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Much loved elder and teacher, the late Wiremu Tawhai on the importance of place in language teaching
image credit: tpk.govt.nz
Click here to listen to a conversation with Wiremu Tawhai On Place
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Wiremu Tawhai, loved and respected teacher of language and culture, scholar, author, actor and elder of Te Whanau o Apanui tribe, speaks about his passion for the Maori language, the importance of traditional languages and knowledge, and of his efforts in language recovery in a tribal institution of higher learning in Aotearoa New Zealand and in his own community.
See below for a transcript of this conversation:
Wiremu Tawhai-So those are all attempts at recovering. This is only one of them. And I know it basically because I was one of the facilitators. [maori words] going on all over the place. On marae. Marae-based. Whakapapa wananga (genealogy schools). Otaki Raukawa wananga ???? are providing a combined front in this push.
Island Voices. A Gaelic/English project by Gordon Wells
image credit: Island Voices site
Designed primarily for language learners, this Scottish island project in Gaelic and English shows video slices of life and work in the Hebrides, including traditional crofting/fishing practices. Over 150 videos in English and Gaelic can be accessed at the project site.
Click here to access Gordon Wells’ Island Voices website http://guthan.wordpress.com
Much loved elder and teacher, the late Wiremu Tawhai, on working between languages
- image credit: tpk.govt.nz
Click here to listen to a conversation with Wiremu Tawhai on Working Between Languages
(left click to listen, right click and ‘save target as…’ to download)
Wiremu Tawhai, loved and respected teacher of language and culture, scholar, author, actor and elder of Te Whanau o Apanui tribe, speaks about his passion for the Maori language, the importance of traditional languages and knowledge, and of his efforts in language recovery in a tribal institution of higher learning in Aotearoa New Zealand and in his own community.
Patu Hohepa on Working Between Languages
image credit: greenpeace
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Executive Chair of the New Zealand Maori Council, Manu Paul, on working between languages
image credit: TVNZ
Click here to hear a conversation with Maori elder Manu Paul (Ngati Rangitihi tribe), Executive Chair of the New Zealand Maori Council and organic farmer, on working between languages
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See below for a transcript of this conversation:
Manu Paul: So in terms of language and the indigenousness nature of people it seems to me that what the world needs to know is that language is Poutokomanawa [ridge pole or centre pole] of diversity. Alright? I’m reminded of that song about the 60’s or 70’s “and they all lived in little boxes and they all looked just the same”. Alright? The message there is that difference is to be lauded. Diversity is to be grasped so that you have a standard to measure yourself against because how else would you know how good you are?
“Is Gaelic an Indigenous Language?”
Some time after a conversation with Makere Stewart-Harawira, Outer Hebridean Gaelic language learner and teacher Gordon Wells ventured into contentious territory on his personal blog, where a range of comments can also be found.
Is Gaelic an Indigenous Language?
“Stupid question.” That’s the short answer, tinged perhaps with weariness, perhaps indignation. “Of course it is. Next question.”
Well, there is a next question – indigenous to where? And so what? We need deeper reflection in a British/UK context, where indigenous or aboriginal status may be most loudly proclaimed by sometimes closet, sometimes open, racists of a self-styled “British nationalist” perspective affecting to speak on behalf of the “original” (read white) English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish peoples.
On Globalization
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See below for a transcription:
Makere Stewart-Harawira: Where does indigenous self determination sit in this mix and what is it that is the really critical thing about this revitalization of language and culture? What is the really important…why is it so important? What is critical about that? Huge questions, too big, I know…
Sir Mason Durie: I will try and tackle the last one because it might lead on and just talking off the top of my head if that is all right? I see that whole indigenous movement and I am putting in the movement the language cultural revitalization and the political independence or a variant of it to a greater or lesser extent. Through the whole indigenous movement to me it’s done two things. First of all I think it is potentially acting as a protector of the worst excesses of globalization.
Wiremu Tawhai on language learning and teaching and globalization
image credit: tpk.govt.nv
Click here to listen to the conversation with Wiremu Tawhai
(left click to listen, right click and ‘save target as…’ to download)
Wiremu Tawhai, much loved and respected Te Whanau o Apanui elder, scholar, author, actor, and teacher of language and culture, speaks about his passion for the Maori language, the importance of traditional languages and knowledge, and of his efforts in language recovery in a tribal institution of higher learning in Aotearoa New Zealand and in his own community.
See below for transcript of this conversation:
Wiremu Tawhai: Whether we succeed or not, and you know, the treaty hui we had the other day, may link us up with tangata takitaki, originals, indigenous of the world [31:23]. My best hope is that that will happen and that we become excited because we’re part of a movement across the world; we’re part of a tidal wave, so to speak. And we become excited because we have a contribution (more…)
Professor and Elder Patu Hohepa, on impacts of globalization
image credit: greenpeace
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Gaelic scholar and poet Maoilios Caimbeul on Globalization
image credit: Mike Mackay
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See below for a transcription of this conversation:
Maoilios Um…there is a person in Edinburgh university, I knew it was Clauss(?) as well (laughs)
Ma- Oh really (laughs)
Maoilios I first, she’s done a study of this, she’s doing a PhD on how things have translated from one language to the other.
Conversations about Indigenous Languages, Culture, and Identity in the 21st Century 