Conscious Collaborations

Conscious Collaborations was run by Kiritapu Allan and Teanau Tuiono.

Narcosphere report

Kiritapu Allan, Co-Director of Conscious Collaborations sent out this report October 17, 2007:

It is in great distress that I am urged to write this appeal and to inform our international community of the recent events that are happening within Aotearoa (New Zealand) social justice, environmental justice and indigenous movements. For the past 60 hours Aotearoa activists have been subjected to home invasions,raids and interrogation under threats of terrorist activities against the state.

The Crown has decided to employ its recent Terrorism Suppression Act to lockdown on social justice activist, movers and shakers and this is now world wide news with many of our close friends and families houses (mine included) being invaded, possessions confiscated and charges being threatened which will allow for solid activists to be charged under the Terrorist Suppression Act that carries sentencing for life.

Tuiono connection

Allan, though only in her early ’20s has been an activist for some years.

She is a close associate of Teanau Tuiono and together the pair run an organisation, Conscious Collaborations which;

Is an indigenous collective striving for a world that acknowledges Papatuanuku (Earthmother) by building synergies between indigenous, activist, and creative communities… ..

Close associates of Conscious Collaborations include Alison Green, a Maori activist closely associated with Maoist Tom Poata in the ’80s and Helen Te Hira, also a Maoist who recently worked for the radical Asian Student’s Association in Hong Kong.

In 2005 Kiritapu Allan protested at Waitangi, at one point challenging National Party leader on his vision for the country. Brash tried to reply but Allan wouldn’t let him finish.

In February this year, Allan caused some controversy when she and Teanau Tuiono wanted to fly the Maori Tino rangatiratanga flag off Auckland Harbour Bridge on Waitangi Day.

According to Allan;

“The Tino Rangatiratanga flag symbolises the long tradition of struggle and resistance by Maori against colonisation and the Crown sponsored theft of Maori land and resources. It is a symbol used by Maori who continue to resist the pressures of colonisation and cultural and economic genocide. It is part of the international movement of indigenous peoples drive for self-determination. Such a concept embraces the spiritual link Maori have with ‘Papatuanuku’ (Earthmother) and is a part of the international drive by indigenous people for self determination.”

Nice 'n' Native

The idea was to bring together a small group of indigenous activists, dancers, writers, builders, lawyers, mc's, mothers, fathers, children, elders who were all actively working towards a different world to wananga (explore, sit, think and share ideas) indigenous self-determination. It is not often that indigenous peoples are given the opportunity to sit and share with other indigenous peoples stories of how our communities are surviving in the face of colonization, capitalism, westernism and other external influences. It too is not often that indigenous peoples can come together and share ideas with each other as to how to retain that which is sacred to us. Examples are the preservation of our languages which are cornerstone to our identities and in some communities on the brink of extinction; how to win campaigns that bring about closures to the extraction of our Earth Mothers natural resources and; to share skills and resources as to how other peoples and communities sustaining themselves at an everyday level beyond the monetary systems to build their houses, harvest their foods and maintain a spiritual integrity.

Through the dedicated efforts of this crew, mothers, fathers, babies and the one bedroom 4/17 Cliff Street, Nice 'n' Native eventuated. This was through a process of many walks to the park with the kids, scrapping together coins in cars to pay for the bbq's to feed the troops and a consistent dedication to the process of communication and the vision of Nice 'n ' Native. This crew was made up of indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples and so to all who were a part of this process, nga mihi nunui ki a koutou.

The organising committee was as follows:

• Challen Wilson
• Terri Te Tau
• Cate Coslor
• Alison Green
• Heather Thompson
• Teanau Tuiono
• Kewana Duncan
• Kiritapu Allan
• Lotus Mungakahia- Morgan
• Uiterangi Te Tau Tuiono
• Te Hinemoa Tuiono

Kiritapu Allan

In 2007 the Nice 'n' Native whanau (family) was as follows:

Teanau Tuiono, Helen Te Hira, Moana Robb, Emily Bailey, Ira Bailey, Rangi Kemara, Kiritapu Allan, Alma Rosa Silva-Banuelos, Noa Campbell, Nikau Campbell, Tia Taurere, Chester Mark A. Tuazon, Elma Cielo Awingan, Iana Takarangi, Brett Ramey, Challen Wilson, Kewana Duncan, Wahleah Johns, Aletha Penrith, Rangimarie Aperehama, Ati Teepa, Kane Te Manakura, Cathy Rexford, Jason De Santolo, Terri Te Tau, Bobby, Claire Garnett, Tania Te Tau, Uiterangi Te Tau-Tuiono, Te Kaea Taurere-Julian, Tama Taurere-Julian, Astro Brimm , Te Kiriahi Taurere-Julian, Rereata, Heather Thompson, Alison Green.

Our whanau (family) that came together for the week ranged from the four corners of the earth, bringing together tangata whenua (peoples of the land) from Alaska, the Philipines, The desert in Arizona and New Mexico, Australia and Aotearoa. Many peoples, many tribes, many mountains, rivers, clans where brought together at Motakotako Marae. The week began with a powhiri (traditional welcome) and was solidified by the sharing of breathe as participants, orgainsers and the hou kainga (home peoples) pressed noses in a hongi before engaging in a week of physical, mental and spiritual transformation. The week was woven together the with sharing of knowledge's and struggles, paintball and touch rugby, traditional weaving, organic gardening, ceremony, stories of the plants, mountains and waters, a reggae festival, an 'indigenous vibrations' sharing forum and a lot of laughter, dancing and singing. Many ages, from babies to our elders; many skills, from dancers, frontline activists, lawyers, builders, weavers, directors and many others also that created our whariki (our woven mat) of how our vision for change for our peoples and our communities intersects. To all who came and shared their visions, their skills, their struggles, their victories, their strengths, their weaknesses.

Foreign guests included:

• Alma Rosa Silva-Manuelos, Chicano, New Mexico
• Brett Ramey, Native Movement, Iowa
• Wahleah Johns, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Arizona, Din'e

Next steps

Conscious Collaborations took many learnings from Nice 'n' Native 07 and is committed to nurturing the seeds that were planted whilst we sat together during our week at Motakotako Marae. Next steps and Projects that Conscious Collaborations is taking is in four primary areas.

• Natives Upskilling Natives Wananga
• Nice 'n' Native 08,
• Tino Ranagtiratanga Flag Campaign
• and the Black Sands Mining Campaign.

Conscious Collaborations is committed to growing strong and grounded peoples and communities, protecting Papatuanuku and raising awareness as to the indigenous peoples struggle in Aotearoa. Therefore we have taken a 2 prong approach in our major projects for the following year. To growing and cultivating peoples minds, hearts and spirits and to actively campaigning to protect the mauri of our lands, waters and peoples.