Through haka and song, students celebrate Māori identity
Paora Gemmell, a senior in political science from New Zealand and the choreographer for this year’s performance, said the program was divided into two parts: a chorus-style song and a haka.
The first item was a “waiata”, or choral song, where performers sang with minimal hand movements. Gemmell said the group performed “Toku Reo” a well-known song in New Zealand about the importance of preserving the Māori language.
The second item is the haka, a cultural performance often associated with strength and unity. Gemmell said this year, the haka was based on Māori creation stories that used expressive movements. He said it was important for performers to express their own emotions. “I emphasize expressing yourself and how you move rather than trying to be like someone that’s done it their whole life,” he said.
Club president Te Rangahau Hodge, a freshman in business management from New Zealand, said she hopes performers could feel the spirit as they performed. “Yes, I’mMāori, but I’m also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” she said. Hodge said this theme was reflected in the costumes this year, with women wearing white and gold.
Lex Marcaida, a sophomore in accounting from the Philippines and the club’s treasurer, said participating in the performance reminds him of his own indigenous roots in the Philippines. “There are some resemblances to what they value as to what we value as well.” He said learning haka was his favorite part because of the unity that came when performing all together.
