The Maori vision for the future of Antarctica
Likewise, researchers were not the first to learn that Maori travelers may have reached Antarctica so long ago; the feat was known in some communities, such as those near Bluff, New Zealand’s southernmost town, Dr Watene said. She and her colleagues drew on oral tradition records to understand the early connection between the Maori and Antarctica.
â€œPeople have very clear roots of transmitting knowledge and very secure methods of transmitting information,â€ said Dr Wehi, brushing aside the idea among some historians that oral tradition is an unreliable source.
â€œWhy wouldn’t we find a continent if we found the most isolated islands in the world? Asked Keolu Fox, a genetic researcher at the University of California at San Diego, who is a native of Hawaii and did not participate in the studies. The Native Hawaiians and the Maoris are both Polynesian peoples.
Dr Fox referred to a traditional double-hulled travel canoe built in 1975 that sailed around the world using traditional Polynesian orienteering techniques. “Do we literally need a Hokulea saddle to prove it to you?” “
In the fall of 2020, the authors organized a series of seminars bring together scholars and the Maori community to discuss this story. (The coronavirus pandemic derailed their original plan to meet in person.) Participants shared stories that expanded the team’s knowledge of existing narratives, like that of Hui Te Rangiora, and revealed some many new to attendees, said Dr Watene.
The team also consulted traditional sculptures, some of which depict the journey of Hui Te Rangiora and the presence of the southern oceans on the first sky navigation charts of Polynesian sailors. And archaeologists have observed ovens, piles and stone tools on subantarctic islands. dating from the 14th century, suggesting that the Polynesians lived in the area for at least a summer.
Researchers have found many more connections than expected in more recent history. In 1840, the Maori sailor Te Atu became the first New Zealander to see the Antarctic coast aboard an American expedition to the Southern Oceans. Around the turn of the 20th century, Maori sailors were recruited for whaling expeditions for their expertise in spear fishing. And from the 1950s, three Maori men joined New Zealand’s Antarctic Program as foreman, seaman and diesel engineer. The engineer, Robert Sopp, carved a figurehead, inscribed with a proverb about friends, to be presented at McMurdo Station, one of the Antarctic outposts of the United States.
"Kama ilivyo kwa Maori, ""wafanya utafiti wa kwanza kujua kwamba huenda wasafiri wa Maori walifika Antarctica muda mrefu uliopita, jambo hilo lilijulikana katika jamii fulani, kama vile zile zilizo karibu na Bluff, mji wa kusini zaidi wa New Zealand,"" alisema Dk Watts." Yeye na wenzake walitumia rekodi za mapokeo ya mdomo ili kuelewa uhusiano wa mapema kati ya Wamaori na Antaktika. "Watu wana mizizi ya wazi ya kupitisha maarifa na mbinu salama sana za kupitisha habari, ""alisema Dk Wehi, akipuuza wazo kati ya wanahistoria wengine kwamba mapokeo ya mdomo ni chanzo kisichoaminika." "Kwa nini tusipate bara ikiwa tumepata visiwa vilivyojitenga zaidi ulimwenguni? Keanu Fox, mtafiti wa urithi katika Chuo Kikuu cha California huko San Diego, aliuliza. Wenyeji wa asili wa Hawaii na Wamaori wote ni watu wa Polinesia. "Fox alielezea kuwa meli hiyo ilikuwa ""msafara wa kawaida wa safari ya kuendesha meli ya aina ya Canoe, iliyojengwa mwaka 1975 na iliyokuwa ikitumia mbinu za kawaida za Polynesia.""" "Kwa hivyo, kwa sababu ya kuwa na ""mwisho wa mwaka"" wa 2020, Maori walianzisha mkutano wa wataalamu wa Maori na wataalamu wa Maori ili kujadili hadithi hii." (Janga la coronavirus liliharibu mpango wao wa awali wa kukutana kibinafsi.) "Washiriki walishiriki hadithi ambazo zilipanua maarifa ya timu ya hadithi zilizopo, kama ile ya Hui Te Rangiora, na kufunua baadhi ya mpya kwa wahudhuriaji, ""alisema Dk Watene." Pia, watafiti walichunguza sanamu za kale, ambazo zinaonyesha safari ya Hui Te Rangiora na bahari za kusini kwenye ramani za kwanza za baharini za Polynesia. Na wataalamu wa vitu vya kale wamegundua tanuru, rundo la mawe, na vifaa vya mawe katika visiwa vya chini ya Antaktika. Katika karne ya 14 na 15 BC, watu wa Polynesia waliishi katika eneo hilo. Watafiti wamepata uhusiano mwingi zaidi kuliko walivyotarajia katika historia ya hivi karibuni. Mwaka 1840 Te Atu, baharia wa kabila la Maori, alikuwa mtu wa kwanza kutoka New Zealand kuona pwani ya Antaktika akiwa kwenye safari ya Marekani ya kwenda Bahari ya Kusini. Katika karne ya 20, mabaharia wa Maori walianza kuajiriwa kwa ajili ya safari za kuwinda nyangumi kwa sababu ya ustadi wao wa kuvua samaki kwa mkuki. Katika miaka ya 1950, wanaume watatu wa kabila la Maori walijiunga na mpango wa New Zealand wa Antarctic kama foreman, baharia na mhandisi wa dizeli. "Mhandisi Robert Sopp alichonga sanamu ya ""Mwanamume Mtakatifu"" iliyokuwa na maneno ya usemi kuhusu marafiki, ili itolewe katika kituo cha McMurdo, mojawapo ya vituo vya Marekani vya Antarctica."