An iwi CEO says the first US Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Symposium can help Māori learn ways to achieve self-determination like some US First Nations
Hosted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Rūnanga o Te Ātiawa, and Rangitāne o Manawatū at Wellington’s Government Buildings, the symposium gathers tribal leaders to discuss how tribal sovereignty impacts political, economic, and cultural growth.
Ngāti Toa CEO Helmut Modlik says the different relationships between US tribal nations and state or federal government reveal various paths Māori could explore.
“One of the conversations I had yesterday was about the difference between focusing on generating money as an end in itself, and instead looking at the investments that are made in order to be a means to an end, namely the enhancement of the well-being, prosperity and mana of their people. And there’s some really awesome examples of how some of those Indian Nations have accomplished that for us to learn from and to hopefully take some lessons,” says Modlik.
