Decolonization through education

For our weekly look at practical decolonization in the Aboriginal world, we turn to a nice article in The Tyee, a regional online magazine here in British Columbia fosucing on the vision of Graham Hingangaroa Smith. He is a Maori academic educator who is visiting BC and throwing up some nice challenges to the community here with respect to academic success.

And he knows what he’s talking about. Maori education, in Maori schools has saved the Maori language, and created a huge shift in the identity of a whole new generation of Maori. When I was in New Zealand in March, I was struck by how much language was used in daily life. Having some nice kai at a hui on the marae is something easily understood by Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori) alike. In fact, I think I learned more Maori in a week than I have learned Coast Salish in the ten years I have lived here in Squamish territory.

Smith credits this amazing resurgence in Maori identity to a deep change in thinking:

Here in Canada, I have to say that we tend to suffer somewhat from being defensive, and reacting to government. The proactive initiatives I blog about here are a welcome sea change in that respect. I’m glad Smith is here spreading his gospel, because indigenous folks around the world need to hear from each other, especially about things that work so well.

Thanks to Marja-Leena for the pointer.