My Most Popular Story
Without Prejudice
The most popular story I have written is called Tiana Banana. It's a simple story of my grand daughter Tiana, she was such a gutsy little girl and still is. She is beyond beautiful, loyal, strong, independent. and a love, just one of a whole big bunch of bananas. She used to hate me calling her Tiana Banana, Tiana means Diane in Muldy. The native language of New Zealanders. And she has a "totem" all my daughter, Alena's kids have them. Dean her hubby's is the longest as it tells his "story" of his life.
There are some aspects of the maori Culture that are just beautiful and truly moving. I went to a house once where a young Maori had died. A male in his twenties. As you went into the house you had to take your shoes off and wash your hands. Same on exit. Inside the house the Mother and close female relatives lay beside the body for three days.
The Young man was dressed in full native warrior outfit and was stately, dignified and majestic. The body held over by special permission in accordance with tradition. The body on a bed of ice with garlands of leaves all around. Everyone that comes in kisses the body, photos of the ancestors are covered with cloth on the walls.
There is singing and keening and music strummed on a guitar. Men and Women sing. And when the body was led out to the hearse, the man's twin brother came behind with a Taiaha, he was also dressed in full Warrior garb. The Taiaha, a long spear, and he stepped out behind his brother and did a special dance as the Women ullalated in keening voices. It was terribly moving and I thought,
"These people have something, something simple and profound"
After comes a feast a Hungi and the special fish as the entree. My Son In Law, a pakiiay or European mix blood, half red headed Irish and full blood Maori was seen as the head of the Family and gave the speech in a firm and tenderly breaking voice. He had brought them up his younger twin brothers in a family of women.
His twin younger brothers who looked full blood Maori, not European. It was so sad to see the other twin and ten years later he also died. He was injured and on life support and once again the decision to turn off the machine was made by the Head Of the Family, my Son In Law.Tiana Bananas Father.
Farno or family comes number one to the Maori culture. Tiana Banana knows her heritage and her story, her feet will always touch the earth and stand "Staunch " And here she is,
Love Janette
The most popular story I have written is called Tiana Banana. It's a simple story of my grand daughter Tiana, she was such a gutsy little girl and still is. She is beyond beautiful, loyal, strong, independent. and a love, just one of a whole big bunch of bananas. She used to hate me calling her Tiana Banana, Tiana means Diane in Muldy. The native language of New Zealanders. And she has a "totem" all my daughter, Alena's kids have them. Dean her hubby's is the longest as it tells his "story" of his life.
There are some aspects of the maori Culture that are just beautiful and truly moving. I went to a house once where a young Maori had died. A male in his twenties. As you went into the house you had to take your shoes off and wash your hands. Same on exit. Inside the house the Mother and close female relatives lay beside the body for three days.
The Young man was dressed in full native warrior outfit and was stately, dignified and majestic. The body held over by special permission in accordance with tradition. The body on a bed of ice with garlands of leaves all around. Everyone that comes in kisses the body, photos of the ancestors are covered with cloth on the walls.
There is singing and keening and music strummed on a guitar. Men and Women sing. And when the body was led out to the hearse, the man's twin brother came behind with a Taiaha, he was also dressed in full Warrior garb. The Taiaha, a long spear, and he stepped out behind his brother and did a special dance as the Women ullalated in keening voices. It was terribly moving and I thought,
"These people have something, something simple and profound"
After comes a feast a Hungi and the special fish as the entree. My Son In Law, a pakiiay or European mix blood, half red headed Irish and full blood Maori was seen as the head of the Family and gave the speech in a firm and tenderly breaking voice. He had brought them up his younger twin brothers in a family of women.
His twin younger brothers who looked full blood Maori, not European. It was so sad to see the other twin and ten years later he also died. He was injured and on life support and once again the decision to turn off the machine was made by the Head Of the Family, my Son In Law.Tiana Bananas Father.
Farno or family comes number one to the Maori culture. Tiana Banana knows her heritage and her story, her feet will always touch the earth and stand "Staunch " And here she is,
Love Janette
