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  • Essay / Survey of studies investigating Māori extinction

    2018 Moa Extinction Case Study combines archived oral records, chronological dating and archaeological bird data to uncover perception megafauna extinction events in Aotearoa. Wehi, Cox, Roa and Whaanga analyze whakataukī or ancestral Māori sayings that provide insight into early extinction events on the island, particularly the moa. They compile, review, translate and interpret 3,421 archived whakataukī documents and separate 657 that directly reference extinct species. They then perform quantitative analysis of linguistic markers to determine the timeline and evolution of the manuscripts using structural clues, vocabulary identifications, historical contexts, and embedded references to ancestor names, events, and to genealogies. Subsequently, they assign each faunal whakataukī to one of five periods: before 1350 AD (before the Māori settlement of New Zealand), 1350–1500 (the first period of settlement of New Zealand), 1500-1650 (rapid expansion of colonization), 1650. -1800 (intertribal fighting and first European contact) and post-1800 (period following European contact). Finally, the study compiles scientific data, including the prevalence of bird species at New Zealand archaeological sites and their average weight, and compares this to the total occurrence of words for each species in whakataukī wildlife information . The main advantage of using scientific data about birds is that it provides a contextual framework of information, and oral evidence complements this framework by providing more detail from the perspective of real people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get an original essayThe collaboration of oral tradition and archaeological data demonstrates the ecological significance of the moa in an in-depth Māori historical narrative. The results show that moa are strongly represented in the archaeological record, accounting for 4.6% of all wildlife whakataukī and 9.8% of all whakataukī that specifically mention birds. Graphical data shows that the frequency of moa whakataukī peaks disproportionately around the periods 1350–1500 and after 1800, with primary purposes relating to ecological knowledge, food preparation, and concerns about extinction. These peaks, along with the frequency and content of whakataukī moa, show that Māori closely observed wildlife and the natural environment, and demonstrate that the extinction of this key wildlife is vital in shaping ecological and behavioral thinking. During the social upheaval that followed European settlement in the early to mid-19th century, almost all post-1800 evidence links the disappearance of the Moa to another looming crisis: the impending extinction of the Māori. Wehi explains that the link between the loss of the moa in the 15th century and the threat of biological and cultural extinction of Māori highlights the impact of moa on the "cultural psyche of Māori". Communities recognized the exploitation of important animal resources and even understood it as an archetypal metaphor for larger-scale annihilation. Essentially, the whakataukī dataset moves from simple observations in the early period of settlement to an awareness of causal action in later periods (1500-1800 AD) following the potential development of traditional knowledge, practices resource management and conservation rules. The whakataukī evidence emphasizes thatIndigenous peoples are not completely passive in environmental history, but rather interact with the environment in ways that affect the species present as well as the development of cultural values, ideas and practices. Analysis of the combined data reveals It is clear that the existence and extinction of the moa were of great importance. Wehi notes that "a similar linguistic analysis of other indigenous oral traditions on a global scale could inform the development of social-ecological worldviews and conservation learning in other cultures, at least where events of extinction are relatively recent. Furthermore, she claims that whakataukī data provides evidence of “links between biological and cultural diversity”. Indeed, this case study illustrates that oral traditions provide invaluable insight into the thoughts and responses of all communities that have experienced major megafauna extinctions. The tsunami case study combines scientific knowledge and active oral collaboration to highlight the ancestral experience of Māori during past geological disasters at Rangitoto (D'Urville Island). Stratigraphic signatures, flood deposits and large radiocarbon measurements confirm that at least four major tsunamis occurred during the prehistoric period in New Zealand (McFadgen, 2007). King, Shaw, Meihana and Goff bring together active voices to corroborate or reject the evidence from The Rival Wizards, an ancient folk tale recounting a catastrophic tsunami in Aotearoa. The legend serves as a revenge scenario between three "witch chiefs", Rongomai, Titipa and Te Pou, which ends with three great waves. The story recounts descriptive details about the impact of waves hitting and scrubbing the beach, including various contextual information about relationships and connections between people, place, and the metaphysical