Cha’nel Kaa-Luke

Cha’nel is committed advancing research and advocacy for the Turi Māori community. She seeks attend the Frontrunner’s International Deaf Leadership Program in Denmark as an opportunity to further her academic development.

Cha’nel’s moemoeā…

Attending Frontrunner’s International Deaf Leadership Program in Denmark is a unique opportunity that requires significant financial support. The program fee covers essential educational resources and administrative costs for nine months, but travel expenses—airfare, accommodation, and insurance—add a substantial financial burden. Once in Denmark, I’ll also need to cover everyday living expenses, as I won’t be able to work during the program.

This program offers unparalleled professional development and global networking opportunities, which I plan to bring back to Aotearoa to benefit the New Zealand Deaf community. As the first Māori Deaf person and only the fourth New Zealander to attend, I carry the responsibility of representing my community on an international stage.

Currently pursuing a master’s degree, I am committed to advancing research and advocacy for the Turi Māori community. The expertise I’ll gain in Deaf leadership through this program is unavailable in New Zealand and will significantly enhance my work. My goal is to empower and inspire future generations, contributing to the growth and recognition of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in New Zealand. This experience will enable me to become a catalyst for change, fostering a stronger, more resilient Deaf community, and helping grow the knowledge of our whānau Māori.

What were the major outcomes of this kaupapa?

The completion of the program involving the following workshops projects:

• Sign Language, Linguistics, Deaf Culture, CRIP Theory
• Audism, Deaf Resilience, Deafhood, Deaf Gain, Deaf Identity
• Anti- Discrimination and ally-ship
• Study trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen (exploring deaf-lef businesses)
• 24/48 Film Challenge
• Tasterweek 25
• Frontrunners + 4
• Personal Project (Advanced Media & Saved By the Sign Intern)
• 20 Year Reunion
• Sports and Holistic Wellness
• Organisational related topics such as; project management, dynamics, UN, Rhetoric, Conflict Analysis and management
• Med related topics such as; photography and videography, interview techniques, editing, software skills, film studies, media management, cinematography.
• Networked across Europe Deaf organisations and World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section.

My project was centered around my participation in the Frontrunners International Deaf Leadership Program in Denmark- a transformational nine month program dedicated to empowering and growing global deaf leaders. Upon completion I will have been the first Māori Deaf Person and fourth Kiwi to have completed this prestigious program. With this, I not only represented Aotearoa but also the wider Turi Māori community on an international stage. The Pou Herenga Tangata Award contributed to the program costs, my travel to attend, accommodation, and living expenses.

Frontrunners is a place of leadership training and granted immense global networking opportunities that are not readily available in Aotearoa. The knowledge and experience I gained are beyond what I envisioned. With such topics as organisational theories, media skills, language and identity and more- all explored through a Deaf lens, I now feel like I can utilise these skills and knowledge to empower my ongoing masters research and advocacy work within the deaf community. Ensuring that there is long-term growth and recognition of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Aotearoa, especially those who are Turi Māori.

What were some of the challenges your kaupapa faced during its implementation?

Challenges and obstacles were systemic ones, although some were a given due to the location of the program; for example, cultural dissonance and western- centric frameworks. However, the program is an international space with views from across the globe so there were bound to be differing perspectives. Along with this, it on occasion becoming somewhat isolating due to the limited opportunity to interact with others who have lived experience of an intersectional experience.

How did this kaupapa benefit from the Pou Herenga Tangata Award?

My project benefited from my funding by enabling me to pay the course fees, over my travel costs, and accommodation.

What are your future plans for this kaupapa?

I think the kaupapa definitely does not end with the completion of Frontrunners- in many ways it is only the beginning. My commitment to my community is long-term and I believe that much of my mahi will be serving that community. I am hopeful to share further knowledge through workshops, imbed knowledge into my Masters, create bridges locally, nationally, and internationally. Empower rangatahi to feel they can belong in all their spheres Te Ao Turi, Te Ao Māori, Te Ao Pākehā, and the globe. My dream is that more indigenous Deaf hands/voices are heard, valued, resourced- they are the navigators of change.