An Atua framework: Enabling community-engaged, culturally-based environmental monitoring

Abstract

Monitoring environmental health is normally undertaken by experts using sustainability frameworks, scientific indicators and quantitative assessment methods. These may be scientifically robust but not necessarily understandable to, or reflective of the cultural values, of local indigenous communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, alternative participatory approaches to monitoring have been developed through co-creation methodologies between Māori groups and scientists that reflect local customs and learning practices. Culturally-based monitoring (CBM) approaches are increasingly being used by iwi (local Māori tribal groups) to monitor the health of socio-ecological systems within areas that they have tribal authority over, e.g., rivers and coastal areas. CBM indicators and tools are often underpinned by indigenous Māori cosmological frameworks and narratives. These frameworks and narratives are holistic, integrated and connected to local environment. The practice of CBM by Māori is an expression of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and decolonisation and which has social, environmental and economic benefits. This research collaboration involved three iwi groups in the top of the South Island and researchers from Lincoln University. A cosmological ‘Atua (Māori departmental deity) framework’ and a suite of indicators was developed. The ‘Atua’ are seven departmental deities – the first born of Papatūānuku (the Earth Mother) and Ranginui (the Sky Father). Each deity is responsible for an environmental domain – water, forests and birds, weather and climate, people and war, agriculture and peace, wild foods, and geological phenomena. From this framework a suite of indicators was identified and a CBM tool developed. The tool was used to assess the health of six indigenous forests within the tribal area of the iwi groups involved in the research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This article presents the results of this research and an analysis of the results including an exploration of the potential of the Atua framework for other indigenous resource management and planning purposes.