"Once Were Warriors" Tour
Frontier Centre of Public Policy and Stardale Women's Group collaborated to bring Alan Duff of New Zealand on a tour of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Alan is the author of the popular book Once Were Warriors, which has been made into a movie. The book is compelling and draws attention to the violence in an impoverished Maori family. The blame for Maori underperformance he puts squarely back on the Maori, for not making the most of the opportunities given to them. This somewhat simplistic message has proved to be highly controversial. Relishing rather than resigning from the fight, Duff has gone on to prove his point with the Books In Homes initiative. With commercial sponsorship and government support, this foundation aims to break the cycle of illiteracy, poverty, anger and violence among underprivileged children by making books available to them to own at minimal cost, thus encouraging them to value reading. This self-help approach, which in its first year put 180,000 new books in the hands of 38,000 children, reflects the path of Duff's own remarkable career.
The impact of the movie adaptation has stimulated public reaction within New Zealand, generating change for the urban Maori community. On the world scene, it has compelled other countries who have indigenous populations to examine the real issues that keep those groups in bondage and oppression. In the Warriors tour, there is a correlation between Alan Duff's message and the need to address the hard issues of the Aboriginal communities through revitalization. It is about taking affirmative action and moving away from dependency and poverty. Both Frontier and Stardale believe that Alan Duff's message needed to get out to Canadian communities, with the hope of bringing about change.
(Left to right) Peter Holle, President of Frontier Centre of Public Policy; Alan Duff, author of Once Were Warriors; Henare O'Keefe, committed humanitarian.
Helen McPhaden, Executive Director of Stardale Women's Group, presenting a gift to Alan Duff.