Wai? Indigenous Words and Ideas
Claim This Podcastby Arcia Tecun
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Podcast Overview
<p>Hosted by an urban and mobile Wīnak (Mayan) with roots in Iximulew (Guatemala), an upbringing in Soonkahni (Salt Lake Valley, Utah), and in relation with Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (The Great Pacific Ocean). Wai? [pronounced why] (W.A.I.: Words and Ideas) is a podcast based on various issues, topics, and perspectives including critical analysis, reflection, dialogue, and commentary on culture, society, education, history, Indigeneity, and more. The purpose of this project is to share words and ideas that are locally meaningful, globally relevant, and critically conscious.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/13/2019
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Recent Episodes
May 30, 2026
Ep. 59: Indigenous Time and Space Part 2 – Neo/Niu/Knew Tā-Vā
This episode engages with both the thought and practice of interconnectivity and collective consciousness in Indigenous theory. Niu/Knew/Neo Tā-Vā is framed as a talanoa/tzijonïk/storying conversation between Tāvāism, critical and global Indigenous theory. Mayan philosophy of time space is introduced and demonstrated to have overlaps with ideas of reality and life in Tā-Vā, which is explored along with critical thought. Some themes include: apocalyptic thought and response to change; cross cultural connections of shared social values; temporality beyond linearity; and calibrating actions. The role of sacrifice in sharing time-space is also considered in this emerging project, which is one of shifting the hoa (pairing) of Tā-Vā from dominant to global Indigenous philosophical traditions. References: Giovanni Batz. The Fourth Invasion. University of California Press, 2024. Floridalma Boj Lopez. Indigenous Archives. Duke University Press, 2026. Octavia E. Butler. Parable of the Sower. Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993. Octavia E. Butler. Parable of the Talents. New York: Warner Books, 1998. Lewis Gordon. A philosophical look at Black music. Quinnipiac University (26 Sep 2019). Epeli Hau‘ofa. We are the ocean: Selected works. University of Hawaii Press, 2008. Tēvita Kaʻili. “Ancestral Voices of the Sea: Hearing the Past to Lead the Future.” In Anne Perez Hattori and Jane Samson (Eds.), The Cambridge History of The Pacific Ocean Volume II: The Pacific Ocean Since 1800. Cambridge University Press, 2023. Miguel León-Portilla. Time and Reality in the Thought of the Maya. University of Oklahoma Press, 1990. Alexus McLeod. Philosophy of the ancient Maya: Lords of time. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017. Manulani Aluli Meyer. “Holographic epistemology: Native common sense.” China Media Research, 9(2), 2013. Victor Montejo. Mayalogue: An Interactionist Theory of Indigenous Cultures. State University of New York Press, 2021. Arcia Tecun, ‘Inoke Hafoka, Lavinia ‘Ulu ‘ave, and Moana ‘Ulu ‘ave-Hafoka. "Talanoa: Tongan epistemology and Indigenous research method." AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples 14, no. 2 (2018): 156-163. Teresia Teaiwa. “On analogies: Rethinking the Pacific in a global context.” The Contemporary Pacific 18 (1), 2006: 71-87. Victor Turner. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Aldine Publishing, 1969. Sione Vaka. A Tongan approach of integrating mental health care. TedxNuku’alofa (2 Dec 2021).