world. Researchers are conducting interviews with 20 people from the Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Māori family groups. Kuia (all of whom share links with Karepa Te Whetu, places and ancestral figures named in history) to assert the inclusion of tsunami stories in the pūrākau. Next, King, Shaw, Meihana and Goff identify ideas, words and the frequency of their use in a "content analysis", then perform a "thematic analysis" on the main elements emerging from the data. Oral testimony is screened and then verified to verify the integrity of new ideas and interpretations during follow-up discussions. The study compiles recorded evidence discussing the construction, key elements, and goals of The Rival Wizards' narrative. King asserts that these methods of extracting oral tradition are a way to "reconnect the individual to the major movements and catastrophic events that shape human history." This collaborative evidence provides an essential bridge between the facts of the past and the personal and dynamic experiences of individuals. The oral histories of Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Kuia depict a deep familiarity with elements of Rival Wizards' history. This awareness includes knowledge of the impacts of past tsunamis on and around Rangitoto Island. The researchers state that "the dialogue may not have included familiarity with the specific story itself, but ancestral relationships are confirmed between the informants of the active Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Kuia Māori groups with the original informant of the tale, Karepa Te Whetu and the main protagonists. .” There is also evidence that many other aspects of the legend are deeply rooted in the enduring knowledge of the Māori stories of the northern South Island. It is clear that theAncestral and kinship connections to people and places (i.e. whakapapa) are central to the construction and ongoing telling of Māori history. Stewart Roberts provides further explanation of this oral tradition and its meaning, and states that "Whakapapa is used in storytelling as a construct for mapping the natural world and its phenomena, thus acting as a mental map of places. Additionally, Māori knowledge is stored layer by layer, referencing sites, ancestors and the actions of protagonists as memory cues to retain vitally important information. The specific layering of contextual details in Rival Wizards' story affirms these connections and relationships between the natural and metaphysical worlds, including narrative structures essential to cultural endurance and memory. In addition to these connections, evidence shows that these oral histories of Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Kuia provide strong collective evidence for the existence of pre-written tsunami flooding on Rangitoto Island and the nearby coast. King, Shaw, Meihana and Goff say this research demonstrates above all the power and dynamics of the story of Rival Wizards, as well as the Māori oral tradition as a whole, integrating elements of culture, identity, lineage , history and environmental risk. Working alongside key informants from Māori family groups confirms ancestral Māori experience of past tsunamis on and around Rangitoto (D'Urville Island). Although research has largely failed to draw definitive conclusions about a specific location where past "catastrophic waves" occurred, it is evident that Māori oral histories are highly contextual and useful, comprising multiple layers of meaning and experience. This case study focuses on showing that the combination of scientific evidence and oral interpretation contributes to a diverse set of anecdotal perspectives. My interpretation of history is limited because I grew up in America, learning history from a narrow perspective skewed by too much emphasis on the experiences of white people. Throughout my studies, I learned history in the form of a set narrative, valuing above all the strength of democracy and the elements of the American Constitution. This method assumes that there is a uniform collective story in which each narrative is not one set of facts deemed official, but rather many different sets of evidence with conflicting analyses. The oral component of research is also detrimental to enriching fields and highlighting larger issues and themes that may seem removed from larger historical narratives. As Ngāpuhi leader Sir James Henare expressed it, “Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori (language is the main life force of the Māori people)”, and indeed oral tradition brings to life the voices and experiences of individuals, many of them. which might otherwise have been forgotten by history. Essentially, oral traditions are imperative as a means of maintaining diverse and multifaceted perspectives on historical narratives. This global perception, giving voice to the stories of others, is something I would have liked to encounter more of in the American school system. However, oral traditions also have limits. These are accounts recorded as a general outline of a memory of experiences, with the possibility of omitting small details and providing a general outline. Additionally, it is likely that only the deepest memories will emerge and be recorded, providing reliability..