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To those in Waitaha Books, the thought of going to Oxnard for legal help is akin to doing penitence in a bathroom. It’s a taboo. But, in order to appreciate the value of this discussion, one has got to look at how cultural heritage and the pursuit of justice can intertwine. The language and values of the Waitaha. Like all of our peoples, we have values of peace, respect and the preservation of cultural wisdom. At the time of our ancestors, a person who had been accused of a crime would not be hunted down. Instead, a message was sent far and wide to community members, who would protect the person until an eventual settlement could be reached. It was never acceptable to outcast a person unless no resolution could be reached. The California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard, California firstly recognizes this attitude of the Waitaha, and secondly seeks to help vulnerable communities. According to their website, they serve over 45,000 people every year. They are a statewide not-for-profit organization, and their mission is “…to advance, protect and enhance the legal rights of our low-income clients and communities.”
Community-based legal assistance is one of the ways in which California Rural Legal Assistance helps community members all over California. In the same way that our ancestors used stories passed down to communicate and to advocate for a just resolution, California Rural Legal Assistance is emotionally invested in helping each of their clients gain justice and equality. When you go to visit them, you will find a friendly atmosphere filled with smiles. They value the experience of being heard. In that regard, it is much like Waitaha. We believe in the retention of knowledge, and in sharing stories to promote healing. This process of seeking justice and fairness is honorable. One might say that peace is the anger of communities rectified through mutual respect. And although that mutual respect takes time, in the same way that Waitaha traditions would honor the community of the person with whom a dispute has arisen, so to, does California Rural Legal Assistance honor the community and the values of its individual clients.
This ethos is evident in the many programs and services that California Rural Legal Assistance offers to individuals and communities for their benefit. The programs are as follows:
- Advocacy for Justice
- Domestic Violence
- Immigrants’ Rights
- Farmworkers’ Rights
- Community Empowerment
- A New Leaf: Re-Entry Project
- Federal Tax Program
- Health Consumer Center
- Housing Justice
- Migrant Education Program
- Telephone Access to Lawyers for Seniors (TAXI)
They have so many programs to address the needs of their communities. And it should not be surprising. Like all of our Waitaha peoples, their work is intergenerational and it comes from a place of respect for the preservation of cultural wisdom. Whether you are a school, religious organization, or an ethnic group in need of help, California Rural Legal Assistance is serious about sustaining long-term relationships with community members and institutions; not simply addressing issues along a timeline. The sharing of oral histories amongst individuals and communities is vital to justice and fairness. Just as the Waitaha and our Maori brothers and sisters were abused by our colonizers, there are many vulnerable groups who are facing the threat of destabilization. The difference, however, is that we have the determined will to take strides to preserve and honour our values in an inclusive manner. And that is something that we in Waitaha respect greatly.
This is the work of California Rural Legal Assistance. Their work of knowing and valuing the community gives them depth. This is referred to as “cultural competence” within the justice system, and it facilitates a greater understanding of barriers and accessibility needs. This connects us to peace. Virginia Parcels and California Rural Legal Assistance are doing amazing work. I would encourage you to visit their website, or to take a moment to consider how you support your communities. There’s strength in unity, so for Waitaha, Oxnard is not so taboo after all.
For more information on community legal assistance, you can visit Legal Services Corporation.
Posted on December 9th, 2021 | | No Comments »
Whetu Tika & Whetu Punga are the Great Gods of the Waitaha Nation of New Zealand, holding Heaven and Earth together, respectively. They also esteem ancestral teachings that place focus on peace – and the ability to think things through respectfully and rationally, before making a decision. These teachings have been handed down through the generations like a torch, illuminating the minds of those in the Waitaha Nation for thousands of years.
When it comes to selecting the professional that will guide you, your family, and your business legally, you should be careful about choosing someone who has not only the knowledge, experience, and qualifications you need but also the wisdom you respect. The spiritual blending of traditional and modern routines will promote harmony towards the best possible outcome.
The same can be said when it comes to selecting a legal representative in Houston.
