Activity A: Ngā Tohu o te Taiao
Spend mindful time in nature to feel its aliveness.
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He pitopito kōrero Tuia ki te rangi, It is written in the heavens, The above whakataukī reminds us of the interconnectivity of the cosmos with life on earth. Atua live around us every day, manifested in the powerful rhythms, sights and shapes of te taiao. There are many ways in which Indigenous peole around the world connect and commune with te taiao. Remembering that we are part of life-giving systems and not separate to nature, is deeply important. Indigenous peoples have not forgotten this truth, and it provides leadership for us all. |
Connecting with nature
Tane – Lord of Life, 1986, by Hinerangi To Ariari (Winifred Belcher) (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Ngāti Uenuku Kōpako, Ngāti Whakaue, and Te Arawa), acrylic on board. Te Papa (2002-0033-4)
Many of the trees, ferns, plants, insects, reptiles, and birds that existed in Aotearoa before colonisation evolved here in splendid isolation. This makes the ngahere of Aotearoa distinctive from anywhere else on the earth. Study this painting by Hinerangi to Ariari, Tāne – Lord of Life. What species of the ngahere do you recognise? How has the artist tried to communicate the ways in which all of these species are connected and related?
Prepare to visit an established ngahere or native wild space, such as a wetland, near where you live. Remember that these places must be respected. You might like to discuss with those that you are going with ways in which we can show respect for ancestors and elders. There might be tikanga or karakia that your community uses to be safe in these places. Make sure everyone knows what these are.
You may want to engage with someone who understands the distinct qualities of the forests in Aotearoa and knows our tuākana such as rimu, mamaku, totara, matai, kahikatea, and miro trees. Spend time with them in the forest, marvelling over its evolution, existence and perhaps sharing pūrākau.
If you are unable to be accompanied by someone who understands the ngahere well, you can still experience the alive qualities of te taiao if you go softly and with deep respect. One way to do this is to slow us down and focus on our senses. This encourages us to experience the world differently.
Find a friend you trust and make sure that you explain the whole activity to them before you begin.
Ask them to close their eyes and slowly and carefully guide them by their elbow and hand towards a part of the ngahere that is very near you that you would like them to sense without sight. It might be an interesting trunk surface, a damp rock, or perhaps ferns growing on a bank.
When you have arrived at the area you want them to explore, tell them to gently interact with where they are without opening their eyes. They might like to touch it, smell it, or rest their cheek on it.
Swap over and repeat the activity before discussing what happened.
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Discuss:
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Notice the energetic change that happens in your body in relation to te taiao. A simple way to do this is to close your eyes and notice the energy running in your body before you move into connectedness with nature. Choose three words to describe how you are physically or emotionally feeling. After you have spent time in te taiao, repeat the process. What do you notice?
There are all sorts of ways that we can develop our connectedness with nature. Research shows that taking regular, mindful time in te taiao enables us to feel happier and find meaning. Listening to birdsong or the sound of the wind in the trees, touching the bark of a tree or swimming in the sea, planting bulbs in the garden or making compost, are all great ways to engage your senses in nature and increase your connectedness.