Lesley on Maori Approaches to Assessment

Rameka, L. (2007). Maori Approaches to Assessment, Canadian Journal of Native Education, 30 (1), 126-141..


In this article the author describes the Kaupapa Maori theory in depth. Two interrelated projects are discussed: the New Zealand Ministry of Education funded Kaupapa Maori Learning and Assessment Exemplar Project and the works of the author on the progress of Maori centers on the development of Maori early childhood assessment approaches. Kaupapa Maori is a philosophy and practice for raising Maori that encompasses Maori consciousness, supporting resistance, and transformation actions as described by the Maori. There are proverbs, which I thought were interesting, added to the article. The whole community, including students, parents, and family are involved in the assessment process. The Maori communities took it upon themselves to make the assessments work for them as they saw fit.

In reading this article I thought most of the Maori beliefs were similar to Yup’ik beliefs, although I did not quite understand some terms. The part that I believe we as Yup’iks (this is only my opinion) have lost that idea of building confidence as Yup’ik people. I think having confidence has a lot to do with many things. One of them being able to express yourself as Yup’ik, while at the same time having pride in yourself as Yup’ik. (I hope this makes sense.)