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One of a handful of Maori sign language interpreters wants more Maori to joint the profession.
Tania Simon says of the dozen Maori signers, only two can translate te reo Maori into New Zealand sign language.
She says waves of pandemics that disproportionately affected Maori, such as German measles and meningitis, means Maori make up almost half of the country’s profoundly deaf population.
Misguided policies, such as the long-standing ban on teaching sign language, means many Maori deaf were locked off from their culture.
"The effect of that banning meant that our Maori deaf children didn't have a clue they were Maori, they didnt have any Maori subjects or Maori teaching within the deaf schools in New Zealand. In primary school and college (hearing kids) could take it as an option and we got taught kapa haka and stuff like that. That never happened for our deaf kids in New Zealand" Ms Simon says.
She says having sign interpreters on marae can open up a whole new world to deaf whanau.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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