Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiakitanga Program and Network
Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi children
guard and share Whirinaki,
their culture, language and values

Presenting at Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conference - Project Report:

Description:

Our Community selected three of its members, Earl Rewi, James Goldsmith and Claude August, to travel to The Sharing Indigenous Wisdom conference in Wisconsin USA.in 6-10 June 2004. There with our friend Andree Mathieu they gave a presentation on Tipu Ake and Kaitiakitanga that was well recieved by the mainly academic delegates from many other parts of the world. A highlight of their presentation was a short video clip that "welcomed" delegates to our Kura opening Powhiri on Waikotikoti marae, visited Whirinaki Forest, watched the tamariki perform courageously at the America's Cup and interviewed children and staff from our kura - the inspiration for Tipu Ake.

We record our sincere thanks to the College of the Menominee Nation who organised this great event on behalf of all the indigenous peoples of our world. Thanks for sharing our Tipu Ake presentation with others via your website. The Photo gallery from the conference conveys its great richness. Some wonderful frendships and networks were made there, that we want to cultivate and get our children involved with as well. Some weeks ofter his return when Claude was asked if he had got over the trip, his reply was "That is somethng I will never get over - it has changed me for ever"

After the conference they spent three days as guests of Rhea Miller and Sandy on Lopez Island, North of Seattle, who in March had attended a Tipu Ake / Kaitiakitanga retreat in Te Whaiti.

Report on the Conference:

Click here for the summary report prepared by Bill van Lopic and Photo Gallery

Report by Rhea Miller on the trip to Lopez Island:

June 15, 2004 To Whom It May Concern:

I wish to acknowledge and document the recent visit of the Ngati Whare delegation from Te Whaiti. I was honored by their visit, as was the Samish Tribal Council in Anacortes. After a short night on a houseboat on Lake Washington in Seattle where we were able to stay after picking up the delegation at the airport, we put ourselves in the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle Lane) lane of the freeway and drove north to Anacortes arriving on the morning of June 11th. Along the way we drove through the Swinomish Reservation across the river from La Conner.

The delegation, host Sandy Bishop and myself met with the Samish Tribal Council in Anacortes. The Samish gave us a lavish breakfast, including smoked salmon and choice cuts of elk meat—traditional fare—as well as eggs, sausage, rolls, pie and coffee. The Samish drummed and sang sacred chants for the delegation, and proceeded to a traditional gifting ceremony, including the gift of a ceremonial drum and a CD of traditional Samish songs. In response, the Te Whaiti delegation gifted a photo of a painting of one of their esteemed ancestors, their first king. The Samish also requested a performance of a Haka, which the delegation obliged. The Samish sent along Victor Underwood, former tribal chair and official escort, with us to the San Juan Islands especially for our travel to the sacred lands of the Samish. Mr. Underwood has dual standing between the countries of Canada and the U.S., and identifies himself as Saanich, the same family as the Samish but on the Saanich peninsula of Vancouver Island, Canada. The tribes did not recognize the boundary distinction that later the U.S. and Canadian governments implemented between them.

Upon arriving at Lopez Island via a 160 car Washington State Ferry, we were greeted by two bald eagles active at the ferry landing. We visited first the Fisherman Bay Spit property belonging to San Juan County’s Land Bank. The Director of the Land Bank met us there and toured us through the property that is now in preservation. This property is known for its cultural heritage to the Lummi and other coastal tribes, traditional reef net fishing, and the long beach area on the spit.

The delegation then visited the affordable housing of the Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) under the current directorship of Sandy Bishop, one of the delegation’s hosts, along with myself. We also toured the community gardens, farmers’ market land, and the Lopez Children’s Center.
Per the request of the Samish Tribe, we left the Village of Lopez to go to one of the sacred sites of the Samish Nation that is currently owned and preserved by the San Juan County Land Bank--Watmough Bay. We fortuitously met the Superintendent of Lopez Schools Larry Johnson at Watmough Bay. Mr. Underwood shared more of his traditions and lore at this site and the importance of the local wildlife present.

Finally, we returned to the home of Sandy Bishop and myself for feasting with invited guests. Our home is a straw bale home with rainwater catchment for all domestic water use and a wastewater garden. Among the invited guests were Doug Bison, great grandson of Lakota Sioux Chief Big Foot killed at Wounded Knee, Seth Nichols of the Kiowa plains tribe and his wife Henria of the Navajo tribe and their three children. Approximately 25 people were present, some of whom have had the opportunity to visit New Zealand themselves. Later in the evening we watched part of a video of the Canoe Journey, a program for young people at risk for alcohol and drug addiction within the coastal Indian tribes. Before retiring, we pointed out the North Star for our guests from the home of the Southern Cross.

