Maori stand with Standing Rock
• Maori stand with Stand...
TAIRAWHITI Maori have gone global with two rousing haka in their support for those protesting a multibillion-dollar oil pipeline at Standing Rock in the US. A viral video of about 60 people performing the Ngati Porou haka Ka Panapana and Ruaumoko has been viewed nearly one million times, shared 24,000 times and received nearly 8000 comments from around the world. Haka organiser Holden Stirling says the reaction has been “awesome”.It was a spontaneous idea through a social media post, to show solidarity to those protesting at Standing Rock, North Dakota.Haka with Standing Rock video “It was just a collective of people, all coming together for a good cause. I have been watching the video over and over. It was a really powerful moment and something I will remember for a long time.”They have had comments from all around the world, including native American Sioux people at Standing Rock. “They are saying how proud they are to have this support from the East Coast.” Shared through The Gisborne Herald’s social media page, the video has attracted comments from across the world. “Watching this in Belfast crying, for there are so many good people in the world - we just gotta stick together,” said one commenter in Northern Ireland. Gisborne-born Mr Stirling travelled from Auckland for the weekend as he wanted to show solidarity where he grew up and with family. “If even one person turned up I would have been happy.” The haka In all more than 100 people arrived on the city beach, with about 60 of them involved in the haka, young and old. First the women performed the Ka Panapana, leading the men who finished with Ruaumoko. Mr Stirling said they chose the haka because of their relevance to East Coast Maori.Native Americans and environmentalists at Sioux tribe Standing Rock’s land in North Dakota have been in protest camps since April, demonstrating against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. The tribe says it threatens their sacred lands and water supply. In recent weeks media coverage and social media activity about Standing Rock protests have stepped up as authorities have clamped down on the protestors. Footage of a confrontation two weeks ago showed police in tanks, with rifles, and using pepper spray and mace on protesters. Thousands of people from around the world have joined them, with the cause especially resonating among Maori. The Facebook page Gisborne’s Marcus Lloyd and his family were recently there and a Tairawhiti social media page “Haka With Standing Rock” was created by Te Hamua Nikora. Mr Nikora responded to a call from native American journalist Myron Dewey for Maori to “stand with Standing Rock” by performing a haka. Mr Nikora devised a haka and encouraged others to do their own version of it. The page has nearly 40,000 followers and a Givealittle page has been set up to help seven people, including Mr Nikora, to travel over in person later this month, with plans for an even larger contingent to go over in December. Mr Nikora was not at Waikanae Beach at the weekend for the haka but he was “proud” at how it went down.
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5 ноя 2016
