November 21, 2022
Indigenous research conference invigorating
An organiser of the 10th International Indigenous Research Conference says she’s encouraged at how researchers are looking for ways to improve the future for their people.
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga co-director Linda Waimarie Nikora says last week’s online conference brought together researchers from Aotearoa, North America, Scandinavia and other First Nations peoples.
Areas covered included climate justice, health equity, human rights, social rights and indigenous data sovereignty
She says a highlight was Peter Lucas Jones from Te Hiku Media on the use of data science to capture te reo and track its changes.
“There are different sounds coming into our soundscape that are different to the sounds of my parents’ generation, my grandparents’ generation and the like. It’s not just about invigorating te reo Māori, it’s invigorating everything that is te reo Māori in terms of the sounds we treasure, we love, that are of the heart,” Professor Nikora says.
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the centre for Māori research excellence, decided to stick with a virtual conference to set an example in sustainability.