Mayor to welcome Canadian First Nations people
24 March 2014
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick is hosting a mayoral reception and official powhiri for a delegation of indigenous Musqueam First Nations people from Canada tomorrow [25 March] at Rotorua District Council's Civic Centre.
The delegation is in New Zealand to accompany the Te Ara: Māori Pathways of Leadership' photographic exhibition to its New Zealand premier at Rotorua Museum, following the exhibition's extensive world tour.
Te Ara' was most recently hosted at the Musqueam Cultural Education Resource Centre and Gallery in Vancouver.
Musqueam people are located in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They are the only Indian First Nations people whose reserve community lies within the boundaries of the City of Vancouver.
Musqueam values and teachings today are based on traditional culture, a major part of which is the concept of kinship. Traditionally large extended families lived close together in multi-family homes.
Mayor Chadwick said Tuesday's ceremony would be the visiting delegation's first powhiri in New Zealand and an acknowledgment of the distance the Musqueam group had travelled to bring the exhibition back home.
I'm looking forward to welcoming these guests to our city, and for the opportunity to share and compare our two indigenous cultures.