Hana Rawhiti Maipi Clarke

A video that was trending in my phone two days ago was about Hana Rawhiti Maipi Clarke.

Hana Rawhiti Maipi Clarke is a member of parliament in New Zealand.

She was in the news for performing a haka--a dance of the maori indigenous people in the parliament.

The news related to a 184 year old Treaty between the Maori people of New Zealand and the British crown.

The maori indigenous peoples of New Zealand had made a Treaty with the British crown because Australia and New Zealand were British colonies.

A lot of laws in New Zealand that affects the Maori people were enacted on the basis of this treaty.

But now there was going to be a new interpretation of the clauses of this treaty.

And this representative of the maori people in the new Zealand parliament was incensed because she felt that the new interpretation infringed on the rights of the Maori people and she tore the bill and to show her protest did a haka -- a dance? traditional to the maori people.

The Haka involves lots of gestures and postures and loud chanting.

This became viral news in various social media platforms.

I think there were other representatives of the Maori people in the parliament who also joined her in the haka.

The parliament was suspended temporarily.

I got this video the day before yesterday.

First I was amused at the haka being performed in the parliament.

Then I thought she was at least sincere towards the Maori people.

The maori people elected her and she was their representative.

When a bill that she felt would not protect the rights of the maori people was going to be passed she protested with all her strength.

How many politicians are sincere towards the people that elected them?

In such a world I truly commend her.

However I was not sure this was real news because it was not there in WSJ.

Then yesterday I realized it was really real because I read lots of interviews of her.

This happened five days ago.

Yesterday I thought about the indigenous people seriously.

There are indigenous peoples in Australia, US, etc.

In India there are tribals.

There are indigenous people and there are mainstream people.

Indigenous peoples feel like they are overlooked by the mainstream people.

They need to become educated and become part of the mainstream without losing their individual culture.

Earlier, I have come across stories and books like that and some how did not think much about them.

Then seeing the stark contrast of them doing a haka in parliament where they are supposed to articulately debate issues and the merits or demerits of a case with the mainstream regular people I thought about their plight.

The indigenous people do not have anyone to speak for them.

Not many people in their community may be educated to represent them in parliament and speak to other representatives about their perspective.

They may feel marginalized.

Yet democracy is the best way for them to become prosperous and to maintain their culture.

If they become strong themselves they can help their community.

The indigenous people should debate issues in parliament by studying the issues thoroughly and debating with the other parliamentarians.

Though my heart goes out to Hana for doing the Haka.

Inspite of the protest and the bill being torn the bill was passed.

In India there are reservations for tribals in government jobs and educational institutions.

I feel the mainstream community should not grudge the reservation policy or affirmative action policies of the government to protect the welfare of minority communities or indigenous communities.