Since New Zealand was colonised by
Europeans in the Nineteenth century this binary categorization of Pakeha and
Maori has emerged in society. It has led to the dominance of whiteness and
subordinance of all others that fail to identify as the “superior” European.
Barrington (2008) discusses how European cultures, religions, languages and
schooling systems became the favoured norm that suppressed all non-western
groups. This marginalized Maori cultures and belief systems. Also in terms of
schooling and public environments Te Reo was completely banned and was a
punishable offense (Barrington, 2008). An assimilation policy was instigated, aiming
to civilize and advance Maori’s “inferior” ways, by drowning them in
Christianity and other European customs. All of these factors have had a major
negative effect on an entire ethnic group which is highlighted in their over
representation in the legal system and failings in education and near culture
extinction.
Now this article is not for pointing the
finger at Maori. It is about highlighting the short comings of our contemporary
institutional systems such as education.
How can Maori be so disadvantaged IN THEIR
OWN COUNTRY???? It seems absolutely stupid to me that a group of indigenous
people, native to a country can become second class citizens in it. This just
does not make sense! But it has happened to Indigenous people all over the
world through the power of Colonialism and insitiutions.
In my opinion the treatment of Maori
continues to be shocking and unfair. Maori need to start being treated more
equally, rather than being seen as the dirt stuck to the white colonisers
shoes! Appalling!
References:
Barrington, J (2008). Separate but Equal? Maori Schools and the
Crown 1867-1969. Self-help Schooling
(pp 30-35). Wellington: Victoria University Press.
I agree with your post. It's pretty crazy how the indigenous people of a country are the ones that are seen as the "other". I knew one Native American boy in my class when I was younger and I remember when he would tell people he was Native, other kids would tell him he looked American though and that they thought he didn't really look Indian.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I find it ridiculous that the indigenous people of our country have been treated so appalingly in the past. And the nerve of the dominant white mentality to say "oh it's in the past, we have the Treaty now and it's all equal". I suppose people who have that view don't understand the systematic injustices that continue to occur and institutions that discriminate so openly based on race. There is also the fact that people call this nation a 'bicultural' nation when there is absolutely no equality between Māori and Pākeha. Though there have been attempts at making progress towards equality it is very difficult to bring about when Pākeha have given themselves such a head start through the effects of colonisation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the indigenous people are treated as secondary. We are positioned by the media and schools to look at the 'colonisation' of New Zealand as a necessary and a positive event. We are told to look at it from the 'camera on the boat' view, in stead of looking at the event from 'the shore' to see the invasion and the effects it still has on the indigenous people.
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