From the pōwhiri on 9 November at Auckland University of Technology that welcomed MAI (Māori and Indigenous) doctoral students for their annual 3 day hui hosted by MAi Ki Aronui, to the powerful pre-conference workshops and the Ka Haka cultural opening at AUT, on to the Waipapa Mārae pōwhiri for IIRC18 on 13 November and concluding with our formal poroporoaki on 16 November, we celebrated outstanding Indigenous knowledge in all its forms.
We acknowledge our many national and international presenters throughout the week, and especially our conference keynotes: Minister Hon Kelvin Davis (Acting Prime Minister on the day, who launched the Indigenous Peoples and the State, International Perspectives on the Treaty of Waitangi book), Sir Tīpene O’Regan, Maree Sheehan, ‘Aulani Wilhelm, Professor Charles Menzies, Dr Marie Delorme, Dr Chelsea Bond and Professor Poia Rewi.
Of the conference highlights, we salute Poia’s opening keynote delivered entirely in te reo Māori to a packed auditorium; the inspiring NPM – Fulbright NZ Alumni Forum Panel; the participants in our Indigenous 3 minute (3MT) thesis competition and the many moving and compelling presentations delivered by our participants. IIRC18 was a resounding exploration of what Indigenous communities and researchers are achieving in securing our Indigenous Futures.
We are already planning IIRC20 - our 9th Biennial International Indigenous Research Conference from 16 - 20 November 2020.
SAVE THE DATE!
In the coming week we will be sharing the conference keynote videos on our Media Centre.