Indigenous Visibility: Riwaka Resurgence

At Te Puna o Riwaka, there's a traditional Maori entrance and mauri stone, as well as a sign explaining its significance. 

the visual world says more than Western humans usually give it credit for

the colors, lights, motions, shapes,

in many ways shape people's intentions, interactions, systems, relationships

when people are not seen,

those connections become weakened,

as do their identities and power dynamics,

keeping people in the margins where they're not seen and therefore not heard

"Invisibility is the modern form of racism against Natives." -Dr. Stephanie Fryburg

"The indigenous Maori in New Zealand are surging in visibility, with sold out Te reo (the Maori language) courses across the country...a functional relationship with indigenous populations around the world is possible. Governments just need to be willing to acknowledge the importance of indigenous communities and negotiate with them on their own terms." -Amanda Coulson-Drasner