Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Karakia Timatatanga
One of the tīkanga prevalent in Te Ao Māori is karakia timatatanga, something I value and practise in my own mahi toi (in my classroom and at home alike). I have a karakia that I use in my classroom before starting each lesson written by my hoa rangatira;
I knew that I needed to do karakia before my toi whakairo and have been using this karakia before starting any sessions. During my first class I took a photo of a karakia I saw on the wall not knowing who wrote it and knowing the meaning. Later on I found out that the karakia I took a photo of was taught to tauira by my cousin Korotangi Kapa-Kingi. I'll learn it when I know the translation. In the meantime, I'll be happy using the karakia above before commencing mahi.
Tinorangatiratanga at its finest...
COVID-19... the virus that threw a spanner in the works for all of us.
We saw updates on the news and were watching will little regard since Dec 2019 when the outbreak was rampant in China. None of us really knew what to expect and we carried on with our lives until the reality hit... the country was going into LOCKDOWN.
The repercussions of this announcement was felt immediately, with people panicking not knowing how to fully prepare. The result... stockpile buying in stores etc and it was the beginning of the new norm for many of us for 4 weeks. Our world changed with 'social distancing' and 'safe bubbles'. For Māori (or my experience anyway) this was foreign as we are very social people and are close to family so not being able to harirū and hug those we hold dear was new too. Historically we knew the devastation that the influenza had on our people so we are being super cautious during this time of uncertainty.
The effect this virus has had on those of us who have embarked on a journey of learning this year has also caused some devastation. This year I have chosen to take on two diplomas of study; Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori (Te Tohu Hiwi) and Whakairo (Toi Paematua) both courses pose wero for me. Te Reo being Level 5 is total immersion which includes rangahau, tuhituhi and presentations all in Te Reo. With lockdown this has put a stop to ALL classes, both night and noho. It has also created a challenge of not having sufficient support in terms of not being able to contact my tutor (no internet connection and service in Whananaki at her home) and also having no guidance and direction for my assignments.
My Whakairo class has its own challenges also, not so much on the creative process, exploration, or organisation but more-so on the 'creation'. Having zero carving skills when joining this course I was relying heavily on watching and learning from some of the more experienced students in our class (who are in their 3rd year of whakairo) and also the expertise of our tutor to support me through this.
After reading a number of books during the early stages of lockdown I realised that our tūpuna were very skilled in finding solutions. So I asked myself the question "What would my tūpuna do in this situation?" My answer was simple "TINORANGATIRATANGA!" My hoa rangatira shared with me his simple explanation of what this means to him... Utilising available resources in order to achieve whatever you need to achieve! So this is how I have looked at the wero that COVID-19 virus has thrown down.
My first assignment is 'Taonga Pūoro' and once I was set up (both mentally and physically) I sat and figured out how to solve my problem by looking at the resources (and skill set) I currently had and how to be be creative, while fulfilling the requirements of the course outline.
So, that's where I am at at the moment and have come up with the solution of making a Hue puruhau: These are large hue with the seeds removed. The neck is cut off and the sound comes from blowing over the top to create a vibrant bass sound. These hue can be carved, painted in kōwhaiwhai patterns and decorated with feathers and harakeke.
Step 1: Prepare hue (sanding)
We saw updates on the news and were watching will little regard since Dec 2019 when the outbreak was rampant in China. None of us really knew what to expect and we carried on with our lives until the reality hit... the country was going into LOCKDOWN.
The repercussions of this announcement was felt immediately, with people panicking not knowing how to fully prepare. The result... stockpile buying in stores etc and it was the beginning of the new norm for many of us for 4 weeks. Our world changed with 'social distancing' and 'safe bubbles'. For Māori (or my experience anyway) this was foreign as we are very social people and are close to family so not being able to harirū and hug those we hold dear was new too. Historically we knew the devastation that the influenza had on our people so we are being super cautious during this time of uncertainty.
