Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - Quality Education
In 2020, Aotearoa New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi (Te Whanau-膩-Apanui) won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film听Jojo Rabbit. In accepting the award, Waititi dedicated it to Indigenous children around the world telling them: 鈥渨e are the original storytellers鈥.
It鈥檚 a worldview shared by 91制片厂 (UC) academics听听(Ng膩ti Paoa, Tainui) who is Deputy Head of听, and听听(Te Aup艒uri, Te Rarawa, Ng膩puhi), a Lecturer in the听Faculty of Arts, and the basis for two new courses the pair created for debut in 2023.
罢丑别听Indigenous Narrative听minor gives 膩konga an understanding of the approaches to M膩ori and Pasifika storytelling in digital forms, while the听Certificate in Indigenous Narrative听is a standalone qualification, ideal for those in the creative media industries interested in improved representation of M膩ori, Pasifika and other Indigenous cultures in their work.
The fundamental principle of both courses is to foster and cultivate the use of M膩ori and Pasifika storytelling across different domains and industries in Aotearoa New Zealand, Kahi says.
鈥淥ur degree will enable students to develop their understanding of where our stories come from. Having to collaborate, be the representative, the storyteller for our communities comes with responsibilities and obligations,鈥 he says.
It鈥檚 a chance to reflect on and celebrate what鈥檚 come before, and inspire what comes next, Dr Dunn explains.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a real push to elevate and celebrate our own storytelling while also casting a critical eye on representations of us,鈥 she says.
The minor is the only focused specialisation on Indigenous narratives in Aotearoa New Zealand and despite being specially designed to accompany UC鈥檚 new听Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours听(BDigiScreen)听鈥 the first curriculum available under the University鈥檚听Digital Screen Campus听programme听鈥 the minor can be aligned to any degree offering available from the University鈥檚 seven faculties.
As a catalyst to both inform and educate, the cross-disciplinary aspects of the courses introduce valuable opportunities for relationship building within different academic fields and faculties at UC as well as outside of the University.
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 part of a wider movement and it鈥檚 necessary,鈥 Dr Dunn says of the new programme. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a really cool demonstration of the products of relationships and collaboration.鈥
鈥淭here are clear examples in recent history where narrative is really important,鈥 Kahi says, highlighting the case of New Zealand broadcaster, Oriini Kaipara, who has spoken publicly about her moko kauae following her appointment to presenting TVNZ鈥檚听One News.
鈥淭he way we give our narrative, our stories about who we are, is going to complement any degree programme.鈥
To support students completing the Indigenous Narrative minor, UC have established Te Whare P奴r膩kau, an academy offering annual scholarships to M膩ori and Pasifika/Pacific students and other Indigenous students, to gain mentorship and leverage from classes and w膩nanga with industry experts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e anticipating doing fun things, doing serious things, but spending time in w膩nanga with students on this kaupapa, from their first year, is really exciting,鈥 Kahi says.
Enrolments for 2023 are open now.
