Katie Tollan
Find out how studying with Te Kawa a Māui has strengthened Katies understanding of te ao Māori and her belonging in Aotearoa.
Bachelor of Arts graduate and current Master of Indigenous Studies student.
Katie received a Bachelor of Arts in 2019, majoring in Cultural Anthropology and minoring in Film and Māori Studies. She is currently studying towards a Master of Indigenous Studies. She is focusing on street signs in central Wellington, and questioning how they affect the settler presence.
Ultimately, Katie wanted a better understanding of the way the world works now and how it could work in the future. She wants to be equipped with solid tools to create change and promote the interconnected wellbeing of our communities and environments.
Katie received a 2019/2020 Summer Research Scholarship, supervised by Dr. Ocean Mercier and Dr. Mike Ross, looking into urban decolonisation, assisting in the larger Imagining Decolonised Cities project. She reviewed literature, analysed competition entries, and drafted the outline of a journal article. "This was an awesome experience and set me on my Indigenous Studies journey. It helped me realise that decolonisation is a practical and accessible tool of change, not just a theory that floats in academia."
"My understanding of te ao Māori has been strengthened immensely during my learning journey. Studying in Te Kawa a Māui means you learn about the Māori world from people who have diverse lived experiences within that world, and where respect for the reo and tikanga is paramount."
"Indigenous Studies has furthered my understanding of how I belong in Aotearoa. It has made me question every assumption I had, and though this is at times unsettling, it is so crucial for making real change in this country. I'd recommend anybody interested to pursue Indigenous Studies, as you have access to some of the brightest and most respected academics, who are always happy to discuss different kaupapa and support you on your learning journey."
"A favourite lecturer of mine taught me to "look for the things that aren't there and ask why." This encouraged me to put myself in the shoes of others and I quickly realised that while New Zealand society may promote my individual wellbeing, key things that promote the wellbeing of others may be missing."