Just as the red tape and complex nature of legal contracts and agreements can perplex the mind – so too can the history of humanity be full of many different branches of events and people that create a diverse and beautiful culture all around the world, ripe with life and history. Just as a contract that is written up may not be the final form that you want, so too may it be rooted in many different circumstances, with no reason to face conflict with another person or colleague over how it may have been worded.
Understanding the nature of contracts in the modern world can help shed some light into this process: there are many different things to consider, on many different levels. For example, each country has its own regulations that may regard a commercial contract differently than others. In some nations, an agreement can be for anything and everything, while in others, agreements regarding conversation of information or intellectual property can be wide-reaching but still limited.
Understanding these rules can help you to appreciate the value of a contract attorney in Houston, TX, as they will be able to advise you on what to expect in your region, and to give you some insight into the process of selecting the professional fit for you. They may also even have a network of other professionals in the same field who may be able to assist you with an additional area of legal counsel should you require it.
Just as the Waitaha hold cultural value in their family and heritage, your contract with your attorney should also hold similar value, for the wellbeing of all parties involved. Trust is an important factor to consider, but so is cultural respect. Hiring someone who will mindfully approach your case fully, rather than simply signing the contract and moving on, can be another critical factor in the cyclic flow of life and business in your relationship.
So how do you find a contract attorney in Houston who will truly listen to your needs?
Start by searching the internet for a few possible options. Look for their qualifications, and the range of services they offer. Ensure that they have the availability to take your case on, and perhaps even start with an initial consultation to discuss the details of your requirements. The ideal contract attorney is one who will carefully listen to your needs before explaining how they may be able to help you. This will ensure that you are on the same page before signing anything, and that you will both be satisfied with the outcome of the agreement.
The flexibility of modern law combined with historical context can create an entirely new way to explore the possibilities of legacy and ancient heritage with the roots of long-standing law. Make the switch to a more mindful, culturally aware approach today.
Posted on December 4th, 2021 | | No Comments »
In the hills where the Waitaha people walked, music was not merely sounds on a page, but the very heartbeat of multitudes, their oral histories woven seamlessly into melodies that spoke to the land, sea and the soul. Today, as seekers of our own identity, we stand in awe at the sophistication of cultures that danced barefoot and sung in the winds long before our shoes ever touched the soil.
In our contemporary society, the essence of these “land songs” often become tangled with the modern world of licensing. Music licensing agreements become a way for new and young artists to understand their rights and entry into a contractual world that will help keep oral traditions alive.
What is a Music Licensing Contract?
We know that merely teaching the people to write has not ever been an accurate representation of the wisdom and beauty of how the Waitaha spoke. This means there are also unspoken doctrines of their subliminal structure of saying. So too, a music licensing contract is not such a simplified version either; though it holds, arguably, the same importance as a sacred inscription of our ancestry, it has a specific nature that allows negotiation of rights and responsibilities of parties over the use of those specific arrangements of sounds.
There are various music licenses that could be implicated in the context of preserving cultural heritage. Whether it is traditional, contemporary or experimental, the negotiation of music licensing is intended to protect the interests of both the licensee and licensor involved. It can help promote investment in your art by giving your sound value, while also acknowledging to others that it holds a scholarly and financial benefit too.
Types of Licensing Contracts
Today, modern music licensing contracts cover everything from live performances to the digital licensing of music that might have otherwise only graced the sacred halls of an ancient people. These contracts are used to govern how others can use the music, safeguarding the rights of the owner or composer of the work. Modern licenses also typically include provisions that limit the time, territory and manner of use. Let us reflect on a few types of music licenses relevant to the preservation of cultural heritage:
Nature of Creating a Music Licensing Contract Sample
When it comes time to actually creating or finding a music licensing contract sample, there are a few tasks involved: In preserving our cultural heritage, we want to ensure that the beauty and meaning of our heritage is not distorted, perhaps by the limitations of a very specific music licensing contract. Naturally, there is a way to establish ourselves and our legacy in the digital realm of today. In preventing the disenfranchisement of our collective history that has inevitably come through colonization and westernization, we must play our creative part.
