Lagi-Maama – Privileging Indigenous Ways of Being, Knowing, and Doing
Lagi-Maama Academy and Consultancy (Lagi-Maama) is a cultural organisation based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Set up in 2018, its kaupapa is: “we mediate at the intersection of Indigenous communities and institutional settings to create a harmonious time-space by embedding different ways of knowing, seeing, and doing.” One of its core values is to embrace and be empowered by Indigenous knowledge and the practice of talanoa or ‘talking critically yet harmoniously.’
Toluma‘anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu, Co-Founder Lagi-Maama, explains the work the team, made up of Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai and Hikule‘o Fe‘aomoeako Melaia Māhina, does and the space it occupies:
“As an Academy, we are involved in knowledge production by privileging our Indigenous ways of being and ways of knowing, and as a Consultancy, we implement by way of knowledge application through privileging our Indigenous ways of doing.
Our work connects and builds bridges between institutions and communities through research and writing; community connection and engagement; curatorial advice and critique; capacity and capability building; cultural intelligence and cross-cultural approaches; facilitation and brokering relationships; and advocacy and championing for our Indigenous communities.
Since setting up five years ago, we have worked with our communities on 40-plus projects where we privilege the Indigenous knowledges of our Moana Oceania holders of knowledge/elders/onto-epistemologists and where we foreground their knowledges across all sectors.”
The J R McKenzie Trust’ Poutū Pasefika programme was honoured to support Lagi-Maama to build a platform that enabled intergenerational transmission of Niue and Kiribati Indigenous knowledges and practices through two exhibitions at Pātaka Art + Museum. The aim was to strengthen intergenerational connection, wellbeing, and identity, and encourage younger Niue and Kiribati leaders to continue being inspired and empowered to be the authors of their own narratives.
“The inspiration for travelling Fenoga Tāoga Niue I Aotearoa, Niue Heritage Journey In Aotearoa exhibition to Pātaka Art + Museum was initiated by the Lead for Falepipi he Mafola Niuean Handcraft Group Inc (or Falepipi he Mafola Group), Molima Molly Pihigia,” says Barbara.
“This came about when Lagi-Maama had asked Molly, if we were to tour the exhibition (which was first hosted by Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku in Tāmaki Makaurau) where would she like it to travel to. She said Porirua because that is where she lived before moving up to Tāmaki Makaurau. So it is a ‘homecoming’ for Molly and other members of the group who all spent many years living Porirua.”
This exhibition celebrates the 30-year journey of Falepipi he Mafola Group, through projects and treasures made by members from 1993 to 2023. The exhibition honours the 56 loved ones who have since passed on and the wealth of knowledges, skills and wisdom of the current members and living tāoga/treasures.
“Members, past and present, are from the villages of Tuapa Uhomotu, Alofi, Namukulu, Makefu, Liku, Hikutavake, Hakupu, Avatele, Tamakautoga, Mutalau and Toi. The group has been meeting at the Ōtāhuhu Town Hall Community Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland since 1993 and continues to do so today. They play an invaluable role in continuing, revolving, and preserving the knowledges and practices of Niuean culture and heritage in Aotearoa,” says Barbara.
An organic journey brought the Tibuta - Kinaakiia Ainen Kiribati | Tibuta - Identifies Kiribati Women exhibition to Pātaka Art + Museum.
Barbara expressed that, “the inspiration for this exhibition came about during one of our many conversations with our two I-Kiribati master makers, Kaetaeta Watson and Louisa Humphry MNZM. They both expressed their great interest in building resources for their Kiribati communities and younger generations around their tibuta, especially its significance as Kiribati’s national tops worn by women, as markers of their identity and price as I-Kiribati living in diaspora. Kaetaeta and Louisa wear their tibuta proudly because it strongly identifies who they are as I-Kiribati here in Aotearoa.
With support from Creative New Zealand, Kaetaeta and Louisa carried out research in 2021/2022 that revealed little to no resources about their tibuta by I-Kiribati, for I-Kiribati. There was also very little information found within museum institutions around the world. During this time, they had a request from a Porirua-based Ribanaia (also known as Maubonia) Womens Club, operating under their umbrella organisation Maneaban te I-Tungaru Association Incorporated, to run weaving workshops with them in Porirua. This naturally led to Kaetaeta and Louisa asking the group if they would like to take part in the exhibition. Once they confirmed their interest, we collectively decided to approach Pātaka Art + Museum to gauge the availability of an exhibition space.”
The outcomes from each exhibition have been hugely rewarding.
Barbara shared further that, “for the Fenoga Tāoga Niue I Aotearoa, Niue Heritage Journey In Aotearoa exhibition, we want to acknowledge the courage and openness of the team at Pātaka Art + Museum for enabling the entire show to travel from its first showing at Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku, where it showcased 350-plus individual pieces showcasing the minds, hearts, and hands of 45 creatives, with close to 300 bilingual labels.
The Tibuta - Kinaakiia Ainen Kiribati, Tibuta - Identifies Kiribati Women exhibition (and accompanying publication), on the other hand, has been invaluable in brokering new ground. It is the first exhibition (and publication) that we know of here in Aotearoa (and possibly the world) on tibuta and tibuta-inspired works that has been collectively produced by I-Kiribati for I-Kiribati.
For both exhibitions, our Niuean and Kiribati communities have been blessed with having their own local Porirua and wider Te Whanganui-a-Tara-based communities attend and support them. Pātaka Art + Museum has been a joy to work with.”