On – and in – bicultural encounter

ABSTRACT

This article tells a story of bicultural engagement in Aotearoa New Zealand, specifically in the context of offering a space – and place – for engagement in and discussion about relationships between tangata whenua, the first people of the land of Aotearoa New Zealand, and subsequent settlers. Framed in terms of relational engagement (in)formed by contact, connection, journey and place, the article welcomes the reader, and introduces the authors and their relationship(s) to and with bicultural encounter. Drawing on the image of the double-hulled waka, a sea-going voyaging canoe, the article discusses encounter and biculturalism. We finish with some vignettes and reflections around our experience of bicultural encounter in the context of the PCE2021 conference.

Cet article raconte une histoire d’engagement biculturel en Aotearoa Nouvelle-Zélande, en particulier dans le contexte de l’offre d’un espace - et d’un lieu - pour engager et mener la discussion sur les relations entre tangata whenua, le premier peuple de la terre d’Aotearoa Nouvelle-Zélande, et les colons venus ensuite. Fondé en termes d’engagement relationnel éclairé sur le contact, la connexion, le voyage et le lieu, le cadre de réflexion de cet article accueille le lecteur et présente les auteurs et leur(s) relation(s) à et avec la rencontre biculturelle. S’inspirant de l’image du waka à double coque, pirogue de voyage maritime, l’article traite de la rencontre et du biculturalisme. Nous terminons par quelques vignettes et réflexions autour de notre expérience de rencontre biculturelle dans le cadre de la conférence PCE2021.

Dieser Artikel erzählt von einer Geschichte bikulturellen Engagements in Aotearoa Neuseeland. Dabei geht es besonders um den Kontext, Raum anzubieten - und den Ort -, vertieft die Beziehungen zwischen tangata whenua, den ersten Bewohnenden des Landes Aotearoa Neuseeland, und den nachfolgenden Siedelnden zu diskutieren. Der Rahmen war das Thema Beziehungen, geformt und geprägt von Kontakt, Verbindung, Reise und Ort. Im Artikel werden die Lesenden willkommen geheissen und die Autor:innen samt deren Beziehung mit und zu bikulturellem Encounter vorgestellt. Ausgehend vom Bild des Doppelhüllen-Waka, einem Kanu, das seetauglich ist, werden im Artikel Encounter und die Zugehörigkeit zu zwei Kulturen diskutiert. Wir schliessen mit zwei Fallvignetten und Reflektionen rund um unsere Erfahrung zu bikulturellem Encounter im Kontext der PCE2021 Konferenz.

Este artículo cuenta una historia de compromiso bicultural en Aotearoa Nueva Zelanda, específicamente en el contexto de ofrecer un espacio y lugar para el compromiso y la discusión sobre las relaciones entre tangata whenua, las primeras personas de la tierra de Aotearoa Nueva Zelanda, y pobladores posteriores. Enmarcado en términos de compromiso relacional (en) formado por contacto, conexión, viaje y lugar, el artículo da la bienvenida al lector y presenta a los autores y su(s) relación(es) con el encuentro bicultural. Basándose en la imagen del waka de doble casco, una canoa de navegación marítima, el artículo analiza el encuentro y el biculturalismo. Terminamos con algunas viñetas y reflexiones en torno a nuestra experiencia de encuentro bicultural en el contexto de la conferencia PCE2021.

Este artigo conta uma história de envolvimento bicultural na Aotearoa Nova Zelândia, especificamente no contexto de oferecer um espaço – e um lugar– para envolvimento e discussão sobre as relações entre os tangata whenua, os primeiros povos da terra de Aotearoa Nova Zelândia e os colonos subsequentes. Enquadrado em termos de intercâmbio relacional estruturado por: contacto, conexão, viagem e lugar, o artigo acolhe o leitor e apresenta os autores e as suas relações com e no encontro bicultural. Partindo da imagem do waka de duplo casco - uma canoa destinada a viagens no mar - o artigo discute o encontro e o biculturalismo. Finalizamos com alguns apontamentos e reflexões a propósito da nossa experiência de encontro bicultural no contexto da conferência PCE2021.

KEYWORDS:

• Encounter
• bicultural
• PCE2021
• call
• welcome
• connection, journey
• place

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shirley Rivers

Shirley Rivers was recently a senior academic staff member at Waikato Institute of Technology on their Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling programme, in Hamilton Aotearoa New Zealand. She has Ngāi Takoto, Ngāpuhi and Waikato Iwi affiliations and is an experienced tertiary educator of Treaty/Tiriti Based and Māori Centre Practice for over 20 years.

Brian Rodgers

Brian Rodgers is a senior lecturer and programme director for the counsellor education programmes at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Brian has been a counsellor educator for over two decades at a number of institutions including Auckland University of Technology, University of Queensland in Australia, and University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

Janet May

Janet May is a professional teaching fellow on the counsellor education programmes at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Janet has a longstanding interest in issues of pedagogy, and recently completed her doctoral research exploring the collective pedagogies of a team of educators delivering a bicultural counselling degree at Waikato Institute of Technology.

Keith Tudor

Keith Tudor is Professor of Psychotherapy at Auckland University of Technology, Aotearoa New Zealand where he is currently co-leading a Group for Research in the Psychological Therapies. He has a long interest in cross-cultural work and in the necessity of adapting theory to new situations and ground.