Cook Islands womens spirituality and their social service practice

Abstract

Acknowledging that Spirituality is inherent in the culture of the Cook Islands women, this is an exploratory study. It retells the stories of three Cook Islands women's spirituality as it relates to and influences their lives and work in the social service on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Based on a participatory methodology and conceptually located within an indigenous paradigm, the study successfully uses three methods for gathering information - literature review, key informant interviews and thirdly testimonio, a form of life history interviewing. Beliefs and practices about spirituality and religion are described within a Christian and Shamanic blended paradigm. This creates a framework for a discussion on sensory sources of spiritual knowledge – Aratea, (intuition/telepathy) Moemoe'a (dreams) and 'Akairo (environmental signs); accounts of death and encounters with spirits; the work of ta'unga as healers; and the role of Tauma'a (curse). Implications for social service practice in the Cook Islands and New Zealand along with methodological insights conclude this study.