September 2024
The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages (the Commission) was fortunate to have been invited by the Chief Executive, of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), Ngahiwi Apanui Barr, to celebrate and participate in Māori Language Week held from September 14-21, 2024.
Each year Aotearoa celebrates te reo Māori (the Māori language) through Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week. The theme for 2024 of Te Wiki was “Ake Ake Ake – A Forever Language” which represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of the Māori language. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders in embracing and learning te reo Māori.
Prior to the beginning of Te Wiki, Te Taura Whiri welcomed the Commissioner and Commission team to their offices with a whakatau, a ceremonial welcome for visitors, which began with a karanga. The karanga identifies the hosts and visitors, in addition to acknowledging those that have passed on as well as the purpose of the meeting.
The karanga was followed by the harirū and hongi, where everyone greeted each other by shaking hands and pressing noses. Formal speeches followed, during which Te Taura Whiri spoke first, with each speech ending with a waiata tautoko (support song). The Commissioner was also invited to speak, at which time the Commissioner thanked the hosts, shared his language journey and highlighted the role of the Commission. The Commissioner’s speech concluded with the Women’s Warrior song and the offering of gifts to our hosts.
The welcoming ceremony signaled the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the respective Commissions in support of Indigenous languages, which set the stage for the Commission’s meetings and engagements for the duration of the trip.
In addition to observing and celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, the Commission’s time in Aotearoa provided the opportunity to hear directly from Māori language speakers, teachers and champions on their journey of revitalizing and naturalizing te reo Māori in Aotearoa.
The Commission met with Elders, community members and leaders, as well as Ministers and Parliamentarians, all of whom shared insights on the revitalization and promotion of te reo Māori. The opportunity to observe and speak with te reo Māori learners and teachers at a kura kaupapa Māori (Māori language immersion school), kōhanga reo (language nest), and a te reo Māori class (Te Ataarangi) displayed to the Commission the strength of the revitalization efforts within communities.
Another important relationship that was established was with Te Mātāwai, established under Te Ture mō te Reo Māori (Māori Language Act 2016), with the primary goal of restoring Māori as a nurturing first language with Māori homes and communities. The Commission met Poia Rewi, Chief Executive, and his team to hear about their work, the opportunities and challenges they have experienced, and to share perspectives on language revitalization and preservation.
In presenting the mandate and activities of the Commission in support of Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages the Commission participated in a webinar facilitated by Charisma Rangipunga, the Deputy Chair of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and in various national and regional media interviews.
During these interviews the Commissioner spoke about his personal journey, the current state of Indigenous languages in Canada, and the Commission’s role in supporting in Indigenous language revitalization and promotion. The webinar and interviews were well received with participant indicating that they really appreciated hearing from the Commissioner.
The Commission extends its gratitude to the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for hosting us so graciously during our time in Aotearoa. As a Commission, we are inspired by and continue to learn from the ongoing language revitalization achievements in Aotearoa. We look forward to strengthening the relationship between the Commission and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori in support of Indigenous Peoples, in Canada and Aotearoa, working diligently to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen their languages.
