Decolonizing Indigenous Burial Practices in Aotearoa, New Zealand: A Tribal Case Study.

Before European contact, Māori disposed of the dead in environmentally sustainable ways. Revitalizing pre-colonial burial practices presents an opportunity for Māori to evaluate current practices and reconnect with their ancient tribal customs and practices. The research question asks: What is the decolonizing potential of (natural burials)? Paradoxically, environmentally unsustainable modern (funerals) retain the ethos of customary funerary traditions. presents an opportunity for (tribes) to retain cultural integrity in the death space, without compromising Papatūānuku (earthmother). Methodologically, a Māori worldview frames an action research mindset. The study captures a tribal community's exploratory journey into .