traditional knowledge conference 2008 te tatau pounamu

ForewordDr Joseph S. Te RitoConference OrganizerThe Traditional Knowledge Conference 2008, Te Tatau Pounamu: The Greenstone Door focused ontraditional knowledge and gateways to balanced relationships. The international gathering was hosted byNgā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, and brought togethera wide range of participants, perspectives, voices, frameworks and models to expand on the theme of theconference.The conference title, Te Tatau Pounamu: The Greenstone Door, referred in a figurative sense tohow, in times of trouble, peace could be secured and warfare ended through a political marriage and theexchange of greenstone. The peace thus established was often likened to a greenstone door as both wereseen as being durable, strong and highly valuable. In line with the title, the conference provided theoccasion for discussion of indigenous strategies for sustaining relationships between collectives andover generations, for resolving conflict, for peacemaking, reconciliation and restorative justice.While some speakers spoke directly on issues of peacemaking and restorative justice, the broadertheme allowed for consideration of traditional indigenous concepts, values, ideals, models and strategiesfor sustaining balanced and healthy relationships within and across families, communities, nations,nation-states, local, regional and global borders, territories and environments. There was also theopportunity to share what had been learned from diverse contexts around the world about howindigenous models, values, concepts and processes have been incorporated into state or governmentinitiatives and with what impact for indigenous peoples.The papers in this Proceedings reflect the diversity of ways in which the theme was approached atthe conference, because of the many academic disciplines represented and because communityengagement and input was included. The Proceedings are made up of two parts; Part A comprisespresentations to the full conference by Invited Speakers and Part B contains written papers based ontalks given in parallel sessions.The Invited Speakers made oral presentations, some of which were accompanied by powerpointslides. The presentations were videoed and later transcribed. The Proceedings provides edited versionsof the transcriptions, given in the order of their presentation at the conference. Videos of thepresentations can be viewed by going to Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga’s website:www.maramatanga.ac.nz. The Invited Speakers came from academic, expert and communitybackgrounds. The style of their presentations was mostly conversational and this style has beenretained. The one exception is Irene Watson’s paper, “A Journey Away from Violence to a Place ofLaw-fullness”. Irene supplied a fully referenced written paper and that is what is included here.Part B of the Proceedings has the formally submitted written papers. These come from a wide rangeof fields, including education, language, philosophy, traditional knowledge, science, environmentalstudies, community development, health, sport and the social sciences. As has been noted, all engagewith the theme of the conference: traditional knowledge and gateways to balanced relationships. Thesepapers are published in alphabetical order of the authors’ surnames.Kia hora te marinoKia papa pounamu te moanaKia tere te kārohirohiKi mua i tō huarahiMay the calm be widespreadThe sea be flat like greenstoneAnd the glistening haze danceBefore your pathway1