E Kore Au E Ngaro | The Connection Remains

As global momentum grows to properly value Indigenous ways of knowing alongside Western scientific research practice, a Māori community in New Zealand illuminates a powerful strategy for change. In addressing both historical collections of plant specimens and present day gene research in local mussel populations, Whakatōhea have implemented Biocultural Labels and Notices to address histories of colonial extraction as well as the challenges presented by open access datasets. In both scenarios, Whakatōhea set a powerful example of how to ensure that the chain of provenance to peoples and lands is robust and persistent across global digital ecosystems.

Film by Andreas Burgess, Jane Anderson and Māui Hudson in collaboration with Danny Paruru, Robert Edwards, Holden Hohaia, Aaron Wilton, Kimberley Maxwell and Jonathan Gardner.

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