Whale Rider

In honor of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month I would like to post a groundbreaking 2002 cinematic piece titled Whale Rider. I have posted about it before but don’t recall doing so on Medium. The works outline Indigenous Girls in Leadership within the context of Indigenous and certainly Pacific Islander communities (in this instance specifically the Maori people of New Zealand), opposing the status quo, shifting Cultural Norms to entail more inclusivity while upholding traditions, what being a Warrior truly is, and courage. Albeit not based upon a true story it is still quite inspiring nearly 20 years later.

Credit- Shout Factory

“I’m not a prophet but I know that our people will keep going forward altogether — with all of our strength.” Paikea Whale Rider