MIK s2e2: MĀORI CULTURE: Sam recalls some poignant moments when he gets a Māori "moko"
After reading a post about a TV Line recap of MIK episode 202, I decided to watch this episode about Māori culture for myself. I was touched by the scenes where Sam and Graham each tell their stories in the process of getting a nonpermanent version of a "moko" (or tā moko), a deeply meaningful form of tattoo in the Māori culture.
Tā moko artist Hohua Mohi explains that someone who wants a moko will "sit down for a good hour" and start talking about some part of their life that is meaningful, like their family, where they came from, etc. As they are talking, the moko artist is drawing, and consequently, every moko is unique and very personal.
The Story Behind Sam's Moko
SAM: Well my dad left, when I was, uh, very young, three years old, so I didn't--I didn't know him at all.
HOHUA: Yeah.
SAM: I actually didn't know his name.
SAM: And uh, my mum brought me up with my elder brother in the south of Scotland. She's--she's been very, very strong my whole life. And she struggled, I think, to look after two young boys.
SAM: Um, and it probably wasn't until I was… mid-20s that I finally, uh, met my dad. And, actually, very recently, I got to see him just before he died, which was uh, incredible, just to learn about him and his life.
SAM: And, uh, we spent a few days together.
I work a lot, and I'm very fortunate. But I always put it first. So I guess, uh, relationships are difficult.
Sam's Moko Explained and Revealed
HOHUA: So, if you look at it, it talks about your--your father. It talks about your dad and then your brother in here. This manaia here represents your mum. And so it's obviously facing upwards.
SAM: Yeah.
HOHUA: I've been giving you advice.
SAM: Ah, so she's been giving me advice, mm.
HOHUA: And if you look at it, rather than just follow a single line, all of these colors, they branch off, they branch off, they branch off.
SAM: Yeah, yeah.
HOHUA: And it was-- They came from you talking about how you wanted-- ultimately, you know, you don't know whether or not you're gonna settle down there, but you- you want to go and see the world.
SAM: Somewhere else, yeah, yeah.
HOHUA: So that's what--that's what this will remind you of. You know?
SAM: Different branches.
HOHUA: Yeah, but also, no matter which way you branch off, never forget where... [speaking native language]
SAM: Wow.
HOHUA: Hmm.
SAM: My friend. [shakes hand] So beautiful.
GRAHAM: That is really--
SAM: Thank you so much.
GRAHAM: It's pretty.
SAM: Isn't that awesome?
SAM: A strange experience as well.
GRAHAM: A unique experience.
SAM: Yeah, just also very personal. It felt like going to therapy a little bit.
GRAHAM: Yeah.
SAM: But, uh, very, very honored.
GRAHAM: Yeah. Yeah. Really, thank you so much.
Being a therapist myself, it seemed to me that the process of getting a moko is very much a therapeutic experience. The person getting a moko focuses inwardly and shares important parts of their past that define who they are. The moko artist appears not to be judgmental and listens at a deep level. Then the artist presents the moko, which is a visual symbol of something very unique about the person. And they also give verbal feedback to the person about what they have understood to be the essence of their story.
Sounds like a "therapeutic" encounter to me!
[edited]
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NOTE: Images of Sam's moko were enhanced for clarity and to accentuate the colors.
Thanks @thetruthwilloutsworld for making the TV Line Recap post. I'd never watched any episode of MIK before. I'm glad I watched this episode. I enjoyed learning about Māori culture, as well as finding out more about Sam's and Graham's personal backgrounds.
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