Potiki

Potiki 

• Genre: Fiction; cultural; contemporary 
• Originally Published: 1986 
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult 
• Structure/Length: 3 parts; 29 chapters; approximately 192 pages 
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Set in a Maori community in New Zealand, the story revolves around the Tamihana family and their struggle to preserve their land and culture against commercial developers. The narrative, rich in Maori traditions and perspectives, is told through various family members, highlighting the clash between traditional values and modern challenges. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Cultural conflicts; colonization and loss of heritage; instances of conflict and resistance; allusions to sexual violence 

Patricia Grace, Author 

• Bio: Born 1937 in Wellington, New Zealand; of Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, and Te Āti Awa descent; a leading figure in contemporary Maori literature; focuses on Indigenous identity and societal issues; awarded numerous literary honors; often features strong community bonds and cultural heritage in her works
• Other Works: Mutuwhenua: The Moon Sleeps (1978); Cousins (1992); Baby No-Eyes (1998); Chappy (2015) 
• Awards: New Zealand Book Award for Fiction (1987)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Repression of Indigenous Populations and Their Struggle for Survival
• The Inhumanity and Destructiveness of Capitalism
• The Relationship Between Humankind and The Natural World
• The Relationship Between Life and Death

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the literary context surrounding the power of storytelling in Indigenous communities and the historical context of colonialist and capitalist power structures, as experienced by the Māori community in Grace’s novel.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Repression of Indigenous Populations and Their Struggle for Survival, The Inhumanity and Destructiveness of Capitalism, The Relationship Between Humankind and the Natural World, and The Relationship Between Life and Death.
• Draft and present a research product that examines the relationship between colonialist/capitalist power structures and a specific Indigenous community in comparison to the conflict in the novel, based on outside research and text details.
• Analyze plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding money and repression, Toko’s narrative voice, repression, and other topics.