The effect this virus has had on those of us who have embarked on a journey of learning this year has also caused some devastation. This year I have chosen to take on two diplomas of study; Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori (Te Tohu Hiwi) and Whakairo (Toi Paematua) both courses pose wero for me. Te Reo being Level 5 is total immersion which includes rangahau, tuhituhi and presentations all in Te Reo. With lockdown this has put a stop to ALL classes, both night and noho. It has also created a challenge of not having sufficient support in terms of not being able to contact my tutor (no internet connection and service in Whananaki at her home) and also having no guidance and direction for my assignments.
My Whakairo class has its own challenges also, not so much on the creative process, exploration, or organisation but more-so on the 'creation'. Having zero carving skills when joining this course I was relying heavily on watching and learning from some of the more experienced students in our class (who are in their 3rd year of whakairo) and also the expertise of our tutor to support me through this.
After reading a number of books during the early stages of lockdown I realised that our tūpuna were very skilled in finding solutions. So I asked myself the question "What would my tūpuna do in this situation?" My answer was simple "TINORANGATIRATANGA!" My hoa rangatira shared with me his simple explanation of what this means to him... Utilising available resources in order to achieve whatever you need to achieve! So this is how I have looked at the wero that COVID-19 virus has thrown down.
My first assignment is 'Taonga Pūoro' and once I was set up (both mentally and physically) I sat and figured out how to solve my problem by looking at the resources (and skill set) I currently had and how to be be creative, while fulfilling the requirements of the course outline.
Step 1: Prepare hue (sanding)
Monday, 23 March 2020
Getting Started - Toi Paematua Level 5
Our first few lessons were based around whanaungatanga, programme overview and getting the run down on expectations over the year. We have an awesome class of keen tauira. Some of us started this year (1st timers) but many are returning students from Level 4 and have a couple years of experience in their 'whakairo' kete. I'm keen to learn as much as I can from all of them.
We have a well respected kaiako Kawiti Wiremu who is very patient and has a supportive ahua with high expectations. I look forward to soaking up any knowledge and korero from him and I take my hat off to him for taking on a few 'newbies' who have had little or no carving experience at all. I'm also super stoked to have Marty Hawkins (Kimiora's darling) in my class on this whakairo journey <3
We have a well respected kaiako Kawiti Wiremu who is very patient and has a supportive ahua with high expectations. I look forward to soaking up any knowledge and korero from him and I take my hat off to him for taking on a few 'newbies' who have had little or no carving experience at all. I'm also super stoked to have Marty Hawkins (Kimiora's darling) in my class on this whakairo journey <3
Im looking forward to developing my 'whakairo' skills and keen to get started. Kawiti has gone over some of the haehae with us and my first task is to learn which haehae are used for specific designs. I am very grateful of my brother-in-law "Johnny Cash" and his taonga and lessons he has shared with me over the last 20+ years. He is my greatest inspiration in Te Ao Whakairo and I believe he is a gifted carver. I am very grateful for his influence and knowledge.
Our first project is on Taonga Pūoro a subject I have a special connection to with my uku mahi and working with tamariki (at school). Working in rākau will be a new wero for me but one I am ecstatic about. We have been exposed to some fantastic online resources in the way of ETV. It's become my regular 'watch' looking at videos of Hirini Melbourne and Richard Nunns. To be honest I'm both excited and terrified of our first project. Deciding what to create will be difficult, especially after watching a little carving technique session watching Kawiti.
My first task was to set up a 'space' for whakairo at home. A task I thoroughly enjoyed. I was skyping my bro every other day asking for his advice and I can happily say "I'm ready" to rock n roll. I'm looking forward to receiving my set of chisels and my bro has kindly gifted me is set of 'small' chisels for me to tutu with. I found a sharpening stone at Napier markets and have my instructions from Johnny on how to sharpen the chisels. He also said to sharpen one of his old chisels so I can practice on the machines, grinding and then sharpening. Eeek!
Kupu Hou:
Haehae - slice
Whao - chisel
Kia koi - Be sharp
Current reading: Tai Tokerau Whakairo Rākau - Northland Māori Wood Carving - Deidre Brown
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