The text
‘Ngā Pūtake o te Tikanga’ by Hirini Moko Mead outlines some key principles and
values that Māori live by. Mead discusses the cultures importance of values
such as manaakitanga (process of showing respect and care for others),
whanaungatanga (sense of family and belonging) and tapu (sacred or treasure,
often restricted) among other examples. The purpose of the text is to shed
light on the cultures morals and make readers aware of traditional Māori
ethics.
Mana is a
key aspect from the text that stood out for me personally because growing up
with some Maori background I was always told to “perform with mana” and stand
tall with whatever I did. Mana is a term used to describe pride and influence,
if you have mana you are authoritative, powerful and tend to be in a position
of leadership. Individuals with mana tend to inherit their prestige from their
ancestors. It is dependent on the whānau (family) and iwi (tribe), and the
confidence that the person carries. Mana is well respected by communities and
is not diminished. Public events also strengthen one’s mana due to the social surroundings.
Below is a
map I have made that shows the connections between each of the Māori values
discussed in this reading. It explains how they relate to one another through
the form of beliefs within a culture.
Works Cited:
Mead, Hirini Moko. "Ngā Pūtake o te Tikanga, Underlying Principles and Values." Tikanga Maori: Living by Maori Values, 2003, pp. 25-34.
No comments:
Post a Comment