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Learning from Cultural Extremes:

Whale Rider: Snapshot of Ancient Roles

Jeff Bowman

Brandman University

LBSU 300

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Throughout human history we have sought to convey our cultural values by our story

telling and the movie Whale Rider directed by Niki Caro moves us forward in the

discussion of absolute gender equality. I think it is a very valuable story that anyone

given the desire, experience, passion and fortitude can lead regardless of race, creed or

gender.

The focus of the film is on Paikeawho is a defiant and strange girl who is disrespectful of

her clans traditions of only a male warrior holding power. She is the grandaughter of

the chief of a small native New Zealand tribe whose ancient roots and customs have

begun to knock up against the reality of changing times and the desires of a spirited

young woman.

The main PaikeaAppirana is clearly a stubborn girl that does not often listen to her

family and obey orders. However she respects her culture and customs, and strongly

embraces them. She evidently explains this through her actions, her words and her

feelings. This essay will display how she takes her background to heart, and even

though she is considered an outcast she tries her best to participate in all her cultures

traditions and ceremonies.

Paikeas stubbornness can often be interpreted as one of her strengths. A vivid exampleis when Koro holds a ceremony to celebrate the opening of his new boys school.

Paikea is present at this event, and takes a seat in the front row seats. Koro, with his

strong beliefs about the traditional place of girls, orders Pai to move to the back row

immediately. Paikea ignores everything her grandfather tells her, and refuses to move.

This is within a culture with very strong respect for their elders and an overwhelming

sense of hierarchy. This demonstrates her defiance, but it also shows how she can

stand up for herself, and the wealth of strength that lies beneath the young surface of

this strong young woman. She believes in and holds a deep reverence for the Maori

culture, but she knows in her heart that some things must change and she shouldnt be

excluded.

Pai, youre a girl go to the back.

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Paikea reflects her stubbornness,by not taking no for an answer. Koro is teaching his

students taiaha- a Maori sport, and Pai will not accept that she is not allowed to learn.

As Koro would never teach his granddaughter this skill Pai takes the initiative and

instead asks her uncle, a previous taiaha champion. He teaches her how to master

taiaha, and soon Paikea is better than all the boys in Koros school. This does not only

explain her stubbornness,but it also shows her courage and how she believes in her

culture and its customs.

Pai also represents how she embraces and loves her culture. In many scenes of the

film, Paikea is illustrating her feelings, not through words but through singing in her

Maori language and her practice is a daily ritual. This is astounding considering her

male peers are more interested in practicing their fighting.

At one point, whales are beaching themselves, many are dead, and the chief is beside

himself and wants to know who is responsible for this destruction. Paisfamily secretly

blames her for this and are not supporting her desires. Paikea feels like the world is on

her shoulders, so she tries calling to her ancestors by singing in Maori and asking them

to help her. She symbolically searches for her ancestors through her singing, and

believes that she can reach them if she really gives her all. This shows that she really

does care about her familys traditions, and that she does want to be part of her culture

and be accepted as a Maori woman.

Pai always tries to be involved in school performances that are linked to the Maori

culture. In some performances she is the only girl at all, but this does not change how

she feels. She is always extremely determined and whenever the opportunity to

represent her culture arises, she grasps it with excitement and anticipation.

Pai loves her heritage and grandfather so much she is willing to fight thousands of year

of tradition to show her courage, strength and wisdom to become the next leader of thetribe. It is a role taken with the utmost importance because the chief sees the changes

occurring and is desperately trying to hold onto the solid time honored traditions of his

ancestors.

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In conclusion, Paikea is an independent girl who does indeed respect her culture. She

illustrates this in many ways, some of which have been discussed and highlighted. I

think this film is a strong teaching tool for any educator and could be especially

meaningful to junior high to high school students as they seek to understand gender

within our cultural and leadership environment. Even though she may be stubborn and

defiant, her respect and love for her clans traditions still remains strong, powerful and

one of her many strengths. This basic human story conveys many important elements

about the evolution of women in power and should be an important piece within any

middle to high school classroom in my humble opinion.

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Reference:

Whale Rider.Dir. Niki Caro.Perf. Keisha Castle-Hughes, RawiriParatene, VickyHaughton. Sony Pictures, 2003.HD-DVD.