Early Saturday morning June 12 we left Lopez Island to head back to Seattle and the airport. On the way we visited the Burke Museum on the University of Washington campus. James Goldsmith recognized women by name that were pictured in traditional Maori attire in the museum, as well as his former high school teacher. We also visited briefly the renowned Pike Place Market, the open air market of produce and crafts in Seattle along the waterfront.
I was impressed with Mr. Goldsmith’s knowledge and attention to protocol and the tradition of his people, whether with the proper karakia or describing the importance of a particular practice . He connected very well with Mr. Underwood and the traditions of the Samish/Saanich people. Earl Rewi was a very articulate spokesperson for the group, and ably engaged us by both asking and answering significant questions. His thoughtfulness and great heart during the gifting times was meaningful for people. Also, Mr. Rewi was able to introduce the concept of Tipu Ake to the dinner gathering. Claude August graciously mentored one of the young men, thoughtfully answered questions for invited guests, and was a quiet source of strength for the gatherings.
Everyone who met these wonderful emissaries loved hearing of Maori ways, about Te Whaiti, the Whirinaki Forest, and the Ngatiwhare. Without their visit, I would not have had the opportunity to connect with Victor Underwood, a mentor and kaumatua equivalent of his people. In fact, this was his first time to be able and willing to sing a sacred song to a group that included many white people. James, Earl, and Claude were perfect guests, wonderful teachers, and fine traveling companions who met every situation with grace, generosity and wisdom. We look forward to a return visit by these distinguished guests along with others from their community.

Sincerely, Rhea Y. Miller

Outcomes expected:

The community will grow from sharing their wisdom internationally
The delegates will benefit from the experience of visiting US and interacting with international people
Friendhips and networks will be established with other groups around the world
The knowledge gained will be shared wioth the community and others in New Zealand.

Start Date:
Expected Completion:

Budget:

$9000 airfares and travel insurance expenses
$0000 delegates provided their own cash for misc expenses, passports, gifts etc
$0000 Accomodation provided by Menominee Nation at confernece thanks
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$9000 Provided as Cofunder Koha to Kaitiakitanga Program

Nominal Delegation Leader:

Earl Rewi

Project Team:

James Goldsmith, Claude August, Andree Mathieu

Issues Register:

Progress Log

NOTICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

Our gift to you - download our Free Whirinaki Wall Calendar

"Re-designing our future" youth forum with Michael Braungart - 30 Aug

What Andree a sustainability writer discovered about Kaitiakitanga
Check out our school's Energy Monitoring / Weatherstation project
WEMZ - The Whirinaki Ecological Restoration Zone - a project with DOC
Building our new visitor information kiosk on the main road
Take a photo tour through our valley see restoration work needed
Pending - our Whirinaki Centre, Nursary and Recycling Projects
Celebrate what our friends at Hokianga Harbourcare are doing
Our Network's Mycorestoration Research Project - Fungi and mushroom
Thanks MfE for a big toxin cleanup on our millsites - July 07
Thanks TPK for facilitating Govt support for Minginui initiatives
Our Community Digital Strategy pending - Whirinaki Interactive - Dec 06
Our Lopez friends help Raglan initiate an affordable housing program
Prince Andrew adopts our Kiwi, Princess Beatrice on Mokoia Is Mar 07
Our Project to upgrade our water supply in Minginui Mar 07
Our network on the Kiwi Youth Voice learning journey to US. Mar 07
Our network at Youth Voice Digital Earth Summit on Sustainbility Aug 06
We welcomed Hunter Lovins 7-9 July 06, VIDEO view NZ tour resources
Thanks Waikato University for help with broadband 05
Thanks Housing Corp, house painting and marae restoration teams
Go Tramping in Whirinaki. See Kaka, Kiwi, Weka, Robin, Blueduck
Report Living Organisation workshops. Tipu Ake presented worldwide 05
Report Hikoi to Indigenous Knowledges Conf , Well, NZ. June 05
Thanks to UNITEC Architecture Students for help with town plans 04
Report on Sustainable Resources Conf, Colorado 04
Report on PMI Global Forum, Los Angeles Tipu Ake paper 04
Report on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conf, Wisconsin, June 04
Int and local visitors attend Tipu Ake Retreat March 04 See report
MPs Horomia and Mallard open our new merged area school Jan 04
Trip to Whaingaroa Env Gp Raglan, Jan04 learnings, VIDEO view