Whale Rider

Whale Rider (Maori title: Te kaieke tohora) (2002/2003)

• In the old days the land felt a great emptiness… it was waiting waiting… waiting to be filled up…waiting for someone to love it… waiting for a leader.

• There was no gladness when I was born.

• My Koro wished in his heart that I'd never been born. But he changed his mind.

• My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to Hawaiki where our ancient ones are.

• By being born I broke the line back to the ancient ones. It wasn't anybody's fault —it just happened.

• We can learn— and if the knowledge is given to everyone— then we can have lots of leaders, and soon everyone will be strong— not just the ones that have been chosen— because sometimes even if you're the leader and you need to be strong—   you can get tired…

• I wasn't scared to die.

• Wise leader, forgive me. I am but a fledgling new to flight.

• My name is Paikea and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider.

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