Imaging Indigenous Sacred Sites: A Tale of Clay, Silt, and Sand

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-50
Author(s):  
David C. Nobes
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Burial Site ◽  
Sacred Sites ◽  
Field Methods ◽  
Soil Site ◽  
Geophysical Imaging ◽  
Ground Penetrating

When studying indigenous sites, especially sacred sites such as burials, the needs and wishes of the indigenous people are paramount; the site integrity must be respected and the site must be left intact and undisturbed. Non-invasive, non-destructive geophysical imaging is well suited to such investigations, but suspicion within indigenous communities because of past transgressions are a barrier to widespread use; scepticism is not uncommon, but we always managed to convince the sceptics. We present an overview of results from 10 Maori (indigenous peoples of New Zealand) sites in the South Island of New Zealand: 1 historic burial site, 6 modern burial sites that also had historical use, 1 historic battle site, 1 prehistoric site that may have been a burial site, and 1 prehistoric site used for food storage that was tapu (sacred). Our approach was to let them ask us to delineate areas of importance, e.g., old burial sites. There are, naturally, processes and protocols, cultural and technical, that we followed. The sites comprised a range of lithologies and soil types: 1 site where clay soil overlay limestone; 5 sites where loess (airborne silt) overlay basalt; 1 set of inland silty soil sites; 1 site on peat soils overlying sandy gravels; and 2 sites in coastal sands. The geophysical responses of the sites cluster into three groups: Horizontal loop electromagnetics (HLEM) and magnetic field methods worked well for the clay soil site, and once the effects of the conductive clay response were removed by filtering, ground penetrating radar (GPR) worked well. HLEM and magnetic results were good to equivocal on the silty and peaty sites, whereas GPR excelled at delineating anomalous features, particularly burials, which yielded clear characteristic diffraction responses. Finally, results for coastal sand sites were disappointing. Such sites appear to be too dynamic to yield useful results.

scholarly journals The ethics of care and transformational research practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tula Brannelly ◽  
Amohia Boulton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Ethics Of Care ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Research Partnership ◽  
Research Partnerships ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The People ◽  
Dialogic Approach ◽  
The Relationship

Democratising methodologies often require research partnerships in practice. Research partnerships between indigenous and non-indigenous partners are commonplace, but there is unsatisfactory guidance available to non-indigene researchers about how to approach the relationship in a way that builds solidarity with the aims of the indigenous community. Worse still, non-indigenous researchers may circumvent indigenous communities to avoid causing offense, in effect silencing those voices. In this article, we argue that the ethics of care provides a framework that can guide ethical research practice, because it attends to the political positioning of the people involved, acknowledges inequalities and aims to address these in solidarity with the community. Drawing on our research partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand, we explain how the ethics of care intertwines with Māori values, creating a synergistic and dialogic approach.

Transforming a global order in New Zealand to reduce health inequities in service provision

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Rawson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Medical Emergency ◽  
Major Work ◽  
Health Initiatives

Abstract St John has been providing service in New Zealand for nearly 140 years since its arrival. It has now close to 4000 staff and nearly 20000 Members and over 8500 volunteers. In New Zealand the major work of St John is its Ambulance service providing front line first responders to crash, medical emergency and other life-threatening situations. St John New Zealand also provides a number of 'Community Health' initiatives focused on strengthening communities and prevention. In recent years St John has recognised that they have not engaged well with Indigenous communities and that their organisation in New Zealand must become skilled and relevant in addressing the needs of the Indigenous people of New Zealand, as they suffer the greater burden of disease and illness than any other population in the country. St John NZ Community and Health Services are embarking on a process of transformation through re-orienting its culture and practice by adopting Public Health approaches and an equity lens over all its programmes. They also have committed to understanding and using Indigenous knowledge to support this re-orientation to most effectively engage and implement programmes that will reduce Indigenous health inequities. This presentation will describe the process by which they will be implementing their strategy for change and highlight best practice for working with Indigenous communities. Key messages Indigenous Knowledge is key to addressing Indigenous Health inequities. Mainstream Public Health can learn from Indigenous Public Health approaches.

