Abstract
“Te Ipukarea” is symbolic of who we are as a people of the Cook Islands, firmly rooted and grounded in our belief systems, epistemologies, traditions and customs, culture and language. In the cosmology of today's fast and changing world it is imperative that we stand tall in our pride; in our knowledge and wisdom (Tu Rangatira) of who we are; individually; and most importantly, as a collective entity in the Cook Islands, Aotearoa, Australia, Pasifika and other parts of the world. The survival of our language and culture is dependent on our collective willpower and the conscientisation of our minds and spirits in reclaiming, reaffirming and recreating the very fabric and matrix of our indigeneity as the people of the Cook Islands, so that this generation and every generation to follow can stand tall with pride and resilience, confident in the knowledge of who they are, and determined to live their indigeneity.
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