My why is my whakapapa.
I've spent many years trying to piece together my identity, my whakapapa, finding my marae, visiting my turangawaewae, meeting whanau I didnt know, and slowly piecing together what I now know - including this beautiful language.
My why is my love and passion for my culture, my mihi to those who came before us, who fought for us to korero, those who continue to fight the forces of oppression, but also those who don't know our kupu, those still piecing their whakapapa together, those who are still stuck under the whakama of not knowing, and all the many journeys our people have (and continue) to walk.
My why is also my intergenerational trauma, my whakama, my white skin, my rainbow identity, my disabilities, the everything and anything that makes me me.
My why is ME.
I've spent many years trying to piece together my identity, my whakapapa, finding my marae, visiting my turangawaewae, meeting whanau I didnt know, and slowly piecing together what I now know - including this beautiful language.
My why is my love and passion for my culture, my mihi to those who came before us, who fought for us to korero, those who continue to fight the forces of oppression, but also those who don't know our kupu, those still piecing their whakapapa together, those who are still stuck under the whakama of not knowing, and all the many journeys our people have (and continue) to walk.
My why is also my intergenerational trauma, my whakama, my white skin, my rainbow identity, my disabilities, the everything and anything that makes me me.
My why is ME.