New methodologies of GPR Assessment for analysing water content in sedimentary deposits; Application to the Hospital Sant Pau Urban Area in Barcelona, Spain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mezgeen Rasol ◽  
Vega Perez-Gracia ◽  
Sonia Santos
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Seismic Behaviour ◽  
Soil Response ◽  
Site Analysis ◽  
Sedimentary Deposits ◽  
Centre Frequency ◽  
Soil Site ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Ground Penetrating

<p>Ground Penetrating Radar was used in this study as a non-destructive geophysical method. The main objective of this research is focused on enhancing the local seismic soil site analysis. The study employs GPR images to determine changes in the ground that can be associated with changes on the seismic soil response. To determine the GPR capacity in detecting changes in the ground materials and improve new methodologies of the radar data processing.</p><p>Results could be used to improve the selection of areas for more intensive scrutiny, enhancing the analysis of local seismic behaviour studies. Soil site studies are crucial in the analysis of seismic hazard in populated areas. This study and analysis will be carried out in an urban environment at the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona city (Spain). Data were acquired in the field along with two different directions: parallel and perpendicular to the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona city.</p><p>The procedure is based in integrated data from the laboratory experiments by using 1600 MHz centre frequency and obtaining real GPR field images in the field by using 25 MHz centre frequency antenna in the Sant Pau Hospital. Therefore, radar data will be first processed using the commercial software ReflexW, followed by a more specific processing sequence (both in amplitude and frequency domains) with a specific algorithm developed with MATLAB.</p><p>Finally, the mathematical processing of the radargrams in terms of water content compared to the information based on historical maps. Results show that GPR is a promising method and compared to previous studies a good agreement was observed in this specific case study. </p>

scholarly journals Accountability reporting objectives of Māori organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Craig ◽  
Rawiri Taonui ◽  
Susan Wild ◽  
Lũcia Lima Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Activities ◽  
The Core ◽  
Regional Associations

Purpose This paper aims to highlight the accountability reporting objectives of four Māori-controlled organizations. The examples cited reflect the core values of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand (Aotearoa) and help demonstrate how these values are manifest in the accountability reporting of Māori-controlled organizations. Design/methodology/approach Narrative sections of ten annual reports of two small and two large Maori organizations, drawn variously from their financial years ending in the calendar years 2009 to 2014, are read closely. These organizations represent diverse tribal and regional associations in terms of size, scope and structure; and in terms of the business, social and cultural activities they pursue. Findings Three core Māori values are identified: spirituality (wairuatanga); intergenerationalism and restoration (whakapapa); and governance, leadership and respect (mana and rangatiratanga). The commitment to these values and the way this commitment is reflected in accountability reports of Maori organizations, is presented. Originality/value The examples provided, and the associated discussion, should help inform reporting initiatives of organizations that are seeking better accountability in terms of their long-term engagement with indigenous communities, the environment and broader society.

Economic Development through Treaty Reparations in New Zealand and Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (01) ◽  
pp. 61-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myra J. Tait ◽  
Kiera L. Ladner
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
The State ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Treaty Of Waitangi ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Law Making

AbstractIn Canada, Treaty 1 First Nations brought a claim against the Crown for land debt owed to them since 1871. In 2004, Crown land in Winnipeg became available that, according to the terms of the settlement, should have been offered for purchase to Treaty 1 Nations. Similarly, in New Zealand, the Waikato-Tainui claim arose from historical Crown breaches of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. In 1995, a settlement was reached to address the unjust Crown confiscation of Tainui lands. Despite being intended to facilitate the return of traditional territory, compensate for Crown breaches of historic treaties, and indirectly provide opportunity for economic development, in both cases, settlement was met with legal and political challenges. Using a comparative legal analysis, this paper examines how the state continues to use its law-making power to undermine socio-economic development of Indigenous communities in Canada and New Zealand, thereby thwarting opportunity for Indigenous self-determination.

