Workshop 3 on Tikanga and Knowledge Systems

Introduction to Culture and Knowledge Systems

• The paper begins with an exploration of cultural understanding, focusing on the importance of interpreting knowledge systems through their cultural lenses.

• Understanding culture is crucial for accurate analysis; it allows for ikaitiakitangaectives rather than external evaluations.

Understanding Tikanga

• Tikanga is a complex topic not easily condensed into simple workshops.

• It is typically learned top-down through cultural experiences rather than a pure bottom-up didactic approach common in academic settings.

• Important concepts include:

  • Pūrakau: Narratives that contain knowledge and provide cultural background.

  • Known examples include the stories of Maori navigation and the depiction of New Zealand's shape.

Key Concepts of Tikanga

• Typically explored through specific properties: Mana, Tapu, and Mauri.

• Mana:

  • A property associated with prestige, authority, and spiritual power.

  • Cannot be directly quantified; it exists on a relative scale and is perceived through experiences (e.g., being affected by the presence of respected individuals).

  • Mana can exist in people, objects, and places, and can be enhanced or diminished by actions related to the wellbeing of others.

  • Mana enhancing actions: Providing help, mentoring others, being generous.

  • Mana diminishing actions: Selfishness, neglecting community or environmental responsibilities.

• Tapu:

  • Refers to sacredness, prohibition, and separation from the ordinary.

  • Enforced boundaries respect the significant mana surrounding certain places, objects, or concepts (e.g., cemeteries, one’s head).

  • Disrespecting tapu undermines the mana it protects.

• Noa:

  • The opposite of tapu, referring to a state of safety and normalcy.

  • Transitioning from tapu to nora may involve rituals such as washing with water, sharing food, and reciting karakia (traditional Maori prayers or chants).

Mauri:

• A difficult concept to translate; it refers to the vital essence or life principle of a thing.

• It highlights the uniqueness of entities in the world, recognizing that individual components contribute to a greater whole. Examples include the distinction between a forest and a group of trees.

Kaitiakitanga:

• A relationship built on guardianship and stewardship concerning the environment.

• Emphasizes mutual respect and preservation of mana between people and the natural world.

• The responsibilities include protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable practices, possibly shifting power dynamics from nature protecting humans to humans becoming the protectors of the environment.

Whakapapa:

• Translates to layers or genealogy, emphasizing interconnectedness and the importance of historical relationships in shaping present and future actions.

• Reinforces that actions today bear consequences for the future and are rooted in the past.

• This interconnectedness implies that all forms of life and their interactions are part of a larger whole, informing perspectives within scientific and cultural contexts.

Discussion Points:

• The video wraps up with prompts for discussion about the interplay between traditional Maori knowledge systems and Western scientific approaches, and the philosophical implications of being a good ancestor in terms of values of kaitiakitanga, whakapapa, and mana in nurturing future generations.