The art of dialogue with indigenous communities in the new biotechnology world

Te Hau Mihi Ata is a research project that aims to negotiate spaces for and develop processes of dialogue that allow for a deeper level of interaction between matauranga Maori (Maori indigenous knowledge) and science. Over a two-year period a series of facilitated exchanges or wananga were held focusing on areas of new technology (assisted reproductive technologies, life technologies, and future food technologies) that involved Maori scientists and people with expertise in matauranga Maori. These dialogue events were designed to explore, through the challenge of considering new biotechnologies, the similarities and differences that emerge from approaching these issues from different knowledge paradigms. This paper will outline the key project findings from this series of exchanges including the barriers and facilitators to the dialogue process and knowledge exchange as well as discuss how participants created connections between scientific discourse and indigenous knowledge frameworks.