Whakapapa
The Maori recital of descent, linking a person to ancestors, land and the world.
Also: genealogy
Whakapapa is genealogy in the Maori tradition, the line of descent from the gods and ancestors to the living, and also the way that all things, people, animals, mountains and rivers, are connected. It is recited at gatherings, in speeches and in introductions, with a person naming their mountain, river, canoe and tribe, so that others can place them. The knowledge was once kept orally by elders, and is now also written in books and databases. Knowing your whakapapa gives a sense of belonging and responsibility, and many Maori people trace it in order to learn about their family and where they stand.
Region: Oceania