A HEALING JOURNEY George and I have been part of the Indigenous Ancestral Healing Collective since 2020. The collective includes two tribal coalition directors, two Alliance staff (from Turtle Island/USA), along with Indigenous people from Kānaka Maoli (Hawai’i), Māori Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Aboriginal (Australia) representing subject matter experts, professionals, academia, radio broadcaster, artists andContinue reading “Indigenous Anthology”
Category Archives: Poems
Shapeshifting in the Journal of Critical Psychology
Have you ever worked on something for so long it seems like it might never arrive – like an overdue baby that’s got to come out sometime right? My friends and I – Rachel and Ali have been working hard / shapeshifting in the background to get this publication live. And now it is! AndContinue reading “Shapeshifting in the Journal of Critical Psychology”
Ira Tangata, Ira Atua
As a child growing up I would stand on maunga that surrounded my whare and imagine I had the mana to control the elements – change the direction of the winds – declaring to Hineomairangi and Tāwhirimātea to heed to my words. After my karanga I would listen for the tree to chatter, birds toContinue reading “Ira Tangata, Ira Atua”
Pink Salt Healing
“To live free in an unfree space” My friend, my follower that remains Blood vessel purple pain Bring on pink salt healing A crystal sting on my wound With skin to rise Reminds me we belong Birthed in salt waters the same salt that Suspends and flavours our brain Below inflamed toothless gums Chewing onContinue reading “Pink Salt Healing”
On this mother’s day
I wrote my poem below after I read an article about a māmā whale, grieving the death of her calf, in her own way. Tai te Kahurangi Wahine tangi haehae, he ngaru moana, e kore e mātaki As I read the words “she was a mother, who happened to be an orca” I know, IContinue reading “On this mother’s day”
That space between cells speaks
The lessons of tīpuna imprinted within, without, through and in between. That space between cells speaks without words, screams with emotion. I feel more deeply when I am still, calm and grounded. Tangaroa-a-mua I have consciously and unconsciously observed and felt maramataka – Māori lunar calendar. I come in and out of the awareness ofContinue reading “That space between cells speaks”
Protected: Black Crow
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Kirimoko – Blood & Bone Holder
Kirimoko. The seen face of life, land, space and love. Skin breathing. The breath of our bodies, protection, oxygen, our blood and bone holder. An expression of self, relationships. To stand out or fit in? Ink holder, cells and whakapapa. Skin protected. We cover it in creams, lotions, make up, chemicals, shave, shape it, pierceContinue reading “Kirimoko – Blood & Bone Holder”
Feel the burn
Its been two years since my submission and it still burns. Not so much a raging fire but the embers are still hot. I wrote this poem after submitting my PhD. I watched a video on inspiring wahine. When I watched it, it sparked something in me. She said “the world is waiting for you to setContinue reading “Feel the burn”
Whakaroau
In this moment our kurī Poki was injured so I put her in this pull cart and off we went to the beach. She was soooo happy that she could come with the whānau and wasn’t left out. This moment was perfect in every way. She was in pain but right here she was contentContinue reading “Whakaroau”
The Struggle for Ihumātao
It was a privilege to Chair the session with Pania Newton for this awesome kaupapa on Te Tiriti based futures + Anti Racism 2020. I learnt that occupation of land transformed a movement – The SOUL protest caught the attention of a nation and the world. The people came in their masses and stayed. IhumātaoContinue reading “The Struggle for Ihumātao”
Kaupapa Māori consultancy 