Chesser Cowan

One story I would share is from one of my haka mentors. Knowing that I would be leaving home (Aotearoa) for a while (2017-present), my mind was turned towards the future about how I could maintain and represent myself, my whānau (family) and Iwi (tribe) to the best of my ability.

He always taught me when representing our iwi (tribe), we must always 1: do it well 2: do it right and the rest shall follow. We have two precious teachers. Our eyes and our ears. Coupled with the feelings and passion of our heart, we shall never deviate from the path of success. Because of what I learned that day, I’d always find ways to incorporate te ao māori in my daily life. Whether it be karakia (prayer), conversations, waiata (music), performing , stories, genealogy, compositions and meditation; I’d find a way. Later on in life I realized that it’s now become a habit and second nature that I do without second thoughts.

One of my favorite whakataukī (proverbs) that I recite and incorporate in my life goes as follows: “ Ko te Amorangi ki mua, ko te hāpai ō ki muri. Te tūturutanga mahi pono, o te Māori mana motuhake.” Put simply in English, “let god be your spearhead and everything else shall follow, this is true Māoridom in action.”