constituting education? How are Ma ¯ori responding to the changing political agenda and diverse needs within their community? The book stands out with a beautiful cover graphic provided by leading contemporary Ma ¯ori artist Robin Kahukiwa; the content is divided into three sections with the foreword appropriately written by the noted Ma ¯ori decolonisation scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith. The first section (Ma ¯ori in education) orientates the reader to the legacies of British imperialism with a critical analysis of the education system, constitution, and Christian church as tools the settler state used in the colonisation and assimilation of Ma ¯ori (Walker, Chapter One; Jackson, Chap- ter Two; and Mikaere, Chapter Three). With the political discourse of education and religion established, the book turns the monocultural education system on its head and provides case studies of Kaupapa Ma¯ori pedagogy and praxis (Lee-Morgan, Chapter Five), including how it has been used to create transformative spaces where Ma ¯ori can flourish (Tiakiwai, Chapter Four; Murphy, Chapter Six; and Ra ¯wiri, Chapter Ten). Rangatahi represent the younger generation and are critical to any discussion about social transformation. An excellent case study of youth engage- ment with constitutional discourse provides hope for future rangatiratanga (Jackson, Chapter Two; and Tawhai, Chapter Six). The second section of the book (Ma ¯ori in research) accomplishes another important task by demystifying the political agenda of knowledge production and transmission (education). This is important because central to decolonisation and transformation is unmasking the dehumanising injustice embedded in the schooling system that denied and undermined the indigenous Ma ¯ori knowledge systems, including language. Therefore, fundamental to self-determination is the reclamation of Ma ¯ori knowledge traditions. The contributors (Pihama, Chapter Eight, Lee- Penehira, Chapter Nine; and Ra ¯wiri, Chapter Ten) grapple with the complex necessity of placing Ma ¯ori values and traditions central to research, praxis and pedagogy. Examples are provided as to how Ma ¯ori knowledge is increasingly 123 NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 305 moving from the margins to the centre, to be taught and utilised within institutions and community. The third and final section (Ma ¯ori in practice) questions what knowledge is relevant to Ma ¯ori community and unapologetically encourages community to define what they view as meaningful education? These chapters consider the multiformity and evolving needs of the Ma ¯ori community and include topics that are usually not included within a standard educational text. These include, traditional food production (Hutchings, Chapter Thirteen), Ma ¯ori media (Smith, Chapter Twelve) and a division of three chapters that focus on female health and social wellbeing (Simmonds & Gabel, Chapter Eleven; Murphy, Chapter Fourteen; and Broughton, Chapter Fifteen). The book is provocative, illuminating and inspiring. It deserves to be read by scholars and educators alike, because it has the potential to shift how they approach the political issue of indigenous rights, where a large part of this is Ma ¯ori and schooling. This edited collection skilfully communicates the decolonising project to another generation and renews the struggle for tino rangatiratanga by challenging the commitment of the state and government to Ma ¯ori, while also celebrating the strength, resources, political strategy and innovative power of indigenous peoples. Glossary Hapu A collection of related wha ¯nau Iwi Tribe Kaupapa Ma ¯ori Ma ¯ori philosophy and principles Pu ¯ ra ¯kau Ka ¯upapa Ma ¯ori storytelling Rangatahi Young people Rangatiratanga Leadership Tino rangatiratanga Self-determination Wero Challenge Wha ¯nau Family Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, dis- tribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. References Alfred, T. (2008). Peace, power, righteousness. An indigenous manifesto (2nd ed.). Don Mils: Oxford University Press. Lee, J. B. J. (2008). Ako: Pu¯ra¯kau of Ma¯ori secondary school teachers’ work in secondary schools. Unpublished doctoral thesis. The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Smith, L. (1999). Decolonising methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples (1st ed.). London: Zed Books. Walker, R. (2004). Ka Whawhai Tonu Ma¯tou: Struggle without end (Revised ed.). Auckland: Penguin Books. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies Springer Journals

Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by Jessica Hutchings and J Lee-Morgan

