Maori And Indigenous Education (Iri) Statement (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Maori And Indigenous Education (Iri) Statement

Wednesday, 28 July 2004, 8:54 am
Press Release: International Research Institute
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0407/S00077.htm

    International Research Institute For Maori And Indigenous Education
(Iri) And Te Aratiatia (Maori Education, The University Of Auckland.

    The recent attack by Elizabeth Rata on Kaupapa Maori developments
highlights a disturbing trend of racism being disguised as public
debate. Director of the International Research Institue for Maori and
Indigenous Education, Dr Leonie Pihama, states that the comments by
Elizabeth Rata where couched within an "almost unintelligible academic
language" do in fact merely reflect the Don Brash position that Maori
language and culture have little significance in this country. Dr
Pihama states "Elizabeth Rata has used her academic position to promote
a totally uninformed view of Kaupapa Maori and Maori Education. The
'research' she purports to have undertaken is seriously devoid of any
input by Maori in the sector and rehashes a range of articles and
reports that have already been challenged".

    Claims by Rata that Kaupapa Maori is 'anti-democratic and
fundamentalist' have no substance in that all Kaupapa Maori initiatives
have been open for others, including Elizabeth Rata, to be involved.
Furthermore, Dr Pihama highlights that the claim that Kaupapa Maori is
'intellectually and scientifically flawed' is one that Rata fails to
verify. Dr Pihama notes that "Kaupapa Maori initiatives are grounded
within a strong Maori intellectual, cultural, spiritual and scientific
base. Just because Maori knowledge is not viewed in the same way as
western knowledge by people like Elizabeth Rata, does not make it any
less robust."

    As Director of IRI, Dr Pihama advocates a Kaupapa Maori approach to
research and in fact Maori authors, Dr Graham Smith, Dr Linda Smith and
Dr Fiona Cram, referred to by Rata in her paper are closely involved
with the Institute. A Kaupapa Maori approach acknowledges clearly that
matauranga Maori is a valid and highly complex knowledge system that
offers a unique way of analyzing issues for Maori both historically and
in contemporary times. The underlying assumptions are clearly stated,
it is about validating a cultural knowledge base and approach to
research and education.

    Dr Pihama contends that where Kaupapa Maori clearly states up front
its intentions, Elizabeth Rata does not afford the public with the same
, rather she operates under a guise of academic scrutiny when there is
in fact much more going on. Dr Pihama states; "Elizabeth Rata is a
Pakeha woman who has had major personal differences with Maori people
working in Kaupapa Maori initiatives and as such I seriously question
her intentions. Hiding her own intentions under a claim that she is
seeking subjective scrutiny is quite unacceptable, as it denies her own
self-interest."

    Maori Academic, Jenny Lee, also questions Rata's criticism of
Kaupapa Maori as promoting primordial ethnic divisions. Lee, who
teaches in the area of race, ethnicity and Education, notes that such
statements show an ignorance of Kaupapa Maori and a limited
understanding of ethnicity. Lee states "definitions of ethnicity are
widely debated, complex and range from primordial to political
explanations of ethnic formation. Most theorists, however, acknowledge
that ethnicity is usually influenced by both primordial and political
elements, that is, culture (and knowledge) is protected and passed down
to the next generation while simultaneously responding to challenges in
the contemporary context." Ms Lee contends that the promotion of ethnic
cultural traditions does not mean that there is a non-acceptance of
ethnic fluidity, to the contrary Kaupapa Maori acknowledges that as a
result of colonisation Maori are as diverse as any other group.
Furthermore Lee states "Strengthening Maori ethnicity, whether it be
primordial or political, is about asserting and exploring our
indigeneity, our position as tangata whenua, that is not creating
divisions. There is no reason for Elizabeth Rata or any other person to
be threatened by that".

    ENDS