“Legends of Our Lands”
Our stories, Our places, Our people
Māori and Pasifika peoples have always passed on stories to children to ensure the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, understandings, traditions and wisdom
from their ancestors.
Through this practice, accounts of worldview perspectives, legendary ancestors, historical events, inspiring people, stories of how places were formed and named, become implanted in a child’s mind.
They help to explain human existence, characteristics of human nature, the environment and the basis of a cultural worldview.
They are an integral part of cultural identity and the use of imagery and symbolism are woven within these precious stories.
Mīharo Murihiku is so excited to see how our Kohanga Reo, ECE's, Schools, Kura Kaupapa, Mana Whenua and communities work together to interpret and present this knowledge through the arts.
View the unit overview below:
_Unit Overview - Polyfest Art Exhibition 2022.pdfPūrākau (mythological traditions) are statements about the nature of the world, the beliefs of a people and the natural and human world.
*sourced from - teara.govt.nz
The theme can be separated into three possible areas to draw your inspiration from:
Creation Legends: stories of the origin of something, how the world and everything in it came to be. Often involving atua, supernatural beings or events which explain the creation of environmental elements.
Historical Legends: Tell stories of specific people, ancestors, tupuna, events and the places our people inhabit.
Personal legends: Your stories, of people, places, islands and events within your own whakapapa, whānau, aiga, fanau.
Whakatauki / Proverbs related to the theme
Māori
Puritia ngā taonga a o tātou tūpuna
Hold fast to the treasures of our ancestors
Samoa
O le tagata ma lona aiga, o le tagata ma lona fa'asainomaga.
Every person belongs to a family and every family belongs to a person
Tokelau
Toku kāiga, he kānava, he fau e hē uia
My community, my heritage, is a gift forever treasured
Kuki 'Airani
Kia āriki au i tōku tupuranga, ka ora uatu rai tōku reo
To embrace my heritage, my language lives on
Māori
Tū mai e moko. Te whakaata o ō mātua. Te moko o ō tīpuna.
Stand strong, O moko. The reflection of your parents. The blueprint of your ancestors.