Re: Need to unite, not divide — November 30.
I take issue with Clive Bibby’s phrase of “hope that there is less emphasis on ‘indigenous’ values when presenting this message to the world audience” — regarding the serious problems that we face.
Please note that although Māori settlement had done a great deal of environmental damage by direct hunting and destruction of native forests over a much longer period (centuries as opposed to years), remaining forest cover was reduced by about half by European colonisation in the nineteenth century, largely through fire.
I repeat from my letter on Thursday: Shane Goldie, a 22-year-old Indigenous student minister from Alberta Canada, notes: “In many Indigenous cultures the Earth is viewed as sacred . . . the spiritual relationship to the Earth fosters a sense of responsibility and stewardship.”
This fits with Polynesian culture. Māori too have strong spiritual bonds to the land, Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother. She provides unity and identity to her people and sustains them. And to this day, most believe it is important that we protect our land and water from erosion, deforestation and inappropriate land use.
