Abstract
We use Mana Whenuawhen referring to people throughout the world whose relationship with the land shapes their cultural, spiritual, emotional, physical, and social wellbeing. This reflects Māori, as Tangata Whenua right to self-determination within Aotearoa New Zealand.Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.This whakatauki (proverb) talks to community, to collaboration and a strengths-based approach. It acknowledges that everybody has something to offer, a piece of the puzzle, and by working together we can all flourish.
About the Speaker: Karōria Johns (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi Nui Tonu) has an extensive lived experience resulting from the environmental challenges she has faced and from being 'disconnected' urban Māori. Her mahi includes the interconnected areas of health, community-led development and social service delivery. The inequities across these areas for marginalised populations are obvious globally. Karōria believes by encouraging and supporting innovation from within the communities involved to codesign appropriate solutions we will create genuine engagement and equitable outcomes. Her work in these spaces reflects a synergy between Māori ways of knowing and leaning deeply into the shifting the narratives, frameworks and vocabulary that currently shape interactions between people in health systems.Karōria mission is create meaningful connection, trusting relationships and hauora (wellbeing) for all, by connecting the mauri (essence) of language, humanity, kōrero and environment.Through this workshop, Karōria explores how words create worlds and how what we say to others significantly impacts power relationships and outcomes. In this experiential workshop we will traverse authentic person, whānau (family) and hapori (community) using the traditional Te Ao Māori model of wānanga. (Te Ao Māori = the Māori world view). Participants will be invited to explore the critical areas of language, equity, identity and engagement in a highly interactive session and are encouraged to bring a context of their own to enhance our collaborative understanding. Wānangaworks best when people bring a willingness to be open and authentic in a safe space of sharing not just thoughts, but feelings around the topics, as our true wisdom is felt when these align.
This invitation is for all citizens in integrated care, regardless of role or sphere of influence. Diversity of audience strengthens our collective.