Tag Archives: taonga

Tokenism and te reo Māori

Why some things just shouldn’t be translated

In 2017, the Whanganui River was made a person in the eyes of the law. The Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act acknowledged, in its own way, that the human world includes other, more-than-human entities. It was perceived at the time as quite a radical step for the law, and it is undoubtedly […]

Full Citation Information:
Mika, C. (2022). Tokenism and te reo Māori: Why some things just shouldn’t be translated. PESA Agora. https://pesaagora.com/columns/tokenism-and-te-reo-maori/

Carl Mika

Carl Mika is Professor of Maori and PostGraduate Co-ordinator, in Aotahi School of Maori and Indigenous Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha/University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand. His iwi affiliations are Tuhourangi and Ngati Whanaunga. With a background in law, indigenous studies and Māori studies, Carl has developed a knowledge base in Western philosophy (especially metaphysics, existentialism and phenomenology). His current research interests are the representation of philosophy as political act for indigenous peoples, and indigenous philosophical theorising generally. He is on the PESA Executive and co-convenes the PESA Indigenous Philosophy Group and is Associate Editor of Online Journal of World Philosophies.