New Institute to address iwi challenges

New institute to address iwi challenges, Whakatane Beacon, Wednesday, 24 November 2010
By Mark Dawson

SEVEN years ago, Ngati Awa settled its Treaty of Waitangi claim and, armed with $42.39 million in land and cash, had to wrestle with the post-Treaty realities.
Its challenge, as expressed in the Deed of Settlement, was to use those resources to develop “the economic and social wellbeing” of its 13,000 members spread across 22 hapu.
Now Te Runanga o Ngati Awa is using that experience to support a new academic and research institute which will address the post-settlement challenges faced by Maori.
The Institute for Post Treaty Settlement Futures is being established by Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, the Whakatane-based tertiary education provider.
The wananga’s chief executive Professor Graham Smith says New Zealand is experiencing a significant social and economic change as the Crown and iwi settle Treaty grievances.
“This presents an enormous challenge for those iwi that have settled or will be negotiating a settlement and this has led to Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi – in partnership with Te Runanga o Ngati Awa – establishing the institute.”
The launch of the institute is being held as part of an inaugural symposium at New Zealand’s national museum Te Papa in Wellington on Monday.
Professor Smith said the aim of the symposium was to address the challenges of realising iwi potential and aspirations in a post-Treaty settlement environment and to learn from each other’s experiences.
The symposium will look at important issues and experiences in governance, economy, cultural heritage and natural resources.
“The symposium is an opportunity to draw breath and reflect on where we have been, where we are, and – more importantly – where we are heading in the post-Treaty settlement era.”
The symposium will consist of a mix of speakers and panels, including Prime Minister John Key, minister of Maori affairs Pita Sharples and minister for Treaty negotiations Christopher Finlayson.
Professor Smith said the idea of an institute to conduct research in the Treaty settlement process “has been on the minds of those who have settled their claims with the Crown for some considerable time”.
“It was clear that much of the experience resided within the respective iwi and there was not an appropriate vehicle established for the purpose of bringing these experiences to light.
“The institute will be devoted to conducting research and analysis and running regular seminars on the work of Treaty settlements.
“The focused approach the institute will bring to this viral area will help not only those who have yet to settle but to those who have settled.”
Professor Smith said the wananga would provide the academic rigour needed to sustain a “think tank”, with the runanga anchoring the institute in iwi realties.
Te Puni Kokiri will provide support to establish an endowed chair for the institute.
Its chief executive Leith Comer said: “I envisage that this position will provide many benefits and opportunities for Maori in the tertiary sector and beyond.
“Our level of support reflects the potential for Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi and Te Puni Kokiri to work in tandem on tertiary advancement and post-Treaty settlement initiatives.”
He said the chair would be a person recognised as a national and international authority in the area of Maori/indigenous organisation, research and development.

National Chief Welcomes Canada’s Endorsement of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

November 12, 2010
National Chief Welcomes Canada’s Endorsement of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Respect, Partnership and Reconciliation will Guide Work to Improve the situation of First Nation Peoples and Build a Stronger Canada
OTTAWA, ON: Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A‐in‐chut Atleo stated that Canada’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a positive development that sets the stage for a new approach to building stronger First Nations and a stronger Canada.
“Today marks an important shift in our relationship and now the real work begins,” National Chief Atleo said. “Now is our time to work together towards a new era of fairness and justice for First Nations and a stronger Canada for all Canadians, guided by the Declaration’s core principles of respect, partnership and reconciliation. First Nations have worked long and hard to set out constructive and effective approaches and to abandon the colonial relationship embodied in the Indian Act that has held back our people and this country. We are ready to move now – today – on our key priorities including education.”
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007. Canada committed to endorsing the UN Declaration in the 2010 Speech from the Throne. The UNDRIP has the distinction of being the only Declaration within the United Nations which was drafted with the rights‐holders, themselves, the Indigenous Peoples of the world.
“Today is important, not as the culmination of our efforts, but as the beginning of a new approach and a new agenda,” the National Chief stated. “Canada’s apology for the residential schools in 2008 was a critical moment to acknowledge the pain of the past. Endorsing the Declaration is the opportunity to look forward and re‐set the relationship between First Nations and the Crown so it is consistent with the Treaties and other agreements with First Nations upon which this country was founded. In endorsing the UN Declaration, Canada is committing to work with us as a true partner to achieve reconciliation as instructed by the courts in Canada.
I congratulate Canada in taking another step towards the promotion and protection of human and fundamental freedoms for all.”
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations in Canada.
Jenna Young, Communications Officer, Assembly of First Nations 613‐241‐6789, ext 401, 613‐314‐8175 (mobile), or jyoung@afn.ca.
Alain Garon, Bilingual Communications Officer, Assembly of First Nations 613‐241‐6789, ext 382 or agaron@afn.ca

