Becoming Tangata Tiriti brings together 12 non-Māori voices - dedicated professionals, activists and everyday individuals - who have engaged with te ao Māori and attempted to bring te Tiriti to life in their work.
Sociologist Avril Bell analyses the complicated journey of today's partners of te Tiriti o Waitangi and asks who are we are tangata tiriti? How do we identify in relation to Māori, and what are our responsibilities?
Centering on the experiences and insights of 12 non-Māori, this book explores what they've learned about themselves and their own backgrounds through their work. They document their struggles at finding a balance between stepping up and stepping back, about their successes and their failures.
While it's marketed as a "guide" for those just beginning their journey towards a Tiriti-based society, or as a refresher for those already well along the path, it asks more questions than it answers. That's not a bad thing. As Bell writes in the introduction, there is a paradox in some of the arguments within the book - "stepping up and stepping back" - and the experiences documented within the pages may help tangata tiriti develop the art of knowing when each is required.
It is valuable in helping non-Māori to think critically, to examine their own lives, and to start a discussion.
Bell manages to take very tricky and complex learnings and distill them into an easy to read book. While it's academic, it's easy to follow and understand. A bibliography and index are also included to aid readers further.
As Lincoln Dam writes, tangata tiriti is not a passive identity. Becoming Tangata Tiriti will help people along this path. It gives permission for people to examine and be comfortable with the tricky bits and reminds them to be open to criticism, to being challenged, to be humble.
Becoming Tangata Tiriti will spark important conversations and reflections about our obligations as Treaty partners.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Auckland University Press