TKKMoŌtepoti Ahi Pepe MothNet Project at WIPCE

In 2016 Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti submitted an abstract proposal to present a one hour workshop, ‘Science Through an Indigenous Lens – A Moth Study’ at the 2017 World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in Toronto, Canada. Wēhīnā! I momoho ikeike tā mātou tono i te manomano. Wahoo! It was accepted:)

Our workshop will reinforce the value of a Māori world view to science through the presentation of our study of moths in our kura environment. The workshop will highlight the importance of collaboration that fosters strong relationships with scientists and their supporting organisations. WIPCE is an opportunity for our student delegation to develop leadership and to share their Ahi Pepe MothNet project experience to a global indigenous education audience.

Our students have learned that there are around 2 000 different species of moths in Aotearoa; that’s 10 times as many moth species as bird species. Moths in Aotearoa have one of the highest rates of endemisim of any group any where; around 90% of our moths occur nowhere else in the world, which means kaitiakitanga is imperative – much like indigenous languages. Globally moths play a pivotal role within the ecosystem and our students are super keen to see what Canadian moths look like.