Indigenous activism internationally.

By Tumu Whakarae – Māori | National President – Māori, Huhana Watene

Tena koutou, e mihi aroha kia koutou nga mema o Te Hautu Kahurangi TEU. It is indeed an honour to share with you my experience and thoughts of the Indigenous Caucus at the 10th Education International Conference, 2024.

The World Congress is held every five years and TEU was there to represent Aotearoa New Zealand and contribute and share our unique indigenous Māori perspective with other countries.

The Indigenous Caucus opening was hosted by an indigenous member from First Nations Canada and at the end of the day there was a beautiful smoking ceremony delivered by Argentinian elders – tena koutou katoa nga Rangatira Mapuche. What was unsettling was when the Indigenous Caucus and non-indigenous with the second group dominating numerically.

Everyone stayed for the full caucus and on reflection it felt like indigenous peoples could not debate fully what was on their minds.

Tūtahi Tonu’ infers that Māori collectively be in the past, the present and the future and that when we stand together, we as a people can do so much as is reflected in the TEU waiata – Tū kotahi, tū kaha, tātou tātou e. I find these words inspirational, and they support my thoughts of how this wisdom could be shared with Education International (EI).

In the Indigenous Caucus, and on the conference floor, non-indigenous delegates talked about rescuing indigenous students and staff using mainstream perspectives. Instead, it is critical to implement strategies that respect engagement of Indigenous thoughts and practices.

Allies who are prepared to act in ways that break down ongoing colonisation are extremely important, but if they are based on rescuing rather than listening it is disingenuous and will not affect appropriate change.

So maybe as a union movement worldwide we ensure there is adequate time for indigenous caucus members to meet and the latter to share their solutions with allies. That way we are working much more respectfully and going together.

Dare I say this format would be just as effective for the Women’s and the LTGBQI+ Caucuses, but those groups would need to be the ones choosing this approach.

I was in awe at the work done by the 1300 union representatives from 45 countries, 800 delegates and 500 observers. Colonisation effects everyone, and we must make time to be with other unionists to look at how we can change the world.

He aha te kai o nga Rangatira? – what is the food of great leaders?

He korero, he korero, he korero – it is knowledge, it is the spoken word, and it is the sharing of that knowledge that feeds the people!