The Aunties

@theaunties.bsky.social

1194 Followers 2 Following

Find your light. Stand in your power. www.givealittle.co.nz/org/theaunties 0275228115 whaeapower@aunties.co.nz aunties.co.nz

Kia Ora community. We are making a specific application to get funding for my salary - at the moment, we have some wonderful regular donors to that but we have had a number of people had to drop off because their circumstances have changed. So there’s a large gap. Anyway, I had asked my professional supervisor to give some specific feedback on the safety of my work. I am not specifically academically qualified to do this work - I am not a Counsellor, a therapist, or a social worker. I don’t claim to be, and I am very careful to make sure that I don’t overstep those boundaries. After 12 years of doing this, I know my lane. But what is that lane, you may well ask. I often talk about the intensive work I do with the aunties whānau women. But what does that look like? I would like to share with you what she said so that you may better understand what this work of mine actually looks like.
The single biggest thing I learned from an indigenous elder who reminded me of the difference between a western settler mindset of “I have rights” and an indigenous mindset of “I have obligations”. Instead of thinking that I am born with rights, I choose to think that I am born with obligations to serve past, present, and future generations, and the planet itself.
Tbh the thing im most proud of my kids is that during a catatonic episode and 12 weeks of mum in dire mental health. When no one else would help even the medical professionals. They are the ones that supported me to the end. My children are the people who save me on a daily by being the beautiful humble loving humans they are. I have come to realise that some of us are not blessed with external family and times like Xmas are difficult. But the way me and my children love on each other day in day out. In trauma in growth in hardships. Im very luck and very proud that although our journey has been harder than most people I know. We are using it to be successful and to forever change violence cycles. No photos thanks
Don't Tell Me That Don't tell me that Aotearoa wasn't invaded; it was settled Don't tell me that Maori were at war with each other anyway Don't tell me that there are no real Maori left Don't tell me that Te Tiriti o Waitangi has been honoured Don't tell me that Aotearoa/New Zealand is a multicultural country Don't tell me that there is a Maori problem Don't tell me that institutionalised racism does not exist Don't tell me that you honour us when you tell our stories and use our Reo to validate yourselves Don't tell me to forget the past and move on Don't tell me that we are all one people Just don't. na Robyn Kahukiwa 2018
* whole family eats meals every day of the week, even in hols when there are no free school lunches * meals are more nutritious, have been able to cook nicer meals that are enjoyed * can meet more of the basic needs now without as much worry * kids birthdays “feel” like birthdays, receive toys and things they actually want rather than needs-based items only * birthdays have been fun, have felt legitimate in turning up to Christmas events because we can give gifts to close friends and family (even though small/token) * have had mini holidays away and even if “cheap” have created happy memories * kids can do some things that other kids do if the cost is low * have felt happiness on my birthday and received flowers * made my best friend happy with a nice birthday dinner * had my hair done multiple times and don’t feel I need to hide for that reason * have had space to learn and deal with trauma, have the time, support and energy to work through trauma even while it is ongoing
Kia Ora Aunties Community. Z’s Good In The Hood has started. And if you’re near Z Roscommon Rd, you can pop in there and you can vote for us to be given some $. Simply ask for an orange token and pop it in the Aunties container (each service station is supporting four local charities).