- Hokianga, NZ
Things which make us human
Roots, Land, Community runs workshops facilitating reconnection to roots, nature & community via ancestral holistic practices, outdoor education, community gardening & authentic local-traveler exchange in the heart of one of New Zealand’s most unique locations, the Hokianga.
We aim to heal the sense of disconnection at the root of the world’s social and environmental problems, while providing a form of sustainable tourism that gives back to, rather than takes from, our local community.
For foreigners seeking deeper connection to place, for conservationists, activists, social workers or other purpose-driven professionals seeking tools to enhance their work, or anyone wanting to refresh and reset.
“I never imagined experiencing an unfamiliar land could be so impactful and memorable”
How can we expect to connect with the world around us if we can’t first connect with ourselves?
“Roots” evokes several meanings, but essentially, it’s about connecting to and accepting yourself as the human that you are.
That being said, what does it mean to be human?
For many of us, we have forgotten, and the meaning of being human has been lost. Nowadays it even carries negative connotations – “those awful humans, acting out of greed and selfishness and destroying the environment”.
But do you truly believe that this is the nature of humanity? We only need to look back in time to see that it wasn’t always this way. No matter your cultural background, each and every one of us has ancestors who knew nature intimately and knew how to coexist with it.
You may assume those ancestors are long gone. However, the truth is that they are still living within you.
Even as we are individuals, each of us is made up of DNA passed down through generations. Diverse cultures and indigenous peoples around the world are well aware of this fact, and actively practice acknowledging ancestors. More recently, scientific studies have shown that genetic memory influences emotions and behaviours, and that reconnecting to ancestry improves wellbeing.
One thing is certain; consciously acknowledging the connection we have to our ancestors has a subtle but powerful effect.
As part of our workshops we remember our roots, our ancestors, the origins of humanity and humans’ natural place in the ecosystem. Through this, we learn to better understand ourselves and enhance our ability to connect with others.
As modern humans we often talk about “land” as something owned by us. We divide it into pieces and allocate it to individuals for certain figures of money.
But land is so much more than that. Land is the very basis for our survival.
Beyond that, land is just one of the important puzzle pieces that connect to form Nature and the greater ecosystem.
When we talk about connecting to land, really what we mean is connecting to Nature……
realising and remembering that we are not separate to land and Nature. We are a part of it. Land does not belong to us; we belong to it.
Actively engaging with Nature through practices such as forest bathing, gardening, and more improves wellbeing and deepens our connection to Nature. We take this a step further by acknowledging and
Acknowledging Nature before engaging with it has a powerful effect on heightening our awareness and allowing us
By joining our workshops you will get to experience this on a deeply embodied level, using your own senses to connect and even communicate with Nature.
Community comes in many shapes and forms.
What does community mean to you?
Whether it’s a small, intimate group of friends or a wider network
A neighbourhood. A village. A city. A country. One world.
Community is about how we interconnect with other humans who are different from us.
Throughout history, differences have been used to divide and weaken us. However, when we recognise the beauty in diversity as well as our shared humanity, it becomes easy to see how our differences actually complement one another and can be leveraged as our greatest strength.
Community spans all range of people across all backgrounds, be it age, gender, personality, sexuality, nationality, culture, or other. It is not only interpersonal, it is cross-cultural.
Feeling at one with the place and people you are visiting, despite being on the other side of the world and having completely unrelated backgrounds,
Can be one of the most life-changing and healing experiences you will ever have. /This is what authentic travel and cross-cultural exchange is all about./
Coming from a lived experience spanning cultures, we understand what it takes to create and facilitate these experiences. Step beyond the veil of mainstream tourism and join us in the shoes of locals.
Roots Land Community workshops hold an ethical space for authentic exchanges to happen, aligned with local indigenous values such as “kotahitanga” (unity, oneness) and “manaakitanga” (hospitality) in our 80% Maori community.
