Creating, Growing, and Sustaining Indigenous Studies Programs Across the Pacific Region: Uplifting Indigenous Voices

Indigenous studies programs for international exchange in the Pacific region face unique challenges, but they also offer opportunities like no other field can. This session was created to help foster connections for educators of Indigenous students around the Pacific Region. Participants will discuss the unique opportunities that Indigenous studies education can offer, explain how to initiate new programs, and help build regional connections to support the exchange of education of Indigenous students, Indigenous ways of knowledge, and Indigenous languages.

Thursday, March 17 | 6 PM EST | 12 PM Honolulu Friday, March 18 | 9 AM Sydney | 10 AM Fiji | 11 AM Auckland REGISTER

Speakers

Nathan Rahui | Māori Business CAPEs Project Leader | University of Waikato

Ty Kāwika Tengan | Ethnic Studies and Anthropology Professor | University of Hawai‘i Mānoa

Tyler Te Kiri | Maori Education Project Leader | University of Waikato

Speaker Bios

Nathan Rahui

Growing up, I saw huge inequalities for Māori which has been the catalyst in shaping my current pathway and where I intend for it to lead. This passion has blessed me with various positions in student politics and Māori student achievement to help minimise barriers that often impede on our rangatahi Māori (youth) succeeding in higher education.

With a background in Education, I currently lead a tertiary programme that connects Māori students with other Inidigenous communities across the Asia-Pacific, to build their business acumen and understand their place in the world as Inidigenous.

Originally from Northern Aotearoa New Zealand, my iwi (tribes) are Ngāti Whātua and Ngāpuhi which are intrinsic to my identity.

Ty Kāwika Tengan

I entered the fields of anthropology and ethnic studies because I had many questions about the nature of Hawaiian culture and nationhood, and I felt the best way to find these answers was through ethnographic (immersive, community-based) research and engagement. Born and partly raised on Army bases outside of Hawai‘i, I have spent most of my life in Hawai‘i and claim Maui as where I’m from (though presently I live in Pālolo). I teach generally on both precolonial and contemporary Hawaiian society, especially as it has been and continues to be transformed by Native Pacific and US imperial histories. I strive to empower students to ask bigger and better questions than I have.

Tyler Te Kiri

In my higher education journey I have been fortunate to obtain a Diploma in te reo Māori, a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Teaching, and a Masters degree in Education with a focus on Māori student voice in higher education. Alongside many blessings throughout my university education, I have been fortunate enough to participate in a Māori Leadership programme, acquire a role on our student union and engage in an Indigenous Cultural Education Exchange (ICEE) with international partnering universities.

I am a believer in us being shaped by the experiences and environments we are exposed to, which leads into my passion for creating spaces and opportunities where rangatahi Māori feel empowered and inspired as Indigenous.