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The children of the mist: Enculturation in a New Zealand kohanga reo
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to discover and interpret how a group of Maori children in New Zealand experience enculturation in a kohanga reo early childhood program. A qualitative ethnographic approach was used to guide the research project. To gain the depth of understanding that comes from personal experience, fieldwork was conducted with a sub tribe of Maori people in New Zealand for six months. A rural kohanga reo was purposefully selected as the research site. Young children, from infant to age 5, teachers, and families at the kohanga reo were the primary participants. Additional participants included the members of two Maori families with whom I lived, and the participants in Maori village life at the marae. Supporting data were generated from Maori community life and a second kohanga reo. The results of this study indicate that children enrolled at kohanga reo are meeting the two primary goals set by Te Kohanga Reo National Trust. Children are learning the Maori language and their Maori culture as they experience enculturation. Data analysis revealed three themes in response to the research questions: (1) The children are learning cultural characteristics which include behavior patterns related to the following categories: (a) communicating the native language; (b) expressing feelings; (c) viewing and participating in art; (d) respecting nature; (e) practicing spiritual concepts; (f) developing a sense of family. (2) The children are learning about their culture through mechanisms of enculturation. This includes interaction with the curriculum which is embedded within the physical, social, and temporal environments of the kohanga reo. Two key elements that facilitate enculturation are active participation and educational leadership. (3) The children are learning to reconcile the contrasts among the Western culture, their contemporary Maori culture, and their traditional Maori culture. They are able to participate effectively in both group-oriented and individual activities. They are able to understand and meet different behavior expectations in different situations. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed and recommendations for future research are presented.
Subject Area
Early childhood education|Bilingual education
Recommended Citation
Bauermeister, Maxine Louise, "The children of the mist: Enculturation in a New Zealand kohanga reo" (1998). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9917821.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9917821