The repatriation of human remains – problem or opportunity?

Antiquity ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (300) ◽  
pp. 404-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurajane Smith
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
North America ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Historical Continuity

The editor’s question “who do human skeletons belong to?” (Antiquity 78: 5) can be answered positively, but it must be answered in context. The question was prompted by reports from the Working Group on Human Remains established by the British government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2001 to review the current legal status of human remains held in all publicly funded museums and galleries, and to consider and review submissions on the issue of the return of non-UK human remains to their descendent communities (DCMS 2003: 1-8). In effect, the report was primarily concerned with human remains from Indigenous communities, using a definition which follows the UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as “distinct cultural groups having a historical continuity with pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories” (DCMS 2003:7). Consequently, the report deals primarily with the Indigenous communities of Australia, New Zealand and North America.

Indigenous Teacher Education in Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia Haig-Brown ◽  
Te Kawehau Hoskins
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Indigenous Education ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Treaty Of Waitangi

Indigenous teacher education has proven to be a powerful influence in the resurgence of Indigenous cultures and languages globally. In Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand, while there are numerous distinctions between the countries in size, linguistic and cultural diversity, and the histories of Indigenous peoples and colonization, an Indigenous commitment to schooling has shaped long-term and recent aspirations in both contexts. Within Canada, the proliferation of Indigenous teacher education programs is a direct result of a 1972 landmark national policy document Indian Control of Indian Education. This document written by Indigenous leaders in response to the Canadian government was the culmination of a decades-long, relentless commitment to creating the best possible schooling systems for Indigenous students within the provinces and territories. In 2015, despite some significant gains, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada completed its work articulating Calls to Action that reinforce the original recommendations, particularly the focus on Indigenous control of education. In the Aotearoa New Zealand context, the establishment of Māori language schooling pathways and Māori medium teacher education programs has been made possible by activism focused on the recognition of Indigenous-Māori rights to language and culture guaranteed by the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Forms of constitutional recognition of the Treaty of Waitangi mean that New Zealand endorses a social policy of biculturalism. From the 1970s and 1980s, responses to exclusionary and racist colonial policies and practices have led to the creation of teacher education programs in both Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand transforming universities and schools and establishing spaces of Indigenous authority, activism and expertise. While the pace of change varies radically from place to place and from institution to institution, and the specific contexts of the two countries differ in important ways, the innumerable Indigenous graduates of the programs make ongoing contributions to Indigenizing, decolonizing, and educating Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike. The growth and strengthening of an Indigenous education sector have led to significant policy and curriculum reforms across the education systems and to ongoing engagement in critique, advocacy, research, and practice. Throughout their development, Indigenous leadership and control of the programs remain the immediate and long-range goals.

scholarly journals An Indigenous self-determination social movement response to COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-398
Author(s):  
Sacha McMeeking ◽  
Helen Leahy ◽  
Catherine Savage
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Movement ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Contemporary History ◽  
The South ◽  
Movement Response ◽  
History Of ◽  
Lower Infection ◽  
First Time

For Māori in New Zealand, COVID-19 is remarkable in two particular ways. First, we bet the odds for the first time in contemporary history. Forecasts predicted that Māori would have double the infection and mortality rates of non-Māori. However, as at June 2020, Māori have a disproportionately lower infection rate than non-Māori. This is perhaps the only example in our contemporary history of the Māori community having better social outcomes than non-Māori. Second is that attribution is due, perhaps not exclusively, but materially to a self-determination social movement within our Indigenous communities that the pandemic response unveiled and accelerated. This article comments on this self-determination social movement, with a particular focus on how that movement has manifested within the South Island of New Zealand. We specifically draw on the work of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, the South Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to illustrate our analysis.

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