Wednesday 31 July 2019 12:47pm
Olly Te Hata Ohlson.
Olly Te Hata Ohlson is hoping a presentation he is giving at the University of Otago this evening will help Māori youth understand how traditional teachings from Te Āo Māori will complement their academic studies.
Mr Ohlson, whose name might be familiar to some from the 1980s TV show After School, is the founder of Maori Indigenous Narrative Therapy, which is based on ancient Māori beliefs and philosophy.
The Tohunga Suppression Act made these unlawful in 1907 and he was one of many students who protested until the Act was withdrawn in 1964.
In 1963, Mr Ohlson was at Ardmore Teachers' Training College where the class was challenged to observe people in non-educational institutions. He chose Mt Eden Prison.
“It was there I saw the large number of Māori inmates and it captured my heart,” Mr Ohlson says.
“I kept it up taking others with me - firstly as young trainee teachers and then as entertainers. They were very receptive, especially keen to learn anything Māori so I started showing them some of the things I learnt, not thinking that it had anything to do with philosophy.”
These early forays demonstrated the value in Māori philosophies, ancient beliefs and psychology, and so he started developing a programme which he completed in 1971.
He says these early musings and understandings can be found across many different areas of art, including poetry, songs, stories and chants.
"We have the power and gift to utilise that mauri in a positive or negative way - that's our gift of choice."
“IO simply put is the personification of pure energy or mauri, and mauri is what we are totally made of in individual form. We have the power and gift to utilise that mauri in a positive or negative way - that's our gift of choice.
"Ancestral carved meeting houses hold spiritual knowledge and truths that centre around wholeness, unity and intimacy. This begins with the self and the awareness of the relationship with other life forms including the earth personified as Papatuanuku or Earth Mother and the air we breathe as in Ranginui – Sky Father."
Mr Ohlsen will be speaking about all of this in his lecture this evening – which is being hosted by the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies as part of its 10-year anniversary celebrations.
His seminar explores the practical and experiential applications of Māori Indigenous Narrative Therapy focusing on the significant role of Rongo – Goddess of Peace and Serenity.
Mr Ohlson is already looking towards other opportunities to take the discussions throughout the country so that carvings, reciting, waiata (songs) and oratory can be viewed with the same prestige as academia.
“My dream is the young people come alive and I’d love for all of the Māori things to be based on mauri throughout the country, so we can all understand we do have a philosophy and psychology and it’s very practical and worthwhile getting to know.”
Come along:
National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies 10th Anniversary Lecture
Matua Te Hata Olly Ohlson
Can Ancient Māori Beliefs Contribute to Global Peace?
Wed 31 Jul, 5:30pm
Castle D