Indigenous perspectives – giants of the forests
Trees are a magnificent wonder of nature – giants of the forest. Tāne Mahuta is a giant kauri (Agathis australis). At 51.5 metres tall, it is the oldest known living kauri tree in Aotearoa. The Amazon rainforest is home to many large trees including the samaúma (Ceiba pentandra). The samaúma pictured here measures 70 metres in height and towers over the rainforest canopy.
Forest giants
Tāne Mahuta (on the left) is called the ‘God of the forest’. Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest living kauri tree is 51.5 metres tall and its trunk is 4.5 metres in diameter. It lives in the Waipoua Forest in Northland.
This majestic samaúma tree reaches 70 metres in height and towers over the other trees in the rainforest. It has huge buttress roots that are taller than an adult.
Tāne Mahuta image by W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the majestic samaúma © Joseph Michael.
Indigenous connections
Forests across the world are important ecosystems for many reasons. The trees and plants within the ecosystem provide habitats and food for many other organisms. They are also primary producers, and through the process of photosynthesis, they use carbon dioxide and water to produce sugars and release oxygen. Culturally, they are viewed by indigenou s peoples across the world with importance and have provided food and shelter for many. In some places, the trees are viewed as sacred. Long-lived trees like Tāne Mahuta and many samaúma have been part of pūrākāu and narratives for generations.
The kauri are our brothers, we whakapapa back to the same place. They are the shelter or protector of many other species, and all of these other species are sheltered by the kauri. Tēnei te ahua o te rangatira – this is how rangatira are, they protect and shelter the many other forms of life. You take out the kauri tree from that scenario, and potentially our whole bush changes as we know it.
Ian Mitchell (Te Uri Taniwha, Ngāpuhi, Waima)
Globally, indigenou s people have deep connections to the environment. Indigenou s knowledge can be described as preserved understandings that have been developed over long periods of time from local culturally contextual experiences, discoveries and observations.
An Amazonian perspective
Visual artist Joseph Michael listens as indigenous leaders and activists from the Amazonian region discuss their connections with the natural world. The video features Ninawá Inu Huni Kui, President of the Federation of Huni Kui People, Benki Piyãko Ashaninka, Ashaninka Leader and President of Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute, and Sônia Guajajara, Indigenous Activist and Environmentalist.
This video is in Portuguese and has been translated into English.
Questions for discussion
Each speaker tells of their own personal connection with the environment. Which connection speaks to you?
Chief Ninawá thinks that the relationship between people and trees can be difficult for people to understand. What do you think he means?
Do you think this is a Brazilian perspective or is it something that happens in Aotearoa New Zealand too?
There is no way to maintain one’s body and spirit without living trees, so the tree is sacred to us [Amazonian people] – sacred to ensure life.
Sônia Guajajara, Brazilian indigenous activist and environmentalist
A sacred samaúma tree
The samaúma tree is considered sacred by around 500 Amerindian tribes of the Amazon. These large, old trees tower above the forest and for generations have been used as a landmark to guide fishermen. The Asháninka people and other tribes use the huge buttress roots as drums to communicate. The Asháninka people talk about samaúma trees as a source of connection and liberation – they represent a connection to the spiritual world.
Braided rivers of knowledge
In Aotearoa, mātauranga Māori is a term used for the combined knowledge of Polynesian ancestors and the experiences of Māori living in the environment of Aotearoa. The interweaving of the two knowledge systems – mātauranga Māori and science – is increasingly evident in research across Aotearoa. It is crucial that this interface space is genuine and continues, as it enables rich insights into tackling some of the important ecological issues Aotearoa is facing.
I think the beauty of mātauranga is that it’s another way, a very powerful way, of linking people to places, to practices and to a deeper understanding of the world that we live in.
Associate Professor Priscilla Wehi, University of Otago
He awa whiria – braided rivers
The analogy of a braided river encompasses the weaving of knowledge streams/systems, with shared understandings where they come together. Taoho Patuawa, Sonja Macfarlane, Angus Macfarlane and Melissa Derby share their thoughts on mātauranga and including Māori perspectives when considering environment issues.
Questions for discussion
How does the analogy of a braided river for independent knowledge systems work?
What does this analogy look like in your mind?
Sonja and Melissa share examples where Māori perspectives and voices were taken into account regarding environmental issues. What are some examples from your local area?
Māori have always been scientists, and we continue to be scientists. Our science has allowed us to live, work and thrive in the world for hundreds of years.
Associate Professor Ocean Mercier (Ngāti Porou), Victoria University of Wellington
Related content
The article The Majestic Samaúma – art meets science is an exploration of the importance of communication and engagement. This article also links to The Majestic Samaúma 3D interactive digital art developed by artist Joseph Michael.
Find out more about ma Māori with the following resources:
Mātauranga and the integration of Māori and western knowledge
Project Mātauranga is a television s that investigates Māori world views and methodologies within the scientific community and looks at their practical application.
Ngā rākau ❘ Trees curates beautifully illustrated bilingual resources – including Word downloads exclusively in te reo Māori.
New Zealand native trees – an introduction curates articles, activities and media. It also includes an interactive planning pathway that groups Hub resources into key science and teaching concepts.
Related activities
Useful links
Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research has a database of old trees and explains a way to estimate how old a tree is.
Visit Joseph Michael’s website to learn more about Amazon – Raised Up Sky.
Visit the Ārko website to read about the technical aspects used to create Amazon – Raised Up Sky.
Acknowledgement
The videos featured in this article and The Majestic Samaúma 3D interactive have been created by artist Joseph Michael with the support of the Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence.
Latin American Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence
Growing Global Citizenship Education in Aotearoa is designed to support teachers to inspire and grow global citizenship education in their classrooms, schools and kura. It is proudly hosted by the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs). The CAPEs were established by the New Zealand Government to help improve New Zealanders’ understanding of and engagement with Latin America, North Asia and Southeast Asia. The CAPEs are delivered by a consortium of four universities: University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Waikato and University of Otago.
