• Home
  • News
  • Common Ground – recent trip to Canada by EIT Tairāwhiti Toihoukura Māori Arts students

Common Ground – recent trip to Canada by EIT Tairāwhiti Toihoukura Māori Arts students

June 29, 2015
Toihoukura lecturer Erena Koopu at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art with two of her paintings based on her visit to Terrace, and a collection of paddles created by Freda Diesing students. Erena says her students have been inspired to decorate their own hoe or paddles.

Toihoukura lecturer Erena Koopu at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art with two of her paintings based on her visit to Terrace, and a collection of paddles created by Freda Diesing students. Erena says her students have been
inspired to decorate their own hoe or paddles.

The similarities and overlaps between the indigenous people of two lands separated by over 11,000km amazed and delighted a group of Gisborne people on a recent visit to Canada.

Four students and four staff from EIT Tairāwhiti Toihoukura School of Maori Visual Arts travelled to Canada in April for a two-week cultural exchange with Emily Carr University of Art and Design on Granville Island Vancourver, and the Frede Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art in Terrace, British Columbia.

“The official aim of the trip was to establish a working relationship with these indigenous schools of art in which two-way student exchange will become an active component in the future,” says Toihoukura lecturer Erena Koopu who accompanied the group.

“But the end result was much more than that,” says Erena.

“We formed strong bonds with the people we met and discovered we had a great wealth of customs, beliefs and art in common.”

The visit included several joint exhibitions with works by staff and students of Toihoukura, Emily Carr and Freda Diesing schools.

The first exhibition was held at the aboriginal cultural centre at Emily Carr University and was attended by local tangata whenua.

“An exchange of tikanga, waiata and karakia took place and the group got the opportunity to participate in a workshop where elk hide was used to make traditional drums,” says Erena.

“We also visited various galleries and museums, including the Vancouver Anthropology Museum where Bill McLennan, a former curator of the museum, shared many fascinating histories and stories of the arts of the north west coast first nations.”

The group then flew two hours north of Vancouver to a small town called Terrace. “This is the home of the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art, an institution that focuses on First Nations’ art and culture and has a strong relationship with Toihoukura.

“Dempsy Bob, an internationally renowned carver and one of the tutors at the school, visits Toihoukura frequently to further develop our relationship with the First Nations people of the northwest coast. “Toihoukura staff and students took part in an exhibition alongside students and graduates of the Freda Diesing school. This included an exchange of cultural practices, dance, song and artworks.

“Terrace was a wonderful experience because it offered students and staff an opportunity to live with the tangata whenua and to see how similar Maori are to the native people of the area.

At the Vancouver Anthropology Museum are Henare Brooking, Bill McLennan, Ngaire Tuhua, Toihoukura lecturer Erena Koopu, Grant Iti, Makuini Nyman, Rose Gould-Lardelli, Toihoukura Professor Derek Lardelli, Toihoukura workshop technician Makarini Solomon and (in front) Larry and Gina Grant.

At the Vancouver Anthropology Museum are Henare Brooking, Bill McLennan, Ngaire Tuhua,
Toihoukura lecturer Erena Koopu, Grant Iti, Makuini Nyman, Rose Gould-Lardelli, Toihoukura Professor
Derek Lardelli, Toihoukura workshop technician Makarini Solomon and (in front) Larry and Gina Grant.

“There are amazing overlaps in their spiritual connection to the land and sky, the connection they have with their clans or iwi, and their beliefs, values and protocols,” says Erena.

“The concept of hospitality or manaakitanga is also very strong so we were incredibly well-looked after there.

“The parallels were also highlighted when our group visited Kitselas Canyon where local iwi have built longhouses and totem poles for the preservation of their culture.

“The totem poles tell similar stories to our whakairo by way of transferring knowledge to the next generations.

“The totem poles, longhouses and carvings are an incredible sight — not only do you see the beauty but you can’t help but feel it too.”

The visit also highlighted the hardships which the native people have endured, like those of Māori.

“But the indigenous people of Canada have other problems to grapple with — unlike Māori, they don’t have a common language.

The many tribes speak completely different languages not just different dialects, so it is difficult for them to speak with a unified voice.”

Next on the itinerary was the port city of Prince Rupert, a one and a half-hour drive west towards the coast. Here staff and students participated in an art workshop exchanging, comparing and sharing techniques, knowledge, materials and stories with local weavers, carvers, painters and jewellers.

The group was invited to a feast hosted by local artist Willy White and attended by more than 300 people.

“There were many traditional and local delicacies to feast on, including the famous salmon, halibut, hooligan moose and oil, deer, paua and much more.

“The festivities went on throughout the night and included Toihoukura and groups from around the region sharing traditional dances and gifts,” she says.

“The whole experience deeply enriched Toihoukura staff and students and helped give substance to the development of our own works.”

EIT Tairawhiti Toihoukura School of Maori Visual Arts third year student Henare Brooking says the trip was an “awesome experience”.

“We were blown away by the similarities between us, especially the spiritual beliefs,” says Henare.

“We made very close bonds with the people and learned about new techniques and tools. “The scenery was pretty cool too — the islands around Vancouver, the snow-covered mountains surrounding Terrace and the rugged rocks and deep turquoise waters around Prince Rupert. “If I hadn’t had commitments back here, I would have stayed there,” he says.

The visit paves the way for student exchanges between Emily Carr, Freda Diesing and Toihoukura schools, says Erena. Toihoukura Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts (Te Toi Nga Rangi) graduate Huia Edmonds — the top Toihoukura graduate and winner of the Ruanuku Scholarship in 2014 — commences a two-year master’s programme at Emily Carr University in September this year.

As a result of the trip, some well-travelled artworks will feature at EIT Tairāwhiti Toihoukura School of Maori Visual Arts’ next major exhibition “Te Kupu o te Hurae” opening at Toihoukura, Maia and Kotuku galleries on July 2.

Twenty or so pieces created by Toihoukura students and staff while in Canada will join the annual exhibition to mark Matariki, the Māori New Year.

The Toihoukura group also took a number of artworks to Canada which are now on display in exhibitions there.

 – Story courtesy of the Gisborne Herald