Grief, Loss and Violence in Ancient Mangaia, Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu

Abstract

Beginning with a discussion of the language of emotion, this paper explores aspects of loss, grief and violence in the ancient eastern Polynesian societies of Mangaia, in the present-day Cook Islands, and Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, now known as the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The paper examines historical documents in the vernacular languages to highlight people's experiences of various forms of loss, including land, heirlooms, social status, relationships and loved ones. Song texts and narratives reveal key emotion words and scripted behaviours acted out in response to loss. Such behaviours included the use of violence against valued property, against the person, including suicide, or against other people; the last response could easily spiral out of control when it involved other descent groups.