Examples of Licensing Protecting Indigenous Music Traditions
There are many ways in which licensing has granted musicians an opportunity to protect the integrity of their cultural heritage. Some examples include:
Ethics in Licensing Ancestral Sounds
Some may ask if it is ethical to license indigenous music sounds. Whether it is an instrument, song or language, can these things be legitimized under the modern commercial practices of music licensing? A leading question: do we need to make our cultural heritage into a currency for the current economy?” In our modern world, agreements are made all the time for the “rights” to make a dollar, while ignoring the natural and ancestral roots of our people. We can take one or two steps away from these predicaments by choosing the correct music licensing contract sample to emulate, or by having a lawyer draft terms that are best suited for the artists and their priorities.
Sharing Waitaha Music and Stories Everywhere
One way to ensure the dissemination of Waitaha music is by preserving it digitally and creating music licensing contract samples. There are already ways to share and even sell the sounds of Waitaha, while ensuring they are adequately protected under copyright law. In M?ori, there are no processes such as music publishing or licensing that facilitates the protection of their ancestral heritage. To create a music licensing contract sample, there would be more than just the sharing of information, as with open source, but also a profit share or remuneration with the artists collaborating in the new composition. There are many reasons why Waitaha and various artists around the world should consider protecting their cultural heritage by adapting to modern laws of music licensing.
Advice on Negotiating Music Licenses
When negotiating a music license, you must always consider the following: There is always room for negotiation when creating a music licensing contract, but you must ensure you have the legal right to your work before you make any promises.
Common Pitfalls in Music Licensing Agreements
Some common pitfalls you should beware of are: We could say that the greater purpose of music licensing agreements for Waitaha is not to simply remove mistakes, but to facilitate a transparent sharing that is mutually beneficial. To be sure, it is a music licensing contract sample that places greater emphasis on the tradition of the people, than the contract itself.
The Legal Protection of Oral History
So, we see an ethos in music licensing contracts that would help support the perpetuation of an oral history. As the Waitaha people remind us – their history is not inscripted though it reads like the most beautiful text.
Posted on September 21st, 2021 | | No Comments »
Understanding the Waitaha Approach to Substance Abuse
In the heart of every Waitaha person is a deep-seated value of peace to the world around them. This does not only mean achieving personal peace and serenity; for the Waitaha people, peace is wholly linked to those that surround them. This sense of peace connects their lives to the intricate network of community in the full sense of the word.
We at Anambcn believe this sense of community is what guides us in the process of legal proceedings. The question of how to prove substance abuse in court is no different than anything else in their lives. It’s all about understanding how the larger web of relationships connects to the truth, which in the end safeguards community stability.
A fair legal proceeding set against the backdrop of broader community principles is what allows for persuasive evidence to be useful. It is for this reason Anamcnbn makes it their mission to help clients understand how to prove substance abuse in court in a way that is empowered by the realities of the situation. A lack of clarity when it comes to how to prove substance abuse in court limits the success of the legal proceeding from the beginning. This article on how to prove substance abuse in court outlines the important tips and the best evidence that even Waitaha people would find invaluable.
For the Waitaha, The truth is this: dishonesty or lies of any sort are the ways in which the one connecting to peace contributes to the chaos of the world. Dishonesty leads to questions about your peace and others continue to lie in order to help them regain theirs. This spiral is what it means to uphold the way of Waitaha.
The traditional practice of the Waitaha is a model that integrates the modern principles of justice and equity. Just as any other community, the Waitaha people have misfortunes of substance abuse. In such cases, these people are never condemned; they are providers of an opportunity to help heal their community.
Their approaches to the issues of alcohol and drug consist of:
- A thorough integration of the modern principles of justice mean that the Waitaha approach goes beyond any of these strategies when the question of how to prove substance abuse in court is involved. They directly ask the parties involved about their truth, using questions like:
- When is the last time you were drunk?
- Do you know where you were that night/spent the night?
- Do you have any record of your whereabouts from the time you may have abused alcohol to the next morning?
