"People of colour" who are also of marginalised gender are being invited to attend a hui which aims to break down barriers between Maori and migrants. Decolonise Your Minds is described as a two day celebration of decolonisation, feminism and anti-racism, for women, genderqueer and trans people, along with feminists and activists. The gathering from 4-5 February in Auckland will include DIY workshops, skillshares and talks. Organisers say often racist stereotypes shape and flavour the interactions people have with one another. This sometimes rings true with how coloured migrants sometimes perceive Maori people, and how Maori sometimes perceive coloured migrants. "If we only believed what we saw on TV and read in the paper, which is more often than not, negative and sensational, we might think that Maori people were all terrorists in gangs, unless they played rugby or did kapahaka," says hui spokesperson Wai Ho. "And that migrants, for example Chinese people, were all in the Triads dealing drugs, killing people and putting them in suitcases, unless they were being good at maths and playing ping pong." Ho says these views and attitudes go past obvious news sensations, and are indications of tensions surrounding migration, identity and belonging. Anyone who would like to attend but isn't sure if the hui is intended to include them, can email decol2012@gmail.com
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 6th December 2011 - 5:21pm