ili nz study_trip_2009

1

Saving Māorior

What we learned about preserving languages in Aotearoa

Report on ILI Study Trip to New Zealand, Sept 6 – 19, 2009

2

Overview• Introduction

• Purpose of visit

• Population statistics about NZ and Māori

• Māori as an endangered language

• What it took to turn things around

• Video Clip from Māori TV

• What I did on this trip

3

• Delegation consisted of ILI Board members and technical advisors

• Travel was funded by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to ILI

• The trip was hosted by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWOA) and Advancement of Māori Opportunity (AMO)

Background: Dying Languages• Roughly 6,000 languages are spoken world-wide• Majority are moribund• Languages disappear at an unprecedented rate• Causes are rapid changes/destructions of ecosystems with

dire socio-economic consequences, andcultural dominance of a few large languages and their prevalence in the media

• ALL Native American languages are endangered• There is an increased awareness of language loss, but saving

a language is a very complex problem

4

5

Purpose of Visit1. Gather tangible information about Māori and

formulate best practices for Native American languages based on these learnings

2. Make contact with the Māori Language Commission and investigate to what extend Māori XP LIP is being used and what the “word on the street” is

3. Investigate what role technology plays in language revitalization

6

New Zealand ethnic composition 2001

New Zealand is home to a total 4 million people• 80% European (Pākehā)• 14.7% Māori• 6.5% Pacific Islanders• 6.6% Asian• 0.7% Other

Some Māori StatisticsCrime• 50% of male prisoners are

Māori• 48% of youth justice clients

are Māori• 41% of Māori have been

victims of crime, at the hands of other Māori

Health• Māori are 3 times more

likely to die a preventable death

• Māori males are 22% more likely to commit suicide

7

8

Māori Population• 2001: Census shows Māori population of

595,900 - 15%• 2004: Māori 21% of school aged children• 2005: Births 27.5% identified Māori as

ethnic group

9

• Polynesian language• Only indigenous language of New Zealand• Several Māori tribes, but cultural and linguistic

differences are small• Was declared “dead” in the 60s, relegated to the

spiritual domain only• Since then, the decline of Māori has been halted

and a new generation of Māori speakers has emerged

Māori as an endangered language

10

History of Māori Language (1)• Pre-1840: Māori is predominant language• 1840: Treaty of Waitangi• 1850s: Pakeha population surpasses Māori population• 1867: Native Schools Act declares English the only

language to use in education• 1913: 90% of all Māori children are native Māori speakers• 1930s: Māori remains predominent language in the home,

but the use of English increases• 1940s: Māori urban migration begins; Māori families begin

to live in English speaking environments and families assimilate linguistically

11

History of Māori Language (2)• 1961: Hunn Report declares Māori as „relic of ancient

Māori life“• 1972: Māori Language Petition with 30,000 signatures

sent to Parliament• 1982: First Kohanga Reo (language nest) established• 1985: Te Reo Māori claim brought before Waitangi

Tribunal• 1987: Māori Language Act declares Māori an official

language of New Zealand• 1989: Kura Kaupapa Māori and Wananga are fomally

recognized

12

Te Reo Māori• Today: 40,000 pre-school children educated as native

speakers. – 30% Māori children attend Kohanga Reo (language

nests)– 30% primary school-aged Māori children are educated

in Māori– 11% Māori adults in 2004 studied Māori language -

34,000• 27% of Māori have working fluency• 26% more speak Māori “not very well”

13

What did it take?• Political movement for social justice• Spiritual movement that tied use of the language

to the sacred• Refusal to separate culture from language• Radical, personal commitment to the cause• Unwavering belief in the value of Māori culture • Grassroots movement, carried forth by women• (Sometimes unwilling) government cooperation• A vision (“the island in our mind’s eye”)

14

Māori impact on national identity

• E Ihowa … (National anthem http://folksong.org.nz/e_ihowa_atua/)

• Pohiri/karakia (Welcome and prayers)• Taonga (Treasures)• Ka mate… (Many examples in YuTube) • Success of Māori TV - Mainstream use of Māori • Te Atairangikaahu (Māori queen)

Kia Ora!

31

ili nz study_trip_2009

Education