It’s hard not to consider the end of the 80s as the end of an era. Paul McHugh described discourse about the Treaty as two (by now possibly three) distinct discourses. He says talk has moved from a structuralist to post structuralist era. The words we use both reflect and shape our world view. In … More discourse, of course
If these kuia practised the Strategy of the Kid Glove – I’m being cynical, they also had giving hearts – elsewhere there were other strategies. In 1984 Donna Awatere (now Awatere-Huata) published a controversial little book called Māori Sovereignty. Dun Mihaka protested. Ngā Tamatoa chivvied. Diane Prince explored the flag motiff, unions argued , groups … More strategic thinking
When I left the museum world someone asked why. Well partly because I was er invited to leave but partly too because I was beginning to see museums as the real world. It’s a long time now since I was in this world and there have been many changes. Many led by these people. Te … More So? A short note.
The 1980s ended for me with the end of my contract with AGMANZ due in part to a bureaucratic sleight of hand and my own realisation that I was not cut out for strategic thinking and politics. The 1990s began with a trip to India (gifted by the lovely James/Galvin) to a PATA Conference with … More the end
I am recording these thoughts and memories for several reasons: the 1980s were important years for many of us as we struggled to understand how biculturalism could work, many mistakes and blunders were made mostly out of good intentions and lack of understanding; I worked in museums in the 1980s and many significant people in … More why this?
While I had attended a wedding or two at marae and at least one tangi, my first museum related marae visit was in 1984 for the Māori Artists and Writers Conference, held annually at Queen’s Birthday weekend. Yep, mid winter. This one was at Ratana near Whanganui. I went along as a museum shop person … More the first in memory
In the 1980s we all trooped of to marae. Most visits were fantastic. An ‘interesting’ trip was to a marae about 6 hrs from Wellington. The home crowd were fantastic and the food the most amazing I have ever seen: kina, crayfish, mussels, oysters, doughboys, salads. Amazing. And the people were great: welcoming, warm and … More hua on my face and hoa in my heart
The workshops that we ran in the late 1980s were based on a format evolved by Project Waitangi a group set up in 1986. My first connection with them was via Oliver Sutherland who, in Museum Shop days, put us in touch with the Te Hāpua weavers, whose work we sold in large amounts. Project Waitangi … More more Te Tiriti
I am very pleased that I missed the anti racism workshops that sound like a follow on from the 1970s psychologically confrontational workshops (the names of which I completely forget) along the lines of making you as uncomfortable as possible in order the produce some change. However, as the build up to the 1990 commemorations … More anti-racism and Treaty workshops
Much of the 80s, it appears now was confrontational. Or contesting. Not in the sense that the world seems to be now but on a more personal/philosophical/community level. I arrived in Wellington pretty much straight into the arms of the Springbok Tour which was as much about challenging the old guard as it was about … More trying to get a long view
thebiculturalist 