Biculturalism starts in the classroom
Language is a key component, and with more P膩keh膩 opting to learn te reo M膩ori, Victoria University of Wellington pukenga (lecturer), Dr. Awanui Te Huia, is researching how learning the language helps develop a truly bicultural relationship.
Among the aspects the Te Kawa a M膩ui (School of M膩ori Studies) pukenga focuses on is P膩keh膩 students' awareness of M膩ori experiences and how this helps develop biculturalism.
"Prior to university, many P膩keh膩 students haven't had a lot of interpersonal communication with M膩ori people generally, so te reo M膩ori classes provide a context for meaningful relationship development. These relationships create greater awareness about M膩ori lived experiences in a post-colonial society. Issues of racism and discrimination are very real for a proportion of our society, and they impact on our wellbeing as a nation," says Awanui.
"When P膩keh膩 students make progress toward addressing inequitable treatment of M膩ori, it can create a sense of partnership and bicultural allegiance."
Awanui's research involved a small qualitative study of University students with a range of te reo M膩ori capabilities that explored how a more bicultural identity is created through learning the language.
"When non-M膩ori enter into a M膩ori context a big thing is where do you come from and who are your people? Who are you in a collective context? Which is not such a big deal in an individualistic society," Awanui says.
"Students who are used to operating in individualistically are trained to think about identity in a different way when they are put in a collectivistic indigenous context."
The research found that the more proficient a P膩keh膩 student becomes in te reo, the more investment the student tends to make towards their cultural identity development.
"This is where the acknowledgement of the colonial history comes into play. Students who are able to acknowledge they are from a group who has a history that is beneficial to them as descendants of colonisers are able to connect on a level that is more honest," Awanui says.
"They are able to own the identity and use it to position themselves in a way that acknowledges that history, but is also committed to an equitable society based on Treaty principles of partnership and equality. They talk about being a 'full citizen', and the rewards that came with that."
Beyond the classroom, Awanui says there are a number of ways to become a more accepting and equitable society.
"At a basic level, if we remove discrimination towards M膩ori people and M膩ori language, then that's going to be positive. One step further is using te reo M膩ori and attempting correct pronunciation," Awanui says.
"These are small things tell the M膩ori, and non-M膩ori community with aspirations towards bilingualism, that te reo is something that we value and are trying to support."
Provided by Victoria University of Wellington
