title: Genealogical Violence: Mormon (Mis)Appropriation of Māori Cultural Memory through Falsification of Whakapapa

authors: Simon, Hemopereki

subjects: whakapapa

abstract: The study examines how members of the historically white possessive and supremacist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States (mis)appropriated Māori genealogy, known as whakapapa. The Mormon use of whakapapa to promote Mormon cultural memory and narratives perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and white supremacy, as this paper shows. The research discusses Church racism against Native Americans and Pacific Peoples. This paper uses Anthropologist Thomas Murphy’s scholarship to demonstrate how problematic the Book of Mormon’s religio-colonial identity of Lamanites is for these groups. Application of Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s white possessive doctrine and Hemopereki Simon’s adaptation to cover Church-Indigenous relations and the salvation contract is discussed. We explore collective and cultural memory and discuss key Māori concepts like Mana, Taonga, Tapu, and Whakapapa. A brief review of LDS scholar Louis C. Midgley’s views on Church culture, including Herewini Jones’s whakapapa wānanga, is followed by a discussion of Māori cultural considerations and issues. The paper concludes that the alteration perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and Pacific peoples’ racialization and white supremacy. Genetics science and human migration studies contradict Mormon identity narratives and suggest the BOM is spiritual rather than historical. Finally, the paper suggests promoting intercultural engagement on Mormon (mis)appropriation of taonga Māori.

text: Genealogical Violence: Mormon (Mis)Appropriation of Māori Cultural Memory through Falsification of Whakapapa The study examines how members of the historically white possessive and supremacist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States (mis)appropriated Māori genealogy, known as whakapapa. The Mormon use of whakapapa to promote Mormon cultural memory and narratives perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and white supremacy, as this paper shows. The research discusses Church racism against Native Americans and Pacific Peoples. This paper uses Anthropologist Thomas Murphy’s scholarship to demonstrate how problematic the Book of Mormon’s religio-colonial identity of Lamanites is for these groups. Application of Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s white possessive doctrine and Hemopereki Simon’s adaptation to cover Church-Indigenous relations and the salvation contract is discussed. We explore collective and cultural memory and discuss key Māori concepts like Mana, Taonga, Tapu, and Whakapapa. A brief review of LDS scholar Louis C. Midgley’s views on Church culture, including Herewini Jones’s whakapapa wānanga, is followed by a discussion of Māori cultural considerations and issues. The paper concludes that the alteration perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and Pacific peoples’ racialization and white supremacy. Genetics science and human migration studies contradict Mormon identity narratives and suggest the BOM is spiritual rather than historical. Finally, the paper suggests promoting intercultural engagement on Mormon (mis)appropriation of taonga Māori.

year: 2024

title: Ue Waerea

authors: Tuaupiki, Jackie Whetumarama

subjects: Waerea

abstract: Mai i Mōkau ki Tāmaki, Mangatoatoa, Pare-Waikato, Pare-Hauraki, Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, ko te whakapono, nā Tāwhaki i piki te poutama ki te tāhuhu matapu, ka riro mai i a ia ngā kete o te wānanga. E kīngia ai, ko te pūtake tērā o te mātauranga Māori. Hei tā Wiri (2001), nā te mātauranga Māori, ko te mātauranga Māori ā-waha. Nāna, ko te waiata. Nā te waiata, ko te karakia. Kei raro i te karakia, ko te takere kaupapa tēnei, ko te waerea. Ko te whāinga o tēnei tuhituhinga, he rangahau i ngā pūtake o te waerea me te āta titiro ki ngā kaupapa kei a ia me tōna kawe i roto i aua kaupapa i ngā wā o mua, ā, nō nāianei hoki. Ko te waerea te pane o ngā karakia Māori ki roto o Tainui, otirā, ki roto i ngētehi o ngā whakaritenga, ā, ka tirohia ngēnei whakaritenga e rere ai te waerea, pēnei i te tomo whare, i te tomo urupā, i te takahi whare, i te whakamānu waka me te maha o ngā mahi a te ao Māori ki roto o Tainui.

text: Ue Waerea Mai i Mōkau ki Tāmaki, Mangatoatoa, Pare-Waikato, Pare-Hauraki, Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere, ko te whakapono, nā Tāwhaki i piki te poutama ki te tāhuhu matapu, ka riro mai i a ia ngā kete o te wānanga. E kīngia ai, ko te pūtake tērā o te mātauranga Māori. Hei tā Wiri (2001), nā te mātauranga Māori, ko te mātauranga Māori ā-waha. Nāna, ko te waiata. Nā te waiata, ko te karakia. Kei raro i te karakia, ko te takere kaupapa tēnei, ko te waerea. Ko te whāinga o tēnei tuhituhinga, he rangahau i ngā pūtake o te waerea me te āta titiro ki ngā kaupapa kei a ia me tōna kawe i roto i aua kaupapa i ngā wā o mua, ā, nō nāianei hoki. Ko te waerea te pane o ngā karakia Māori ki roto o Tainui, otirā, ki roto i ngētehi o ngā whakaritenga, ā, ka tirohia ngēnei whakaritenga e rere ai te waerea, pēnei i te tomo whare, i te tomo urupā, i te takahi whare, i te whakamānu waka me te maha o ngā mahi a te ao Māori ki roto o Tainui.

year: 2011-04

title: Distinct gene expression profiles directed by the isoforms of the transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencer factor in human SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cells

authors: Gillies, Stuart G.

subjects: NRSF

abstract: Neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) and its isoforms are differentially regulated in rodent models of self-sustaining status epilepticus (SSSE). NRSF isoforms regulate genes associated with SSSE, including the proconvulsant tachykinins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and multiple ion channels. NRSF isoforms may direct distinct gene expression patterns during SSSE, and the ratio of each isoform may be a causative factor in traumatic damage to the central nervous system. Here, we analysed global gene expression changes by microarray in human SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cells following the over-expression of NRSF and a truncated isoform, HZ4. We used bioinformatics software to analyse the microarray dataset and correlated these data with epilepsy candidate gene pathways. Findings were validated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We demonstrated that NRSF and HZ4 direct overlapping as well as distinct gene expression patterns, and that they differentially modulated gene expression patterns associated with epilepsy. Finally, we revealed that NRSF gene expression may be modulated by the anticonvulsant, phenytoin. We have interpreted our data to reflect altered gene expression directed by NRSF that might be relevant for SSSE.

text: Distinct gene expression profiles directed by the isoforms of the transcription factor neuron-restrictive silencer factor in human SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cells Neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) and its isoforms are differentially regulated in rodent models of self-sustaining status epilepticus (SSSE). NRSF isoforms regulate genes associated with SSSE, including the proconvulsant tachykinins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and multiple ion channels. NRSF isoforms may direct distinct gene expression patterns during SSSE, and the ratio of each isoform may be a causative factor in traumatic damage to the central nervous system. Here, we analysed global gene expression changes by microarray in human SK-N-AS neuroblastoma cells following the over-expression of NRSF and a truncated isoform, HZ4. We used bioinformatics software to analyse the microarray dataset and correlated these data with epilepsy candidate gene pathways. Findings were validated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We demonstrated that NRSF and HZ4 direct overlapping as well as distinct gene expression patterns, and that they differentially modulated gene expression patterns associated with epilepsy. Finally, we revealed that NRSF gene expression may be modulated by the anticonvulsant, phenytoin. We have interpreted our data to reflect altered gene expression directed by NRSF that might be relevant for SSSE.

year: 2011