Preserving Heritage (fwd)

[David Lewis]

"Maori" is the actual spelling, as used by the people.

David G. Lewis
Manager, Cultural Resources Department
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Office 503.879.1634
David.Lewis at grandronde.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Indigenous Languages and Technology
[mailto:ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of phil cash cash
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 2:00 PM
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: [ILAT] Preserving Heritage (fwd)

Preserving Heritage

Story Published: Oct 14, 2007 at 8:29 PM MDT
By Penny Preston
[multimedia inset - Watch the video]
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/10540372.html

CODY, WYOMING - An historic meeting of natives from New Zealand and the
North America took place in Cody this week. They came together at the
Buffalo Bill Historical Center to help each other preserve their
languages
and culture.

A Moari musician played a flute made of whale bone in the Coe Auditorium
in
Cody. The haunting music of the Moari is a big part of their culture, as
is
their language. Their challenge now, to revive the culture and language
among their youth.

Tapahia Heke is a Moari Tutor. He explained why language is so
important.
"It's basically identity. It's who you are and what you do. And we found
that most people in New Zealand, like most Maori, that are educated in
both
Moari and Europeon ways have ended up becoming quite successful career
wise.
Blackfeet tribe member and Plains Indian Museum Advisor Curly Bear
Wagner,
said, "We're all different in our ways, but held together by a common
bond,
and that's our culture, our traditions, or our way of life, meaning our
religion."

Although oceans apart, the indigenous peoples of North America, and New
Zealand found they share common pasts. Their grandparents, and parents,
were not allowed to speak the native language. Heke said, "We've reached
the same sort of boundaries because we're basically under the boundaries
of
the English queen, we had to abide by their rules because we became
residents of the English crown. It was hard to try to put the things we
do
the way we do it, into a context that would suit them, because basically
it
was their rule or no rule originally."

Both Heke, and Wagner say the best way to understand their culture is to
listen, and learn. Wagner told KULR 8 he's working to get Indian
histories
in Montana schools. "The Indian people want to know and not only the
Indian
people, but the non-Indian students want to know more history about the
first nations." The Maori were brought to Wyoming from New Zealand for
the
31st annual Plains Indian Museum Seminar.