Ara Kick off session #4 - Hutia te Punga: Lifting up the anchor - helping integrate culturally responsive teaching

 

Hutia te Punga: Lifting up the anchor a recently completed project to integrate culturally responsive teaching and learning into tertiary institutions to help support Maori learners.

The sessions was presented by Piripi Prendergast from Tokona Te Raki: MaoriFutures Collective.

Heperi Harris opened the session with a karakia and introductions.

Piripi recounted his biography and how he came into this area of research. Drew on the report - 'A journey of many paths' 

Also reported in the local media (The Press) today.

Presentation on work funded by Ako Aotearoa.

Shared a graph which projects the types of work – post covid 19 at the beginning of this year – with the growth in work being for the highly skilled and less growth in the lower skilled jobs. The pathways report indicate many young Maori being channelled into lower level tertiary training, many not completing and therefore falling into the low skilled job categories.

The Hutia te Punga studied apprentices and trainees in carpentry and farming. Two items to carry forward. Firstly, was the Maori success rate was lower than for others. Secondly, the strong ethics of care from the participants – tutors, trainees and supporters.

There was much willingness by the training providers to engage with Maoritanga. Cultural responsiveness was being practiced tacitly.

Shared the resources produced as part of the project. The video of how culturally responsiveness was integrated into a whole institution context. Reviewed the many ways culturally responsiveness was practiced as derived from the video.

Discussed one aspect that helped students to become part of the group. Banter/humour was seen to be useful but requires careful use. Sarcasm and humour with racist/derogatory undertones are not welcome.

Communities of practice by bringing apprentices together every few weeks to share a meal and work through their ‘book work’ was one factor that helped apprentices complete their qualification. Forming cohorts of Maori apprentices a useful process.

Finished with the demographic challenge, older pakeha population and growing numbers of younger people who are Maori and Pacifica. Need for older non-Maori to build relationships to help the younger demographic step up.