For the Waitaha, the key to helping one another through such a trial is the use of evidence – but not evidence in the sense that the individual improperly drank alcohol. Evidence is about providing the story of how their actions contributed to a problem, whether for themselves, or for those they love. It’s about understanding what holds a person back from peace, and even regaining balance in a relationship. It’s about establishing what can bring them back home to community.
Evidence provided by witnesses is part of what enables this spirit of community. This is what allows the Waitaha to directly ask a person questions about how to prove substance abuse in court, and not judge them for the role their inebriation played in an accident, or fight, or passing of time. Rather, their questions revolve around how they can help their friend heal from the brokenness of addiction. They seek guidance surrounding how they can help restore peace. These questions are the basis by which the modern legal proceedings on proving substance abuse in court are structured.
For integrity-oriented advocates, bringing together communities and uniting on legal issues can only be done by earning trust, or using concrete evidence to demonstrate the truth. This is the skill of those versed in the Waitaha approach to questions of truth.
Posted on September 1st, 2021 | | No Comments »
It was the words of my Grandmother, the Waitaha People’s Kohanga of Knowledge that made me realize that to be good to others was to be true to the teachings of the ancestors. To be fair in dealings, to be honest and to pay back debt, and to extend the sacred values for protection (manaaki), peace (whakak?huki) and cultural preservation (tiakina) to all those who crossed the threshold of our home was the embodiment of fair exchange. Manaaki: Respect, Whakak?huki: Peace; Tiakina: Cultural Preservation.
This is how our ancestors, the Waitaha People lived with other people, with each other and with the land – the living and the non-living; and in each relationship and exchange there was an innate awareness that agreements were sacred and must be carried out; and that every action must be underpinned by the great values of the Waitaha people. The values that cultivated the laws of the Waitaha will always remind us of our obligations to who we are, where we have come from and the peaceful connections that make up the wider communal web. In the Waiata a lot of these values come forth; this particular Waiata is called I Roto I Te Motu and was sung by Ng?ti Kanohi ki Pearse, a Waitaha kaumatua (elder) of the Waitaha people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). I Roto I te Motu means Within the Island The old people ask you to hear and keep, A lot of what they feel, In heart and mind Within the island. And yes we still embrace these teachings. These are the values that no matter what changes take place around us we hold true to them; because to uphold manaaki, whakak?huki and tiaki is the most sacred obligation and honour we give to our ancestors, to the land and to one another.
So how do these sacred values inform our relationship to agreements and contracts; to services that are provided and then compensated for; to goods that are sold and paid for? In this solution you just need to reflect on your own realities and choices – a dispute or disagreement can exist in any context so the point here is not to define situations but to understand your role as it fits into a process of unwritten rules and obligations that only the signatories to the agreement know about. Was it an agreement to enter into a relationship; to enter into a transaction or to do a service? Did a trust develop through the actions taken – if so where does it fit in with the situation you are facing? Do you feel that the relationship developed into something more like a ‘friendship’ and if that is true what do you believe these friendship values teach you about the current problem that exists? Even in our modern society these concepts of trust, of developing relationships and of ‘friendship’ are important constructs to our understanding and ability to handle things fairly. We are not merely dealing with a situation of hire or purchase. We are also exercising trust. It is a relationship.
As I have said before the laws of the Waitaha People will always remind us of our obligations to one another and to the solutions of our disagreements; our innate value system is flexible, it is continuously affirming and trusting of the “realness” of the relationship that we share as human beings. It is not just about paying a debt that one may have run into trouble repaying. It is not just about being protected by the law or whether the other party will fulfill their obligations. It is also about being true to our own undertakings. If a fair exchange has been recognised – then why would one not honour their full commitment to the exchange. This is the cultural integrity of our people. It is never about not being true to our word – it is always about finding a way to fulfill our obligations. This is why I am proud of the laws regarding payment for services rendered – because in the end they connect us to the deepest responsibilities we hold to the people and things that we care about. They offer us protection, they set out a fair guideline of obligations, and they offer us security – because at the core, it is always about having a vested interest in the outcome of your decisions and knowing that when you make a decision about a relationship, an agreement or a purchase you remain guided by the principles of fair exchange.
Posted on June 24th, 2021 | | No Comments »
