Scaling Deep Mahi
OF relationship building, focused on scaling deep through building trust, collective visioning, and supporting each other
SASS RETREAT #01
PIHA (NOVEMBER 2022)
SASS RETREAT #02
CASTAWAYS (OCTOBER 2023)
This week the SASS group was blessed to reconnect in person, as they participated in the 2-night SASS retreat at Castaways Resort.
After months of Zoom meetings off the back of their Voices from the Frontlines not-white paper, it was a relief to get back into each other’s presence and workshop an action plan going forward. Some of the workshop topics included how Te Tiriti o Waitangi can be applied and promoted to ethnic communities, and the facilitation was guided by the lovely Arama Mataira.
The group has produced an exciting action plan, with a focus on reaching out to communities that are working to change systems – as well as a resource available for you all soon.
We are very grateful to be able to tie off 2023 in such a beautiful space, and we are energized for our mahi coming into 2024. A big thank you to WEAVE – Working Together for making this retreat possible, and for your belief in our capacity to make this change possible.
Words by Anjum Rahman
SASS RETREAT #03
Muriwai (July 2024)
During the 2023 working retreat of the SASS group, it was raised that the rōpū should upskill its collective understanding of Te Tiriti, significantly how it impacts ethnic minority communities. Finding a place for minority groups in Te Tiriti is essential to carrying forward the SASS mahi.
In January, we discussed Māori life before the arrival of European settlers, and this week, we met to take the next step in our Te Tiriti journey. During this session, we discussed the period from 1769 to 1840, when Te Tiriti was signed. We also covered the Doctrine of Discovery laid out in a Papal Bull.
We are grateful for the facilitation and patience of Bianca Johanson and Matariki Carr, who ran the session for the group.
The best part of the discussion was putting all these events into a broader historical context, including women’s histories (particularly the witch hunts in Europe), the Industrial Revolution, the removal of commons and the rise of capitalism, other colonisation efforts, and even the Crusades. We discussed how these events fed into what happened here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and how events here impacted colonial efforts in other countries.
The topics covered in this hui were challenging, nourishing, and vital to our group’s growth.
The next step for the group is to initiate their 5-part ‘lunchtime learning’ webinar series. This series will cover the five pathways from their 2023 paper ‘Voices from the Frontlines’, bringing guests to kōrero about the importance of these pathways and how they can be integrated into systems change culture.
Words by Anjum Rahman
SASS RETREAT #04
WAITANGI (OCTOBER 2024)
At the retreat, we spent the first day visiting Kororareka (Russell), visited the church with the bullets from fighting that had broken out there, and the flagpole known by being cut down in protest of failure to honour Te Tiriti in the 1840s.
On Thursday, we spent time looking around the Treaty Grounds, including the wharenui, the Busby house, the waka and Te Rau Aroha museum honouring the Māori men who had lost their lives during World Wars and other conflicts.
We spent time reflecting on what this history meant for the past, present and future. Some of the narratives we had seen were challenged, including the plaque in front of the main flagstaff.
During the afternoon, we had Heeni Hoterene join us, and talk to us about maramataka and the impact of different phases of the moon. It was a new way of connecting to papatuanuku amd the environment around us, being more aware of natural cycles.
On Friday, we had time to think about where SASS was in its journey, and plan for what might be next.
It was a lovely few days together to deepen our learning and connection to history, struggle, grief, as well as talking about our aspirations. Such an amazing group of wāhine and a pleasure to spend time together, scaling deep.
Words by Anjum Rahman