A new digital learning resource that shares tohunga wisdom offers a deep wellspring of knowledge for learners of all ages. The creation of the resource was supported by a NPM Matakitenga grant co-led by Dr Selena Meiklejohn-Whiu (Ngāti Raukawa, Samoa) and Dr Maia Hetaraka (Ngāti Wai, Ngā Puhi, Ngai Tahu).
The project started as a simple idea – collaborate with local tohunga and mātanga to co-design and digitally record a pūrakau special to them. The plan was to ensure that the recordings could be accessed by Te Tai Tokerau teachers to guide and inspire ākonga.
It was a simple idea but not so simple to execute, say Selena and Maia. “After we recorded the sessions, we realised the recordings were so rich and embedded with multiple layers of meaning that we had to be very careful about how we managed access to the recordings and how we support the teaching around the knowledge shared,” says Maia.
The research, involving six tohunga and mātanga, was conducted in partnership with the Hihiaua Cultural Centre which is the kaitiaki of the resource.
The research team have previously taught in schools and appreciate how heavy workloads can sometimes make it challenging to acquire a deep understanding of teaching resources. However, it was important that these resources were treated with an appropriate duty of care. “The tohunga were very clear - anyone who teaches this knowledge needs to do self-work so they understand what they are accessing,” says Maia.
To support that goal the researchers, with the help of a Whatua Tū Aka grant, will create additional resources to reinforce the digital stories, and develop wānanga for interested community members, including teachers. “We believe it is important to approach the use of this knowledge with reverence which is passed on to ākonga,” says Maia.
“We want teachers to really dive into the videos and expand their vision. The videos have multiple levels which teachers can use as ramps to inspire teaching many different subjects and ages,” says Selena.
The videos have the potential to support the teaching of a variety of topics including science, history, geography and Te Ao Māori. “It is a real gift to teachers, and this project is a way of encouraging them to develop and evolve as teachers,” says Maia.
Maia hopes the resources developed from this research project will unlock the possibilities that mātauranga has, particularly for young people.
“In this world where you can google everything, we hope people will take the wisdom our tohunga have created and make it relevant to their everyday world so they can build real life connections. And maybe these connections will keep them engaged to stay and enjoy school more,” says Maia.