Whakapapa

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Whakapapa

Whakapapa or genealogy

Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigree of its members....
is a fundamental principle that permeates the whole of Maori

Maori

The Maori are the indigenous people Polynesian people of Aotearoa . The group probably arrived in south-western Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300....
culture. However, it is more than just a genealogical 'device'. It is in fact a paradigm of cultural discourse and provides the basis for establishing, enhancing, and even challenging relationships within and between whanau

Whanau

Whanau is a Maori language word for extended family, now increasingly entering New Zealand English, particularly in official publications....
(families

Family

Family denotes a group of people affiliated by a common ancestry, affinity or co-residence. Although the concept of consanguinity originally referred to relations by "blood," some cultural anthropology have argued that one must understand the idea of "blood" metaphorically, and that many societies understand 'family' through other concepts r...
), hapu

Hapu

A hapu is a division of a Maori iwi —often translated as 'subtribe'. Membership is determined by genealogical descent; a hapu is made up of a number of whanau groups....
(local tribal entities), and iwi

Iwi

In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Maori Culture of the Maori. The word iwi means "people" or "folk"; in many contexts it may mean "tribe" or "clan", and sometimes a larger grouping of tribes....
(regional tribal bodies).

recitation of whakapapa is a critical element in establishing identity - and the phrase 'Ko [enter name] au' (I am [enter name]') is in fact the personal statement that incorporates (by implication) over 25 generations of heritage.

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Encyclopedia

Whakapapa or genealogy

Genealogy

Maori

Whanau

Whanau is a Maori language word for extended family, now increasingly entering New Zealand English, particularly in official publications....
(families

Family

Hapu

Iwi

Identity statement

The recitation of whakapapa is a critical element in establishing identity - and the phrase 'Ko [enter name] au' (I am [enter name]') is in fact the personal statement that incorporates (by implication) over 25 generations of heritage. Experts in whakapapa are able to trace and recite a lineage not only through the many generations in a linear sense, but also between such generations in a lateral sense.

Link with ancestry

Some scholars have attributed this type of genealogical 'activity' as being tantamount to ancestor worship. Most Maori would probably attribute this to ancestor reverence. Tribes and sub-tribes are mostly named after an ancestor (either male or female): for example, Ngati Kahungunu
Ngati Kahungunu

Ngati Kahungunu is a Maori iwi located along the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The iwi is traditionally centred in the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa regions....
means 'descendants of Kahungunu ' (a famous chief who lived mostly in what is now called the Hawke's Bay region).

Word associations

Many physiological terms are also genealogical in 'nature'. For example the terms 'iwi', 'hapu', and 'whanau' (as noted above) can also be translated in order as 'bones', 'pregnant', and 'give birth'. The prize winning Maori author, Keri Hulme

Keri Hulme

Keri Hulme is a New Zealand writer, best known for The Bone People, her only novel....
, named her best known novel as The Bone People: a title linked directly to the dual meaning of the word 'iwi as both 'bone' and '[tribal] people'.

Most formal orations (or whaikorero) begin with the "nasal" expression - Tihei Mauriora! This is translated as the 'Sneeze of Life'. In effect, the orator (whose 'sneeze' reminds us of a newborn clearing his or her airways to take the first breath of life) is announcing that 'his' speech has now begun, and that his 'airways' are clear enough to give a suitable oration.

Whakapapa and its role in the mental health system

Whakapapa is defined as the "genealogical descent of all living things from the gods to the present time (Barlow, 1994, p. 173)." Since all living things including rocks and mountain

Mountain

A mountain is a landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill....
s are believed to possess whakapapa, it is further defined as "a basis for the organisation of knowledge in the respect of the creation and development of all things (Barlow, 1994, p. 173)."

Hence, whakapapa also implies a deep connection to land and the roots of one’s ancestry. In order to trace one’s whakapapa it is essential to identify the location where one’s ancestral heritage began; "you can’t trace it back any further (Russell, 2004)." "Whakapapa links all people back to the land and sea and sky and outer universe, therefore, the obligations of whanaungatanga extend to the physical world and all being in it (Glover, 2002, p. 14)."

While some family and community health organisations may require details of whakapapa as part of client assessment, it is generally better if whakapapa is disclosed voluntarily by whanau, if they are comfortable with this (Russell, 2004). Usually details of a client’s whakapapa are not required since sufficient information can be obtained through their iwi identification. Cases where whakapapa may be required include adoption

Adoption

Adoption is the act of Family law placing a child with a parent or parents other than those to whom they were born. An adoption order has the effect of severing parental responsibilities and rights of the original parent and transferring those responsibilities and rights to the adoptive parent....
cases or situations where whakapapa information may be of benefit to the client’s health and well-being.

Whakapapa is also believed to determine an individual’s intrinsic tapu

Tapu

Tapu is a concept existing in many Polynesian societies, including traditional Maori, Samoan and Tongan cultures. It reflects something that is holy or sacred....
(Glover, 2002). "Sharing whakapapa enables the identification of obligations...and gaining trust of participants (Glover, 2002, p.31)." Additionally since whakapapa is believed to be "inextricably linked to the physical gene

Gene

A gene is the basic unit of heredity in a living organism. All living things depend on genes. Genes hold the information to build and maintain their cell and pass genetic trait to offspring....
(Mead, 1995, as cited in Glover, 2002, p. 32)" concepts of tapu would still apply. Therefore it is essential to ensure that appropriate cultural protocols are adhered to.

Misuse of such private and privileged information is of great concern to Maori (Russell, 2004). While whakapapa information may be disclosed to a kaimatai hinengaro in confidence, this information may be stored in databases that could be accessed by others. While most health professions are embracing technological advances of data storage, this may be an area of further investigation so that confidential information pertaining to a client’s whakapapa cannot be disclosed to others.

Additionally, it may be beneficial to find out if the client is comfortable with whakapapa information being stored in ways that have the potential to be disclosed to others. To combat such issues, a Maori Code of Ethics

Ethics

Ethics is a word for a philosophy that encompasses proper conduct and good living. It is significantly broader than the common conception of ethics as the analyzing of right and wrong....
has been suggested (Pomare, 1992, as cited in Glover, 2002). A Maori Code of Ethics may prevent "the mismanagement of manipulation of either the information or the informants (Te Awekotuku, 1991, p. 13, as cited in Glover, 2002, p. 30)."

While whakapapa encompasses a broad range of ideas and concepts (both of past heritage and of the environment

Environment (biophysical)

The biophysical environment is the symbiosis between the physics environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and include all variables that comprise the Earth's biosphere....
), it is essential to exercise caution when gathering information from Maori clients. If cultural assessments are required, it may be appropriate to contact Maori who are skilled in this area. Mental health services provided for Maori clients should invest both time and resources to learn cultural protocols relating to whakapapa, until a Maori Code of Ethics

Medical ethics

Medical ethics is primarily a field of applied ethics, the study of moral values and judgments as they apply to medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology....
is fully developed. Once developed, it is sincerely hoped that the Maori Code of Ethics would be adhered to by all health professions.