THINK PIECE
Honoring Ancestors
Earlier this year, ten NMH students traveled through New Zealand as part of a broad interdisciplinary course on the country’s land, culture, and people. They visited Maori wharenui—sacred ceremonial houses that honor ancestors—and when they returned to NMH, they created their own.
“The wharenui is the most sacred space,” explained Faith Colona ’12. “It’s literally the body of your ancestors, so these rafters that we’ve made are the main support, they’re like your ribs. As you walk through, you reach the central nervous system, the soul, which is what we’ve created by putting up all of our ancestors.”
The group, together with teachers and trip leaders Donnelly, Glenn Minshall, and Becca Leslie, had spent six weeks in New Zealand, traveling across the North and South islands of the country, staying in youth hostels, traditional homes, and with families. They visited such attractions as Auckland City War Memorial Museum and Tongariro National Park City, saw ceremonial dances and presentations on Maori culture, and practiced a bit of the Maori language.
The students said that the entire semester, from studying aspects of English literature, environmental studies, and history, to meeting locals in New Zealand and learning about their culture, had profoundly affected them.
“One thing I took away is that I learned how much I have to learn,” said Casey Kermes ‘12.
“Your family doesn’t have to be part of your bloodline,” said Kyra White ’12.
“You see how time flies and it opens you up to new possibilities,” said Lauren Short ‘12.
“I felt like when I was in New Zealand, I was the best person I could be,” said Colona.
“Your family doesn’t have to be part of your bloodline,” said Kyra White ’12.
“You see how time flies and it opens you up to new possibilities,” said Lauren Short ‘12.
“I felt like when I was in New Zealand, I was the best person I could be,” said Colona.
When they returned to NMH, the students transformed their classroom into a replica wharenui, complete with the traditional carved rafters, which in this case were made out of paper.
They selected important aspects of their lives and turned them into abstract symbols that they drew on the beams. Saskia Giramma ‘11 drew green triangles, to represent her connection to her father and grandmother, and swirls that she said stood for the connection to her aunt. Andrew Palmer ’12 used colorful lines that he said stood for the flow of music, set against his favorite skiing mountains, with a wheel to represent driving, and an outline of a right hand, for his faith.
“You can see the musical lines run through everything. That’s just how I see life, as music,” said Palmer.
No visit to a wharenui would be complete without the traditional greeting, Donnelly noted—a greeting which typically includes both speeches and song. The had already spoken about their experiences, so the students stood up and, blending their voices, sang a “waiata” of greeting.
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