Walking Together: Indigenous Wisdom in our Gateway Nation

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa,

I roto i te wairua o te Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, ka kitea he wā tēnei ki te whakawhānui i tō tātou tirohanga. As thousands march to protect Treaty principles, we witness a profound moment where ancient wisdoms converge in Aotearoa, our gateway nation.

The Māori wisdom "Ka huri whakamuri, ka haere whakamua" (walking backwards into the future) finds its mirror in the Akan concept of Sankofa, symbolized by a bird looking backward while moving forward. This shared understanding - that we must carry forward ancestral wisdom to create a better future - emerges independently in cultures across the world. It teaches us that protecting indigenous knowledge strengthens all of humanity.

Look upward during Matariki, and we see how indigenous peoples worldwide have read the same stars with deep understanding. What Māori know as Matariki appears as Makali'i to Hawaiian eyes, as Kungkarungkara to Aboriginal Australians, as Krittika in Indian tradition, and as Tianquiztli to the Mexica peoples. Each culture maintains its unique interpretation while sharing in this universal human experience of looking to the Pleiades for guidance about seasons, planting, and renewal.

These celestial connections remind us of a deeper truth: indigenous peoples worldwide share profound understanding of nature's rhythms, community wellbeing, and spiritual connection to land. The Māori concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) resonates with the Dakota principle of Mitákuye Oyás'i? (all are related), the Chinese traditional value of 天人合一 (harmony between heaven and humans), and the African philosophy of Ubuntu (I am because we are).

As the hīkoi moves through our land, we see an opportunity to create something unprecedented: a society where indigenous wisdom forms the foundation for embracing multiple cultural traditions. Te Tiriti o Waitangi, far from being limited to a bicultural framework, provides sophisticated principles for protecting and celebrating all peoples who now call Aotearoa home.

Consider how our traditional concepts expand to embrace this fuller vision:

Whanaungatanga (relationships and connections) teaches us that family extends beyond blood ties to all who share our journey. Just as traditional hapū could embrace new members through shared purpose and values, Aotearoa can welcome diverse peoples while maintaining clear recognition of tangata whenua status.

Manaakitanga (hospitality and care) shows us how to uplift the mana of all people while preserving what is sacred to each culture. When Vietnamese families honor their ancestors during T?t, when Muslim communities gather for Ramadan, when Latin American peoples celebrate Día de los Muertos, they express the same deep respect for ancestors that Māori maintain through tangihanga.

The concept of mauri (life force) helps us understand how each culture brings its own spiritual essence to enrich our collective experience. Persian Noruz (new year) celebrations, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Indian Diwali - each tradition adds its light to our national spirit while respecting the primary relationship between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti.

Tapu and noa principles guide us in maintaining appropriate boundaries while fostering connection. They teach us how to navigate cultural differences with respect, understanding that what is sacred to one tradition must be honored by all. This wisdom helps us create spaces where multiple cultural practices can coexist harmoniously.

Our nation's demographics show this multicultural future is already here: significant communities from Asia (15.3%), Pacific peoples (8.1%), and growing populations from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America now call Aotearoa home. Many bring their own experiences of colonization, displacement, and cultural preservation - experiences that deepen their understanding of and support for tangata whenua rights.

The current hīkoi demonstrates how protecting Treaty principles creates space for all cultures to thrive. When young leaders like Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke stand strong for tino rangatiratanga, they defend not just Māori rights but the principle that indigenous wisdom can guide modern societies.

As a gateway nation, Aotearoa has the opportunity to show the world how indigenous rights strengthen rather than hinder true multiculturalism. We can demonstrate how ancient wisdom provides frameworks for addressing modern challenges - from environmental protection to community wellbeing, from social justice to cultural preservation.

The principle of utu (reciprocity and balance) teaches us that relationships must be mutually enriching. When new communities arrive with respect for Te Tiriti and tangata whenua, while being empowered to maintain their own cultural identity, we create balanced, reciprocal relationships that strengthen all.

As we witness the convergence of cultures in Aotearoa, we see the potential for a new kind of society - one where indigenous wisdom guides us in embracing diversity while maintaining clear principles of justice and recognition. The Treaty's essence of partnership, protection, and participation provides sophisticated framework for this vision.

Let us move beyond limiting binaries while maintaining the primacy of Treaty partnerships. In doing so, we create a uniquely Aotearoa model of multiculturalism, one that honors tangata whenua while embracing the contributions of all who now share this whenua.

Me titiro whakamuri kia anga whakamua - Let us look to the past to guide our future forward.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Media Release: The above text is released for hard print under Creative Commons Open Culture License.