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Abstract

NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40841-018-0115-6 BOOK REVIEW Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice. (2016). Edited Collection by Jessica Hutchings and J Lee-Morgan NZCER Press. Wellington New Zealand. 226 pp., ISBN: 978-0- 947509-17-0 (softcover). E-book versions available: Digital edi- tions of the books are available from www.mebooks.co.nz and www.amazon.com Adreanne Ormond Received: 4 December 2017 / Accepted: 25 May 2018 / Published online: 4 June 2018 The Author(s) 2018 Decolonisation is understood by indigenous people as a cultural resurgence occurring within their community and nation across the globe, involving the reclamation of indigenous statehood and the associated cultural, spiritual, political and economic sovereignty (Alfred 2008). The phrase decolonisation was popu- larised through the work of the Ma ¯ori scholar-activist Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith in her book, Decolonising Methodologies (1999). As a Ma ¯ori, Smith wrote from an ontology influenced by her culture and, therefore, her scholarship with decolonisation has special relevance to Ma ¯ori people and their community within Aotearoa/New Zealand because of its philosophical connection to Ma ¯ori society, their legacy of resistance, and vision of tino rangatiratanga or self-determination. Enter Jessica Hutchings and Jenny Lee-Morgan, who represent another generation of Ma ¯ori decolonisation educators. Together, these two young intellec- tuals pick up the wero or challenge to continue scholarly provocation toward the settler colonial state through their expansive edited collection, Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education: Research and Practice (2016). The publication is timely; it coincides with 200 years of schooling within Aotearoa and discusses how the education system has been used to colonise, assimilate and domesticate Ma ¯ori into the values and society of the settler state. In keeping with the title, the book also focuses on decolonisation through exploring the emancipatory transformation that is occurring within institutions, including education, iwi, hapu, wha¯nau and commu- nity. With fifteen chapters, the contributing authors represent some of the renowned thought leaders and scholarly-activists, researchers, practitioners and community workers within Ma ¯ori society. Among the authors is the now deceased Professor & Adreanne Ormond adreanne.ormond@vuw.ac.nz Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand 123 304 NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 Ranginui Walker—whose unfailing commitment to Ma ¯ori’s assertion of tino rangatiratanga was the embodiment of his renowned text, Ka Whawhai Tonu Ma¯tou: Struggle Without End (Walker 2004). A book that focuses on decolonisation within Aotearoa should privilege a Ma ¯ori worldview and this text meets the critical criteria by been underpinned by Kaupapa Ma¯ori or Ma ¯ori principles. It is written in the traditional Ma ¯ori narrative style of pu¯ra¯kau which is used in story telling about significant historical people and places. Pu¯ra¯kau is also useful as a methodological and pedagogical tool (Lee 2008) and the book utilises these elements by presenting the grievous cultural annihilation of Ma ¯ori through story-work. Thus, although factual, the content does not overburden the reader and allows for reflection and contemplation with the purpose of promoting engagement that is transformational for the individual, community, and wider society. Although consideration of the reader is given, the authors are rigorous in continually questioning assumptions based on colonial ontology that have led to the inequitable relationships of power between Ma ¯ori, the settler state and Pakeha. Critical questions include: Within Aotearoa, whose political and social agenda has the education system served? What do Ma ¯ori educators, community practitioners, iwi, hapu and wha¯nau view as constituting education? How are Ma ¯ori responding to the changing political agenda and diverse needs within their community? The book stands out with a beautiful cover graphic provided by leading contemporary Ma ¯ori artist Robin Kahukiwa; the content is divided into three sections with the foreword appropriately written by the noted Ma ¯ori decolonisation scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith. The first section (Ma ¯ori in education) orientates the reader to the legacies of British imperialism with a critical analysis of the education system, constitution, and Christian church as tools the settler state used in the colonisation and assimilation of Ma ¯ori (Walker, Chapter One; Jackson, Chap- ter Two; and Mikaere, Chapter Three). With the political discourse of education and religion established, the book turns the monocultural education system on its head and provides case studies of Kaupapa Ma¯ori pedagogy and praxis (Lee-Morgan, Chapter Five), including how it has been used to create transformative spaces where Ma ¯ori can flourish (Tiakiwai, Chapter Four; Murphy, Chapter Six; and Ra ¯wiri, Chapter Ten). Rangatahi represent the younger generation and are critical to any discussion about social transformation. An excellent case study of youth engage- ment with constitutional discourse provides hope for future rangatiratanga (Jackson, Chapter Two; and Tawhai, Chapter Six). The second section of the book (Ma ¯ori in research) accomplishes another important task by demystifying the political agenda of knowledge production and transmission (education). This is important because central to decolonisation and transformation is unmasking the dehumanising injustice embedded in the schooling system that denied and undermined the indigenous Ma ¯ori knowledge systems, including language. Therefore, fundamental to self-determination is the reclamation of Ma ¯ori knowledge traditions. The contributors (Pihama, Chapter Eight, Lee- Penehira, Chapter Nine; and Ra ¯wiri, Chapter Ten) grapple with the complex necessity of placing Ma ¯ori values and traditions central to research, praxis and pedagogy. Examples are provided as to how Ma ¯ori knowledge is increasingly 123 NZ J Educ Stud (2018) 53:303–305 305 moving from the margins to the centre, to be taught and utilised within institutions and community. The third and final section (Ma ¯ori in practice) questions what knowledge is relevant to Ma ¯ori community and unapologetically encourages community to define what they view as meaningful education? These chapters consider the multiformity and evolving needs of the Ma ¯ori community and include topics that are usually not included within a standard educational text. These include, traditional food production (Hutchings, Chapter Thirteen), Ma ¯ori media (Smith, Chapter Twelve) and a division of three chapters that focus on female health and social wellbeing (Simmonds & Gabel, Chapter Eleven; Murphy, Chapter Fourteen; and Broughton, Chapter Fifteen). The book is provocative, illuminating and inspiring. It deserves to be read by scholars and educators alike, because it has the potential to shift how they approach the political issue of indigenous rights, where a large part of this is Ma ¯ori and schooling. This edited collection skilfully communicates the decolonising project to another generation and renews the struggle for tino rangatiratanga by challenging the commitment of the state and government to Ma ¯ori, while also celebrating the strength, resources, political strategy and innovative power of indigenous peoples. Glossary Hapu A collection of related wha ¯nau Iwi Tribe Kaupapa Ma ¯ori Ma ¯ori philosophy and principles Pu ¯ ra ¯kau Ka ¯upapa Ma ¯ori storytelling Rangatahi Young people Rangatiratanga Leadership Tino rangatiratanga Self-determination Wero Challenge Wha ¯nau Family Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, dis- tribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. References Alfred, T. (2008). Peace, power, righteousness. An indigenous manifesto (2nd ed.). Don Mils: Oxford University Press. Lee, J. B. J. (2008). Ako: Pu¯ra¯kau of Ma¯ori secondary school teachers’ work in secondary schools. Unpublished doctoral thesis. The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Smith, L. (1999). Decolonising methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples (1st ed.). London: Zed Books. Walker, R. (2004). Ka Whawhai Tonu Ma¯tou: Struggle without end (Revised ed.). Auckland: Penguin Books.

Journal

New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies – Springer Journals

Published: Jun 4, 2018

References

  • Peace, power, righteousness. An indigenous manifesto
    Alfred, T
  • Decolonising methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples
    Smith, L
  • Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle without end
    Walker, R