Leim Joe in New Zealand Episode 1

In this podcast, Leim Joe describes his first journey to Aotearoa (New Zealand) as part of an Indigenous Arts course. While reflecting on his time abroad, Leim recalls memories, teachings, connections to Mi’kmaq culture, and his relationship with the group. In this first episode, he discusses the group’s activities, such as instrument making and flax weaving, academic perspectives like Against Tradition by Sean Mallon, and a personal story about his aunt’s passing and the guilt he felt about going on the trip.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Kwe, weli-eksitpuk, tewisi Leim Joe.. Tle’awi Maupeltu aqq wetapuksin Wekistoniq.

(00:08):
Pjlasi Welta’q a’tukwaqn.
Hi, good day to you all, my name is Liam Joe, I live in I live in Membertou, Nova Scotia, but come from
and have roots in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia. And welcome to Sound Stories, a Centre for Sound
Communities podcast. I am L’nu from Unama’ki, a father of two, research assistant with the Centre

(00:31):
for Sound Communities, and student at the St. Francis Xavier University enrolled in the
Mi’kmaw Kinamatnewey Bachelor of Education program, which is a program focused on Mi’kmaq
teachings and perspectives. In this podcast of Sound Stories, I'll be speaking to some of
the thoughts, reflections, and learning experiences I’ve been a part of recently in my travels

(00:53):
to Aotearoa, commonly known as New Zealand, and in the city of Wellington. I'll be speaking
specifically on my experiences on the Indigenous Arts course with Cape Breton University.
The first trip, I traveled with some incredible classmates on an Indigenous Arts Field course,
which was facilitated by Cape Breton University, and the Te Herenga Waka, or commonly known as

(01:15):
University of Wellington. We flew out of Canada on early July 2024 and stayed for 18 days before
coming back home. This was interesting because we arrived in their winter, which really felt like a
warm Canadian spring, but more wind. This course differs from your traditional academic course in a
few ways. First, the learning is immersive. But if all the learning we did in the course, which

(01:39):
includes storytelling, instrument making, environmental walks, ceremony, rangi, which is basket weaving,
we learned all of which, without the use of articles or reading materials, it was raw knowledge
passed from one person to the other. This intimate relationship in knowledge sharing is part of

(01:59):
the culture of Māori, and each interaction has started with Hongi, which is the pressing of
forehead and nose, thus symbolizing the sharing of the breath of life and knowledge. Quite similar to
the Mi’kmaq values of Netukulimk, I learned that the Māori people are dedicated to preserving the
environment, not just for themselves, but for future generations. Every teaching involved in the

(02:24):
environment is focused on preserving, rather than de-plenishing. New Zealand as a country has
the most protective biosecurity measures I have ever encountered, which is in place to protect
and preserve the sense of wildlife with the land. When instrument making with Jerome and Ruiha Turner
they shared their intimate relations with their taonga puoro, their instrument, and the significance of

(02:47):
using each. I remember quite vividly Jerome's story of his Whale bone flute. When an animal passes in
Aotearoa, those practicing kaitiakitanga, which is the guardianship of the environment,
they'll gather and perform ceremony to honor the passed animal. The whale bone Jerome carried
was passed down to him by his family, who harvested the whale only when they completed the ceremony.

(03:13):
As he retold and explained to us, every part of the animals used from the fat to the bones
to honor the whole spirit of the whale. A related concept in netukulimk in hunter practices in Unama’ki.
When we as Mi’kmaq harvest the moose, the moose is not moved until a tobacco offering is placed

(03:34):
and a small ceremony of gratitude is done. Every part of the moose is used for drum making,
mjipjewey food, clothing materials, and even the guts are given as an offering to the kitpu eagle.
Take a listen to Jerome Kavanaugh's song, Tangaroa a Roto from the album Tangaroa a Roto.

(03:55):
I remember distinctly the article "Against Tradition" by Shawn Mallon. As a prerequisite to the trip,

(04:17):
the group had articles to read to learn about the culture of the Māori, and against tradition was one of them.
In the article, Mallon speaks of the use of the word tradition, and how it translates in a modern era.
He makes the argument that when the indigenous used word tradition, it implies the correct way

(04:38):
of practicing culture. As if the word tradition is rooted and authenticates practices that were done
in pre-colonial times. In contemporary times, with evolution of technology and growing political
stances of society, it is getting more difficult to teach the next generation without 'some' adaptation.

(04:58):
Our group had the privilege of meeting Shawn at the Tepapa Museum. He and his group explained articles
in the Pacifica section of the museum, which included Tongo and Samoan nose flutes.
One last thought I'll share from this trip is the power of connections. Before coming on the trip,
I didn't believe I could make it. My aunt passed away days before we were about to depart.

(05:22):
Though I knew some of my classmates, I didn't know them all, and definitely didn't want to
confide in my struggles in coming on the trip. Slowly, we began to get closer as a group,
learning new perspectives together. We began to bond. My guilt and grief became less harder to bear.
One of my good friends stopped me one day and asked if I was okay, because they just heard the news

(05:46):
of my aunt's passing, and they realized that I was related. In the moment I was being strong and assured
my well-being. But it touched me so much that I almost burst into tears. The next day, the day that was
my aunt's funeral, we spent some time at the South Shore Beach. The scenery was beautiful.

(06:08):
Waves were crashing the jagged rocks, creating a slight mist, and in the distance a rainbow was
glimmering in the sunshine. As I walked towards it, I almost stepped on a beautiful albatross
feather. I immediately thought of my aunt and took the feather after an offering and thank you for
the gift. I knew then I was supposed to be where I was supposed to be, and I started to immerse

(06:35):
myself in the land of Aotearoa. Thanks for listening to this episode of Sound Stories, a Centre for Sound
Communities podcast. This show is hosted by Research Assistants of Centre for Sound Communities,
a social innovation lab at Cape Breton University. Be sure to tune in to our next episode to hear
classmates discuss another exciting Centre for Sound Communities project. And be sure to tune in to hear

(07:01):
the second part of my journey in Aotearoa.
[Music]