Response to "The Whale Rider"

"The Whale Rider” is the story of a little girl that, due to cultural practices was never allowed to live up to her full potential. It follows the life of a little girl named Paikea Aparana who was of Maori descent. She comes from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the original whale rider, Paikea, who was a male. Maori people are the native inhabitants of New Zealand. They are people that due to historical events, mainly the British colonization of New Zealand, have seen their culture and ancient ways of life deteriorate. They are people who struggle with avoiding assimilation into mainstream culture. Basically, this tribe has fallen on hard times. There are issues with crime, absent fathers, poverty, and alcoholism. And Pai's Grandfather, Koro, the current head of the tribe thinks that the only way to be saved is with the prophesized birth of the whale rider who will lead the tribe in the right direction. The only problem is that all signs point to Pai being the true leader but it will never be accepted because Maori culture is a patriarchal society that will never accept a female leader.