Episode 17 - ReMembering the Sovereign Forest a conversation with Erin Matariki Carr

Matariki takes us on a journey of ReMembering the enchanted forests and rivers of Aotearoa, known on most maps as New Zealand, and the continuing journey of the Maori peoples and the pakeha (settlers) who colonized and have enacted grave violence on their land and their people. Her narration of the history becomes a narration of the history of a movement and a set of legislation that has inspired people the world over: recognizing the inherent sovereignty and personhood of forests and rivers. Often known as part of the Rights of Nature Movement, this narration lightly touches on rights-based language, stemming instead from the complex and often immensely challenging relationship between the Maori and the New Zealand government; sovereignty, freedom, and finding ways to be a part of an animate, living world. This episode infuses poetry and fable, legal constructions and historical struggle, contemporary learnings, and the complex endeavors of some hard-core innovation between two vastly different cosmovisions. Listen to a story by one whose family and whose life is shaped by and for it: Matariki uses her training and expertise as a lawyer to be in service to her forest.

Timestamps:

5:05 - Remembering, ReEnchanting, and coming back to life in Aotearoa New Zealand

12:04 - Treaty of Waitangi (Settlements negotiation and settlement process) legislation

14:50 - The Crown - what is this government, anyways? 

18:10 - “Settlement” process: the journey of understanding colonial pasts differently

30:49 - How do you shift away from a national park?

42:00 - What does it feel like to stand before the Forest as your mother?

46:20 - The great law of peace, Sara's ancestors and working with democracy differently

1:02:15 - From the Ocean

1:11:24 - Some of Matariki’s current work and artistic journey

We all do belong to earth.

Matariki's bio:

Erin Matariki Carr: (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa). Matariki was raised in Whakatāne and currently lives in her home rohe of Tāneatua, just north of Te Urewera rainforest. She completed her studies at Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Spanish. Matariki’s work has been in the Māori law arena, including a focus on post-Settlement iwi governance and structuring at Chapman Tripp and policy writing for Te Urewera legal personhood at Te Uru Taumatua. She is now an independent contractor providing legal research, management and wānanga facilitation services. Matariki is co-lead of RIVER Aotearoa Charitable Trust, a Research Fellow for Associate Professor Claire Charters at the University of Auckland, co-director of Te Kuaka NZA Incorporated Society, and a facilitator with Tūmanako Consultants with a focus on helping to bridge worlds in Aotearoa, so we can build a society which actively enables both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā to thrive.

References:

• River
• Te Kawa o Te Urewera
• Matike Mai Aotearoa report
• Matike Mai – lecture by Prof Margaret Mutu

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