Potiki

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

What are some of the ways in which capitalistic ventures can harm Indigenous communities, as opposed to helping them? List 4-5 historical examples.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question offers the opportunity to introduce the themes of The Repression of Indigenous Populations and Their Struggle for Survival, The Inhumanity and Destructiveness of Capitalism, and The Relationship Between Humankind and the Natural World. At the core of Grace’s novel is a Māori family whose cultural traditions are threatened by oppressive business developers who seek to take their land for capitalist ventures. Potiki approaches this problem through multiple narrators who share different reactions to the situation. While various family members process the loss of their land in different ways, they ultimately stand their ground, contend with the destruction of their structures, and continue with their way of life. Students might work in pairs to brainstorm historical examples and connect their ideas to these specific instances; as a class, students can compile their ideas on the board, display, or a shared file to draw comparisons and observe points of commonality.

• This 2011 research paper, “Indigenous Peoples in the Capitalist World System: Researching, Knowing, and Promoting Social Justice,” provides an overview of the exploitation of various Indigenous communities by colonial governments, including Australia’s Aboriginal tribes. (Teacher-appropriate; not student facing due to length; portions may be excerpted for student reference.)
• From the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, this 2019 research study, “Colonisation, Hauora and Whenua in Aotearoa,” explores the ways in which colonialism has harmed the Indigenous communities of New Zealand. 
• The University of Auckland’s article “Māori Perspectives Extend Notion of Conscious Capitalism” discusses the ways in which Indigenous values could be incorporated into New Zealand business practices.

Short Activity

Potiki focuses on the experiences of the Māori Indigenous community in New Zealand. Working in small groups, select one of the tribes (“iwi”) of the Māori people and research background information to share in a brief, informal presentation with the class. Include in your presentation:

• The group’s location and population
• Historical information
• Language(s) spoken
• Traditions

You may also include relevant, approved visuals, videos, and other media.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore and share information on the history and culture of the Māori community. After presentations, students might connect information regarding history and tradition to the novel’s themes of The Repression of Indigenous Populations and Their Struggle for Survival and The Inhumanity and Destructiveness of Capitalism. These or similar resources may help students begin their investigation.

• To help with the selection of a specific group, students may use this list from the University of Wellington.
• The Government of New Zealand’s encyclopedia provides a background of the Māori people, including history and early settlements.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an approach that connects with the novel’s motif of storytelling, students might research a story from the chosen tribe and share a summary with the class. Students can make meaningful connections to these stories throughout their reading; for now, students might discuss the ways in which the story touches upon the themes of The Repression of Indigenous Populations and Their Struggle for Survival, The Inhumanity and Destructiveness of Capitalism, The Relationship Between Humankind and the Natural World, and The Relationship Between Life and Death.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Storytelling and oral traditions are important forms of both artistic expression and historical record for many Indigenous communities. Consider the significance of these forms of communication. Why might communities rely on storytelling as a way to share important information? Can you think of an example of a story from your community or in popular culture that has Indigenous connections? If so, what are some of the central themes and motifs of this particular story?

Teaching Suggestion: Considering these questions in pre-reading will help prepare students to think more critically about the motif of storytelling in the novel. Storytelling is a central component to the characters in the novel, as they use it to convey the passage of time along with the cyclicality of life. If students find it difficult to cite a story with Indigenous connections from their own experiences, they might use this site or similar resources for ideas to explore, then return to the prompt with a citable example.

• Haka Tours New Zealand summarizes traditional stories in their list of “Our Top 8 Māori Stories and Legends.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For an extension of this writing activity with an approach that focuses on additional literary analysis, students might read through each summary to gauge the importance of storytelling in the Māori community. Partners or small groups might address these questions: What are many of the stories about? Do these stories touch upon the themes of The Relationship Between Humankind and the Natural World and The Relationship Between Life and Death? If so, how? How do these differ from the story you selected to share in your response?