What's in a name?

Ko Malen toku maunga

Ko Bompitaha toku awa

Ko Tanna toku turangawaewae

Ko Reiumene toku iwi

Ko Natou toku hapu

Ko Numara ahau 

In our local Legend of Mauao, it wasn't until the nameless mountain was given a name that he began to establish his mana, his identity and his sense of place in the world.

In 2006, having grown up with this sense of disconnection, I too was gifted a name that now connects me to my past, present and future. This name is Numara - my mothers Grandmother. 

This was an empowering act for me. This name anchored me to people and place. It solidified and validated my own sense of identity, connection to people and place in the world. 

Connection to people and place leads to empowerment. Empowerment leads to self determination. Self determination leads to potential realised.

According to MacPherson (2017) "Self-determination grows in an environment where teachers consider the impact of their practice on the identity of the child as a learner and the importance of language, culture and identity which sits at the heart of a child’s learner identity".

For Pacific peoples like myself, with dual heritages, walking in two worlds, worlds in which there is a constant clashing of values and beliefs, this constant search - sometimes hunger - for connection to people and place, and identity, can have huge implications for teaching and learning. 

When working with parents and whanau, how do we go about nurturing connection, identity and sense of place with authenticity and respect?

How do we support Pacific peoples connection to their place as well as nurture their sense of place right here in Aotearoa New Zealand? 

How do we come to recognise, understand and truely value what Pacific ways of knowing, being and doing look like within the teaching and learning environment?

What are we doing well? What can we do better? And how do we do better?

As I begin this learning journey I look forward to unpacking these questions, and many more, so that new insights and understandings can be forged that will support not just Pacific peoples but all peoples to find their own place to stand, like Mauao, deeply connected, with mana, pride, and potential realised.

Reference: 

MacPherson, M. (2017). Learner Identity; the ways we contribute to shaping this through the messages we share accessed through: http://www.elp.co.nz/articles_by_elp.cfm