June 24, 2013
Ancient calendars help track climate change
Ancient Māori knowledge of the heavens is helping a Victoria University astrophysicist look at some of today’s science and environmental problems.
Dr Pauline Harris from Rongomaiwahine and Ngāti Kahungunu chairs the Society of Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions which is carrying out a study on Māori astronomy.
She says the western and Māori cosmological models have similarities and differences which are interesting to scholars.
Studies of climate change can also be an informer by the traditional calendars developed by different iwi and by populations around the Pacific, which looked at not only the sun, moon and stars but environmental factors.
"So for Māori with our calendars, we were the sun, moon and stars but also when certain wind patterns were, when certain fruits were flowering, when certain fish were occurring, so if you were able to look back and know how the calendars were constructed, and then look to now to see how they have changed or not, you might be able to see if there has been any influence from things like climate change and stuff," Dr Harris says.
As well as helping global organisations like UNESCO which are collecting data from around the world on indigenous calendars, her research could be used for education resources for schools and Maori communities.
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