🧬IMSPARK: Ancestral Data, Living Futures🧬

 🧬Imagine… Ancestral Data, Living Futures🧬

💡 Imagined Endstate:

A future where Indigenous peoples define, own, and steward their data—where every metric, map, and measure reflects not just what’s counted, but what matters to Native communities. 

📚 Source: 

KūKolu. (2024). Iwi – Anchoring Indigenous Futures in Place. Link. 

💥 What’s the Big Deal:

The “Iwi” framework from KūKolu reclaims data from a tool of control to a vessel of empowerment🪶. Grounded in the sacredness of iwi—the bones of ancestors—it reframes data as a living connection to place, history, and collective identity📊 . In a world where Indigenous voices are often silenced by numbers that don’t reflect their realities, this project says: we will define our own indicators of thriving.

For Pacific Islander communities, including Native Hawaiians, the Iwi framework offers a model of data sovereignty that is not extractive—but relation🌱 . It's about building tools and narratives that restore balance between technology and tradition. By centering values like aloha ʻāina, kuleana, and moʻokūʻauhau, this work insists that the future isn’t just predicted—it’s inherited.

As the world rushes to digitize and automate, KūKolu reminds us that wisdom lives in the roots🔗. And if we’re brave enough to look back with care, we’ll know exactly how to move forward with dignity.

#DataSovereignty, #IndigenousFutures, #KūKolu, #Iwi, #PacificLeadership, #NativeHawaiian, #DecolonizeData,#CommunityEmpowerment, #IMSPARK, 

🛖 IMSPARK: Iwi Leadership in Pacific Emergency Response🛖

🛖  Imagine... Iwi Leadership in Pacific Emergency Response🛖 

💡 Imagined Endstate: 

A resilient Pacific community where iwi are at the forefront of emergency management, leading with traditional wisdom and modern practices to safeguard their homelands.

🔗 Link: 

Iwi Involvement in Emergency Management

📚 Source: 

Cook, A. (2024, April 26). Inquiry into 2023 severe weather events calls for more iwi involvement in emergency management. Newshub. Retrieved from newshub.co.nz

💥 What’s the Big Deal: 

The most significant political grouping in pre-European Māori society was the iwi (tribe). This usually consisted of several related hapū (clans or descent groups). As highlighted by the recent government inquiry, a call for greater iwi involvement in emergency management is a significant development for the Pacific community. The inquiry's findings underscore the need for a more inclusive approach to disaster response, one that integrates the knowledge and capabilities of indigenous groups🌀.

Iwi has shown remarkable resilience and effectiveness in responding to emergencies, as seen during Cyclone Gabrielle. Their ability to mobilize quickly and support their communities outpaced some official responses. This demonstrates the invaluable role that iwi can play in emergencies, leveraging their local knowledge and networks to deliver aid where it is most needed🌿.

The proposal to enshrine iwi's role in emergency management through legislation is a pivotal and transformative step. It signifies a shift towards recognizing and harnessing the potential of indigenous leadership in crisis situations. This recognition of iwi's unique contributions, from logistical support to cultural sensitivity, is particularly vital in the aftermath of severe weather events🛡️.

This move represents an opportunity for the Pacific region to strengthen community-based emergency response systems. It aligns with the Pacific values of collective responsibility and respect for the environment. By giving iwi an official seat at the emergency management table, we can ensure that responses to future crises are more effective, culturally appropriate, and grounded in the realities of the Pacific🌊.

In conclusion, the big deal is the paradigm shift towards a more collaborative and inclusive emergency management model. It's about empowering Pacific communities to take charge of their destiny in the face of increasing climate-related challenges. This is a step towards a future where the Pacific stands strong, united, and ready to face any storm🤝.

#Iwi,#EmergencyManagement,#PacificResilience,#IndigenousKnowledge,#CommunityResponse,#CulturalLeadership,#EmergencyPreparedness,#StrongerTogether,#GlobalLeadership,#IMSPARK