Today marks exactly one week since we began our venture to New Zealand and Australia. This week has included travels to Auckland, Paihia and three different Islands.
The most impactful day for me this week was in Paihia, commemorating Waitangi Day. Waitangi Day gives people the opportunity to remember the treaty of Waitangi that, among other things, granted sovereignty to the indigenous Maori Nation of New Zealand. Waitangi Day provides a day to consider if all aspects of the treaty are being upheld adequately. To take part in this commemoration and reflection, we ventured to the treaty grounds at 4:30 am and watched the sunrise ceremony. It was a surreal and magical experience to congregate in the treaty grounds in total darkness and stare at a jumbotron while leaders spoke words of commemoration and prayer. Following the ceremony, many of us perused the treaty grounds to find breakfast being sold by an array of vendors. One popular option was breakfast served by the prime minister! The rest of the day was filled with song, dance, traditional Mauri boat races, and additional speakers.
The day was filled with entertainment and good food, however my biggest takeaways were reflections regarding my own country’s inclusion of indigenous voices in the federal government. Despite the apparent room for further progress, it was so powerful to see an event that possessed such dedication to dialogue with the nation’s indigenous peoples. While studying at St. Olaf, I have learned about ways in which First Nations peoples fight for protection of natural resources, however when it comes to the government’s acknowledgement and cooperation with these efforts, they appear one sided. Within the context of environmental science, including indigenous voices and leadership seems to be an invaluable step in the path of pursuing conservation and sustainability.
Stay tuned until next week to hear more about our ESANZ adventures in New Zealand!
-Marcel Hones