Maori, Pacific communities urge: look to culture

Maori and Pacific communities urged to look to culture
Injury Prevention network of Aotearoa New Zealand
media release

A visiting expert on indigenous issues says Maori and Pacific communities must find strength in their cultures and become more involved in their young people’s lives to help address problems with injury, harm and substance abuse.

Rod Jeffries ,from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario, Canada said generations of unresolved trauma arising from colonisation and cultural disconnectedness lies at the heart of the self-destructive behaviour exhibited by many indigenous youth.

“Youth among most indigenous peoples have inherited the legacy of shame and loss from colonisation, oppression and even genocide in the past. The pain is unbearable and it’s a burden they can carry no longer. Drinking helps bury that pain, but only results in increased problems with destructive behaviour, self-harm and injury.”

Mr Jeffries, who works with Ancestral Visions, a First Nations company providing wellness and development services for indigenous peoples, spoke today at the Injury Prevention Network Conference at Hoani Waititi Marae in Waitakere.

He said Maori and Pacific peoples have rich cultures and traditions of which they can be very proud and that it is time for parents and leaders within indigenous communities to take responsibility for what is happening with their young people and to start role-modelling strength and pride in their cultures to their children.

“Most indigenous peoples were once highly disciplined with specific roles and responsibilities that were reflected in ceremony, custom and ritual. They focussed on the needs of the community which kept everybody strong and cared for.

“But today society works on the basis of greed, and an ‘every man for himself’ mentality. Parents aren't involved in their children’s lives so our youth feel un-valued and confused. Indigenous young people don't have a sense of who they are or where they have come from, and so have lost the strength and resilience their culture should provide.”
Mr Jeffries, who has worked in the fields of substance abuse, healing, wellness and treatment among indigenous peoples for more than 26 years, has found that communities with a strong sense of who they are culturally, have less social and health issues, including problems with drinking harms amongst young people.

He said that by reconnecting with their culture on a spiritual level, and by facing up the trauma and loss of mana resulting from colonisation, Maori and Pacific communities could begin to take back the belief in self and overcome the historical grief that has weakened them.

“Regaining a sense of who we are culturally, and modelling our culture to our children will have tremendous positive impacts on their spiritual and emotional wellbeing and greatly reduce problems with alcohol abuse and injuries.”

Researcher Papaarangi Reid said Maori and Pacific peoples have done much to keep their traditions and cultural teachings alive, with Te Reo Maori being an official language just one example.

“Maori have a unique history that is not known by many New Zealanders and much to celebrate as a people. We need to re-gain a collective pride in what has been handed down to us by our ancestors and elders and remove the lens that stereotypes Maori as non-achievers and activists.

“If we accept those stereotypes as a people, the tragedy is they will also be accepted by our children.”

ENDS

The Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa New Zealand (IPNANZ) conference is on from Wednesday 7 October – Friday 9 October at the Hoani Waititi Marae, Waitakere City, Auckland.

For more information, including a programme, see: www.ipnanz.org.nz/page.php?p=128&fp=103.

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