Day 1 of the Conference

Keynote Speaker Professor Emeritus Sir Mason Durie's

presentation was on Mauri Ora - On Human Flourishing

[Maori Ora is about flourishing and Mauri Noho is about languishing] 

In respect to Sir Mason Durie I will be only uploading one image from his presentation. Sir Durie (my first opportunity to hear him speak] is a person who has spent a lifetime working towards Human Flourishing on so many levels. What an inspiring role model he is and duly awarded. I will share with you a snippet from one of his slide's presented on the day. Many questions were posed due to the context he was speaking in - International Indigenous Research Conference. Questions posed:

1. 'Is this to be the Indigenous Century - In which the term 'indigenous' is no longer routinely followed by the word 'problem'.
2. In which Kupe's values and laws thrive in the lives of his descendants and are adopted by Cook's people too.
3. The Indigenous research community - Provides the building blocks:

• By providing data, science, ideas : the tools for imaging a different beginning
• By being practical and relevant
• By being aware of the possibilities for true transformation
• By inspiring and holding us to account
• By helping to shape the audacious vision of a new generation of Kupe's.'

Friend, Piki and Kiri Diamond (Nieces) Viti

 

2016 International Indigenous Research Conference

What a fabulous 4 days this was - finished today.

Have made the decision to allow a few days to pass and write from a reflective position. Int he interim will share the following. What a wonderful opportunity to sit amongst international researchers sharing their knowledge and gained along a range of milestone of their academic journey. Including Many who work outside of the academic institutions which bought a different perspective on looking global issues from a local to global perspective. 'The key question for me from the first Keynote Speaker was, to reflect upon, 'What are we called to do - as Maori or Indigenous researchers?

Will share with you one of the performances that took place on Day 1. Trust you enjoy. There will be others to follow and images.

 

Language of the collective

Indigenous Early Career & Post Graduate Workshop - Pre-Conference Monday 14th

Many takeaways with this workshop which evolved throughout the day.  These are a few of the bullet points that I have noted to share in regards to research - from a range of speakers - that we are entering into or as practitioners of research:

•  What counts for OR what are we called to do as Maori or Indigenous.
• What are we trying to do with our work?
• Understanding the terrain in which we can move.
• Undertaking work that not just describes but is transforming.
• Understanding that a PhD is a platform for greater things.
• Understanding time zones in the context of: research, schedules and goals and how one can feel adrift in this space.
• In the Maori context it is the speed of the group that is important not the individual.
• Time behaves differently for Maori - how we time travel - who we take with us - histories - memories - often heavy and 
• so much more was learnt today.
• 
  Time for a break...
  
  I am looking forward to reflecting on the above commentary in the fullness of time. No doubt there will be more pieces that will land on this canvas over the coming days.
  
  My major takeaway today was an understanding of where I sit in the scheme of things in terms of being a research practitioner not in the academic environment - although my intent is similar. 
  
  The following comment was shared today and it resonated for me.
  
  

  There are, different forms of activism

  which

  looks for answers beyond the university.

  
  

  
  

   
   

A week like no other

14th - 18th November

The 7th Biennial 

International Indigenous Research Conference 2016

Hosted by The University of Auckland

New Zealand Maori Research Centre of Research Excellence.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 1: Monday 14th Pre-Conference Indigenous Early Career/Post-Graduate Workshop Programme.

'To provide opportunities for  networking and to discuss theory, methods, academic experiences, and good practices for publishing. The discussion will be a mix of informal, interactive and round-table sessions led by Indigenous academics.'

What I am looking forward to throughout the day is to gain an understanding if my research projects over the last 13 years have incorporated an Indigenous 'way of seeing things'. My cross-cultural back ground and departure from the New Zealand - which shaped my formative years has been replaced by a very different context over the last 4 decades spent in Australia. This in itself disrupts but does it change the way we interact with our new environments from an Indigenous perspective?  

Or do we retain those earlier influences in our approach to research projects immaterial of where we live or the influences that continue to shape and mold us over time. I look forward to building upon this knowing in the coming days. 

The second component of the day is to learn what Indigenous Academics view as good practice for publishing. 

Will this advise align with my own self-publishing with my approach to both resource book? The first book was self-published in 2013 and my second in 2016.

Copies will be available at the Conference - Mob: 0428 174 546

and Email: viti@bearfruit.com.au if interested.

I will be presenting at the Conference on Wednesday 16th November ARTS

206 Room 217 in the morning parallel Session A4 10:15am - 12:15pm.  

My presentation focuses on Microfinance empowering women, families and communities in rural Nepal.

 

Talk about synergy...

The following first edition of the e-magazine HONESTLY WOMAN went live and Bev Ryan the Co-founder of this magazine mentioned to all those profiled (of which I was one) that we should have a Launch and catch-up to celebrate. When I mentioned I would be in Brisbane for a couple of days on my way to NZ the Launch was organised to coincide with my visit.  And so it was that a number of us gathered for Bev's launch on the evening of Wednesday 9th November at the Paddington & Co. So special!

Bev Ryan 
Link for viewing the magazine below - Free subscription

https://joom.ag/fYGQ 

Below: Kim Jorgensen, Viti and Bev Ryan Founder

Below: Dolores, Simone, Lana and Jennifer Gael

 

 

 

Photos Below: Simone then

Sandra and Lana