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bryregrad702 · 2 years

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Explaining words with story

Takirirangi Smith: He Ara Uru Ora - Traditional māori understandings of healing and trauma

‘Whakamā means to ashen or become pale orwhite. It is associated with emotions and feelingsof shame. The emotional response is associated with a sense of powerlessness and the exposureto this lack of power and status by an individual orgroup with more power. The effect of this exposurecreates emotions of shame and embarrassment,which results in the external physical changeidentified with whakamā. The mauri of the individualbecomes affected as the mā departs the ngākauand disperses externally, resulting in the visibleashen or pale appearance of the victim, hencethe term whakamā. The transfer and weakeningof energy and light attached to the mauri withinthe ngākau of the individual creates an internalstate of pōuritanga. The dispersal and dissipationof energy and light of the mauri from the internalsystem to the external world has a physical impact(such as listlessness or energy loss), and is to beassociated with mauri mate.’

Having a deeper understanding of what whakamā means will help me to better represent shame in my imagery on the box, in emptiness and ashy colour, without life inside

‘Pōuri or pōuritanga as a psychological state couldrange in intensity from a general feeling of anxietyor disappointment, to deep suicidal depression.Pōuri or pōuritanga is always referenced to thengākau or the internal system where memories andknowledge are stored. Pō means darkness or night,and as stated earlier, uri is referenced to generativeenergy or progeny.’

‘‘Te riri o te ngākau’ (to screen off, shutdown or create barriers to the ngākau).’ Whati is often translated to mean a break or snap, for example as a branch on a tree. The term, however, also means a break or disconnection in terms of whakapapa linkages.’

Could this be about wāhine losing connection with their children by having children taken by response services?

‘Tāhae is a term often translated as theft. It relatesto obtaining resources in a hidden or secretive way.’

‘A trauma event can be classified as a patu ngākau,which might be translated as a strike or an assault tothe heart or the source of the emotions. While theterm indicates and describes a psychological eventoccurring within a victim, the event is generallyattributed to some form of abuse toward thevictim. The abuse, either physical, psychologicalor both, has an impact which is perceived as anassault to the ngākau, the emotional core of aperson and the location for memories.’

‘What is meant by trauma? Trauma is defined as a“powerful psychological shock that has damagingeffects” (Colman, 2015, p. 780). A Māori definitionis a much broader concept that includes physical,mental and emotional health. Patu ngākaudescribes a deep wound that is related to an eventthat causes shock. Pōuritanga and mamae (physicaland/or emotional pain) might also describe traumabut refer more to a state of being that follows atraumatic event or shock.’

‘Tapu has often been translated as sacred. Early ethnographers mystified and misconstrued the term to conform with attitudes associated with colonial views. Tapu denotes a requirement for respect or reverence reinforced by the potential for harm or danger. The harm or danger could be a socially sanctioned punishment, a naturally occurring danger or environmental event, or an accident, bad luck or misfortune attributed to pokanoa (to do something without permission, a careless infringement of tapu).’

‘Mana is an important concept relevant to wellbeing,both at an individual and collective level,as it measured and reinforced the self worth ofan individual or group. Socially it is important toacknowledge mana as this contributes to wellbeing.This was traditionally formalised throughmihi (acknowledgements), koha (traditional gifting)or other means.’

‘Every man, woman and child has inherent manaand tapu derived through whakapapa at birth. Therecognition or non-recognition of personal manaand its associated tapu or sanctity contributes toindividual well-being as it relates to self-esteem andself-worth. Mana tangata is connected to internalwell-being and wairua tangata, which distinguishesit from mana atua.’

;The difference between wairua and toiora isthat during daylight, when the human body andtoiora are active, the wairua is passive.’

‘The term mauri, mentioned previously whencombined with ora, signifies well-being comingfrom within, which maintains the balance of theinternal self with the external world. The wordmauri is derived from two words: mā, a term usedin incantations to signify light, energy, clarity; anduri, meaning progeny, regenerative or procreativepower that brings forth transformation. Mauri oraencompasses physical, internal and emotionalwell-being, related to physical and psychologicalhealth, and the life cycle of things.’

Mauri ora, to be well, peace, healing.

‘Whenua, which is often translated as land or earth, is carried by women within the ng.kau.’

this is interesting when thinking about how I represent wāhine, as carrying the earth within their hearts

‘The interior of a whare tupuna is termed thengākau. Ngākau is a term that describes theinterior. In human beings it refers to the internalsystem, but is more commonly used to refer tothe stomach or gut-related organs of the central part of the human body. The ngākau is also relatedto Papatūānuku, the Earth Parent; this is whereRongo was protected during the warfare andviolence created by Tāwhirimātea.’

Ngākau is a good word to choose to use when talking about wāhine Māori love her their children, when thinking about the use of the word in the story of papatūānuku protecting her child from violence

This book uses pūrakau Māori to explain trauma and healing, and Māori definitions of trauma, which is very helpful as it is these stories which give a clearer insight into what kupu in all their richness actually mean. Words for trauma and healing are words which are very relevant to the project, and this is helpful research for some of my kupu choices. this is an incredible helpful reading as it really outlines meaning and stories and tikanga in an interwoven way, which is not something easily found all written down together in one place.

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