Discover 'Te Awa Atua: Menstruation In The Pre-Colonial Maori World', penned by Ngahuia Murphy and published by He Puna Manawa. This insightful paperback, measuring 160 x 225 mm and spanning 180 pages, presents a revolutionary perspective on menstruation within the pre-colonial Maori society. Through meticulous analysis of stories found in Maori cosmologies, tribal histories, and oral traditions, the author challenges the distorted narratives shaped by colonial ethnographers, offering a truthful representation of Maori menstrual rites. Murphy reveals how menstruation served as a vital medium of whakapapa (genealogy), establishing deep connections between Maori women and their revered pantheon of atua (deities). By exploring ancient rites through tribal songs and chants, the book highlights the spiritual significance of menstrual blood, showing its role in psychic protection and indigenous constructs of womanhood that defy traditional gender roles and notions of impurity. This work is indispensable for anyone interested in Maori culture, indigenous feminism, or the historical context of menstruation. Join the journey through the lens of Maori spirituality and reclaim the narrative on women's health and spirituality in pre-colonial times. This comprehensive study is a vital addition for researchers, students, and anyone seeking to understand the complexity of Maori cultural expressions around menstruation. Order now and enrich your understanding of indigenous perspectives on menstruation.

Te Awa Atua : Menstruation In The Pre-Colonial Maori World
Author: Ngahuia Murphy Publisher: He Puna Manawa
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 160 x 225 mm
Pages: 180

Te Awa Atua is a ground-breaking study of menstruation in pre-colonial Maori society. Many early ethnographic accounts of menstrual rites were distorted beyond recognition by the colonial lens of their authors, yet their misinterpretations continue to be accepted as authoritative. This book is a challenge to that authority. By examining stories about menstruation located in Maori cosmologies, tribal histories, oral literatures, ceremonies and rites, Ngahuia Murphy argues that menstruation was seen as a medium of whakapapa (genealogy) that connected Maori women to their pantheon of atua (deities). Ancient rites, recorded in tribal songs and chants, reveal that menstrual blood was used for psychic and spiritual protection. These examples unveil striking indigenous constructs of womanhood that radically challenge notions of female inferiority and menstrual pollution.