Tradition and change: celebrating food systems resilience at two Indigenous Māori community events

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

article

Priscilla M. Wehi¹  Murray P. Cox¹  HÄ“mi Whaanga⁵  Tom Roa¹ 

[1] Te PÅ«naha Matatini Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems, University of Auckland;Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research;Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago;School of Natural Sciences, Massey University;Ngāti Kahungunu;Te PÅ«tahi-a-Toi, School of Māori Knowledge, Kunenga ki PÅ«rehuroa, Massey University;Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Waikato

关键词: biocultural diversity;    food systems;    kaitiakitanga;    Indigenous peoples;    Māori;    resilience;    socioecological systems;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-13786-280119

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Cultural wellbeing and resilience are of key importance in many Indigenous communities impacted by colonizationprocesses. Reciprocity and the sharing of an intergenerational way of life in extended family collectives is an enduring cultural obligation.For many communities, hosting large gatherings expresses customary philosophies and practices and brings families together, and foodand food systems are central to these events. We partnered with two Indigenous Māori communities in Aotearoa New Zealand toexplore how these communities embody resilience in their food systems. We collected data from two large pan-community gatheringsor poukai in the Waikato-Tainui tribal calendar that have been held annually for more than 100 years. The first took place in a remote,rural, coastal community, Marokopa, whereas the second took place at a tribal hub, Tūrangawaewae, that frequently hosts internationalvisitors. Most visitors were > 50 years old, consistent with the purpose of this gathering, with more women elders than men attending.At Marokopa, volunteers returned from a variety of locations, mostly by car, in contrast to Tūrangawaewae where volunteers generallylived close and either walked or drove short distances to the poukai. Gifted contributions of food and supplies from local gardenscontinued a history of reciprocity and connection to traditional food systems at Marokopa. At Tūrangawaewae, most provisions werestore bought, but there was a strong focus on healthy eating. Both events produced little waste. Despite a shift from traditional foodsand self-sufficiency in food systems, these communities demonstrate collective resilience in their motivations for hosting, cultural vitalityin their expressions of manaakitanga (hosting), and a commitment to kaitiakaitanga (stewardship) in their focus on healthy foods,recycling, food waste, and intergenerational learning at these events.

【 授权许可】

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