“THE NATIVE CHIEFS”
I am not a political person. I prefer to bring everything down to a personal level and try to think about the world one person at a time. This series “The Native Chiefs” is a response to a book I found a few years ago. “Facsimiles of the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitangi” (1960 Govt. Print. Wellington NZ) is a book issued by New Zealand Government Print and distributed to all schools in the early 1960s.
When I read the introduction, written by the then chief librarian of the Alexander and Turnbull Library in Wellington, I found the language he used patronizing and dated. However, reading the letters and diary entries, made at the time of the signings by William Hobson, were fascinating. His writings spoke of individuals. He spoke of people’s strengths and passion. He spoke of their oratory skills and of the subterfuge that went on. He told of the selfish interests that played a part of decisions and of the realities of his job traveling and collecting the signatures. He gave me their names, these “Native Chiefs”.
Now when I see the Treaty of Waitangi do not think about all the political debate which has surrounded this part of our history. I think about the men, and women, that signed it. Many of whom signed with a scratch, an X or with a part of their moko design. I think about the event itself. Was it a prestigious time? Did they wear their finest Korowai? It must have been an impressive sight, all of these men, woman and fine cloaks in one place. Each very different, individual and much more than a mere X on a piece of parchment.
I have expressed this need for them to remain individuals by superimposing a woven piece of korowai, each personalized to represent that difference, over the treaty text. The Perspex represents the gap in time between the Treaty signing, the book being published, and my response.