Call for papers: Indigenous social work practices and theories

“INDIGENOUS SOCIAL WORK PRACTICES AND THEORIES”
NATIVE SOCIAL WORK JOURNAL
NISHNAABE KINOMAADWIN NAADMAADWIN
(Native Teaching & Helping)

The Board of the Native Social Work Journal, a scholarly and community based publication, is pleased to announce a Call for Papers for Volume 8 of the Native Social Work Journal. The focus for this issue is “Indigenous Social Work Practices and Theories”.

This edition of the journal recognizes that many Aboriginal and Indigenous practitioners, teachers and researchers are engaging in Indigenous practices that draw from Indigenous worldviews and which have been incorporated as best practice models in their various fields. Likewise, there is a revitalization of Indigenous theories that reflect Indigenous worldviews and contemporary contexts. It is therefore timely to invite writers to share their experiences, research and expertise in the area of Indigenous practices and theories.

Authors must submit their articles under the A.P.A. (American Psychological Association) style format. Please follow manual guidelines. Articles should normally be no longer than 5000 words, 20 pages. Papers accepted for publication will have copyright assigned to the Native Social Work Journal; articles previously published or under current consideration for publication elsewhere shall not be considered for publication. Please provide an abstract, double space all material and submit four copies for consideration as well as a memory stick copy using MS Word. An email version may also be requested.

The Native Social Work Journal utilizes a peer reviewed process in the selection of articles and is a registered member of the Canadian Association of Learned Journals.

Deadline date for submission of articles is July 31st, 2011.

Please submit your article to:

Dr. Taima Moeke-Pickering, Co-Editor
Native Social Work Journal
Native Human Services Programme
Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6
(705) 675-1151 ext 5083 or 5082.

For further information or to receive copies of previous volumes, please contact our office at the phone number above.

A homecoming and exciting partnership for Awanuiarangi

A homecoming and an exciting partnership for Awanuiarangi
Posted: by TangataWhenua.com October 22, 2010 http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/7425


Dr Taima Moeke-Pickering (Ngati Pukeko, Tuhoe) the Director of Native Human Services at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada returned last week to her hometown of Whakatane to re-sanction a Memorandum of Understanding between her university and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.

A special ceremony was held at Awanuiarangi attended by both Dr Sheila Cote-Meek, the Associate Vice-President Indigenous Studies at Laurentian University and Dr Moeke-Pickering.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the CEO of Awanuiarangi, Distinguished Professor Graham Smith, on his recent visit to Canada. He said the MOU will “establish a relationship which includes staff and student exchange and research collaboration.”

“Awanuiarangi is interested in developing international indigenous relationships. We want to consolidate the benchmarking of our programmes and establish an international peer review process. This issue is about maintaining the quality of our programming here,” Dr Smith said.

“It is important to develop these relationships as it provides an opportunity to grow our expertise by engaging with other like-minded academics and scholars. We see mutual benefit for ourselves and the institutions we are engaging with, in this case, one of the top universities in Canada.”

Dr Sheila Cote-Meek is of the Teme-Augama Anishinabe people and is Laurentian University’s first Associate Vice President Indigenous programs. She said the MOU was quite broad so there were many possibilities such as staff and student engagement, curriculum exchange and research partnerships and accessing research funding.

Dr Cote-Meek said there are many similarities between M?ori and First Nation people and our experience with being colonized. She jokingly said there was however one difference; “you sing, we drum.” One other difference she highlighted was that First Nation had been colonized for over 500 years and could help M?ori, in particular the healing programs that have been developed.

To further cement the relationship both Dr Moeke-Pickering and Dr Cote-Meek were named as adjunct professors of Awanui?rangi. This means the wananga will be able to call upon their expertise and for Dr Moeke-Pickering it will mean more frequent visits back home. She was brought up in Poroporo and went to school there and in Whakatane. Taima was the first Head of School of Te Toi-a-Kiwa School of Maori, Pasifika and Indigenous Studies at Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology). She completed her PhD from Waikato University.

For more information and photographs contact:

Whare Akuhata
Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi
Phone +64 7 3071467
Mobile +64 21 307327
www.wananga.ac.nz
http://news.tangatawhenua.com/archives/7425