CREATOR, KANIKAPILA & KAI

Whether it’s a hui, community gathering, talk story session, focus group, public meeting or ʻaha – no matter the format, topic, or location – where there are Natives gathered, there will be the Creator, Kanikapila and Kai.

One of our core areas of business (across all 3 of our offices) is to engage with Native communities and seek their input into different projects on behalf of organisations. We might be asked because we have relationships with certain communities, we are independent of the organisation so are considered unbiased, or it might be our way of ensuring the voice of the community is included within the work. Regardless of who, where, when or what – our meetings with Natives involve the Creator, Kanikapila and Kai.

• The Creator – a First Nation reference to a higher power, representing the presence of our traditional customs. This might include an Elder opening the meeting in a good way, it may be an oli, it could be karakia. It may be small, dramatic, loud, in a Native language – or not. Regardless of the form, there will be a section of the agenda that acknowledges protocols.

• Kanikapila – a Native Hawaiian reference to backyard jams with ukulele or guitar, representing our festive approach (sometimes with song) to discussing issues. Discussion might start on one point and end on another. Stories and jokes might be shared with eruptions of laughter. To the untrained ear, it may have no relevance to the topic. The relaxed and jubilant environment is what extracts the best information from the participants.

• Kai – the Māori word for food, representing our cultural obligation to demonstrate hospitality through food. No native meeting is complete without food. From the lollies that nanny brings in her bag, to the full buffet – every meeting of Natives will involve food.

A successful meeting with Natives would have fed the soul, the heart, the mind, the body, and the family of the people. Whether you’re meeting with First Nations in Canada, Kanaka Maoli in Hawaiʻi, or Hapū Māori in New Zealand, the success to any meetings with Natives – the Creator, Kanikapila, and Kai!