We are excited to invite you to the first recorded Tautoko session of 2023 for community researchers in Aotearoa. Tautoko sessions are online gatherings aimed to continue to foster connections among researchers, former refugees, and migrant peers who are passionate about promoting collective action and conducting research by and for the refugee and migrant communities.
We had the privilege of hosting Rachel Tapera, on the 20th of July, 2023. Rachel is a community researcher who shared her research on the integration of Te Ao Māori and other ethnic methodologies. In this recorded tautoko session Rachel shows how she has skillfully woven together the concepts of Ubuntu and Te Ao Māori in her study on neurodiversity. Her insights promise to inspire and enrich our understanding of respectfully addressing the mixing together of these two methodologies for research.
Rachel Tapera discusses her research where she incorporated Te Ao Maori values and Ubuntu methodologies for her research “What are the social effects of neurodivergence on African migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand?” This is an original contribution to knowledge that explored the lived realities of neurodivergent Indigenous African migrants in Aotearoa. A robust methodological approach grounded in Ubuntu was conceptualised, privileging African ways of knowing while simultaneously acknowledging Māori as tangata whenua.
By bringing together a range of perspectives, we aim to create a dynamic environment that fosters collaboration, learning, and the sharing of knowledge.
About the presentation
Rachel will present her research centered on the experiences of Indigenous African migrant families with neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a complex phenomenon that requires an in-depth understanding of the individuals and families affected and services that are accessible, acceptable and available. This research is founded on the African philosophy of Ubuntu and is guided by Te Ao Māori values and principles.
About the presenter
Rachel is a Public Health Specialist and a Tōmaiora Research Fellow. Her research interests are in Indigenous and ethnic migrant health, health equity and the application of Indigenous theories and philosophies in decolonising and indigenist research. She is keenly interested in collaborating and contributing to research that interrogates social injustice and makes a positive difference for marginalised population groups in Aotearoa. In her spare time, Rachel volunteers as an advocate for inclusion, engagement, representation and recognition of minoritised ethnic communities in Aotearoa.
