Lore

lore/lôr/Noun

1. A body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth.

How lore was taught to me as a girl, applies to the lore that I follow now and instill as closely as possible as I can to my life now as a Woman. The growing numbers of inter-racial relationships has unfortunately seen a decline in Maori lore being carried through.  To an extent where a crucial part of ones identity is overshadowed by the dominant custom instilled at home, there is a lack of balance which encompasses the heritage of both parents.  My point is not to say inter-racial relationships shouldn't happen.  I'm saying that there is a responsibility that needs to be upheld by all Maori, in educating, custom informing and passing down the traditions we learnt as young ones.  Regardless of where in the world you may dwell, you are and always will be of Maori Descent as are our children.  Denying them the knowledge of who they are and where they belong to, is bound to have an impact on their cultural identity at a later age.  Parents as first teachers is where this responsibility lays, as does the responsibility of grandparents, aunties, uncles and extended families.  Through each we build a strengthened knowledge base, that upholds those values and customs.  Which in turn gives us the confidence and strength to hold our heads up high and be proud of where you originate from and the ancestors you descend from.  

Lore came hand in hand with growing up, we observed, we modelled behaviour and we learnt to understand what is acceptable.