April 22, 2026
Ep. 58: Indigenous Time and Space Part 1 – A Review of the Tā-Vā Theory
This episode dives into some of the background and context that influenced 20th century transformational thinking in critical Oceanic thought. Palofesa I. Futa Helu’s intellectual background is explored including realism and panta rhei. The role of critical education, classics, questions of permanence, and the ‘Atenisi legacy are reflected on as significant in understanding the formation of the Tā-Vā theory by Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu (Dr. ‘Okustino Māhina), which is an indigenous Tongan philosophical project. Themes include intersections between realism and Tongan views of tempo-spatiality or time-space through various arts and social values. Maui-Tā-Vā-He-Ako (Dr. Tēvita O. Ka‘ili) has expanded access and development of this theory through works that examine relational ethics like tauhi vā and tauhi fonua, while responding to criticisms to account for western influences and distinguish similarities with other theories. Ending with some of the more recent literature on hoa/soa within Tā-Vā theory, this episode sets up part two which will delve into Tā-Vā expansions that connect with global Indigenous analyses of tempo-spatiality and critical theory. Terms: Tā (beat, tap, rhythm; time-temporality), Vā (point between, relational space, relational connecting point; space-spatiality), Mālie (Bravo! Exclamation of harmony), Faka‘ofo‘ofa (beauty, beautiful), talanoa (talking critically yet harmoniously, relational mindful critical oratory/dialogue, talking story), Fuo (form, shape), Uho (content, core, umbilical cord), Māfana (generated warmth, heat/warm, exhilaration, spiritual phenomena), Vālelei (balance, harmony, positive social relational space/connection), Vākovi/Vātamaki (imbalance, disharmony, negative asymmetrical social space or relation), Tauhi Vā (performance art of socio-spatial relations; maintaining and nurturing social relational space or connection), Tauhi Fonua (performance art of socio-place relations; caring for land, place, heritage), Hoa/Soa (pair, companion, partner, connected-with). References: Albert L. Refiti, A.-Chr. Engels-Schwarzpaul, Lana Lopesi, Billie Lythberg, Arielle Walker, and Emily Parr. Vā Moana. Australian National University. Albert Wendt. “Towards a new Oceania.” Mana: A South Pacific Journal of Language and Literature. Epeli Hau‘ofa. “Pasts to Remember” in Remembrance of Pacific Pasts edited by Borofsky, University of Hawaii Press. Epeli Hau‘ofa. “Our Sea of Islands” in A New Oceania: Rediscovering Our Sea of Islands edited by Waddell, Naidu, and Hau‘ofa, University of the South Pacific. Hūfanga, ‘Okusitino Māhina: “Ta, Va, and Moana: Temporality, spatiality, and indigeneity." Pacific Studies; “Time, space, and culture: A New tā-vā theory of Moana anthropology.” Pacific Studies; “From Vale (Ignorance) to ‘Ilo (Knowledge) to Poto (Skill) the Tongan theory of Ako (Education): Theorising Old Problems Anew.” AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples. Hūfanga He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Dr. ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, Māui-Tava-He-Ako Dr Tēvita Ka‘ili, and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai. Sio FakaTonga ‘ae ‘Aati FakaTonga Faivā, Tufunga & Nimamea‘a FakaTonga - Tongan Views of Tongan Arts Tongan Performance Arts, Material Arts & Fine Arts. Kula-‘Uli Publishing. ‘Inoke Fotu Hu‘akau and Lo‘au Publication Research Team Report. “Chapter 1: Time and Space”, Tā & Vā Conference, Mangere Arts Centre. Maui-Tāvā-He-Ako Tēvita O. Ka‘ili, Hūfanga ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, and Kula-He-Fonua Ping-Ann Addo. “Introduction: Tā-Vā (Time-Space): The Birth of an Indigenous Moana Theory,” Pacific Studies. Pā‘utu-‘O-Vava‘u-Lahi, Adriana M. Lear, Kolokesa U. Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Maui-TāVā-He-Akó, Tēvita O. Kaʻili, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu, ‘Ōkusitino Māhina. “Tongan Hoa: Inseparable Yet Indispensable Pairs/Binaries,” Pacific Studies. Siosiua F. P. Lafitani: “Autonomy and Creativity in ‘Epeli Hau ‘ofa and the Lo ‘au University Philosophy of Education for Thinking,” Pacific Studies; “Arts of tattoos, la
February 14, 2026
Ep. 57: Indigenous Archives with Floridalma Boj Lopez
Dr. Boj Lopez is a Maya-K’iche’ Assistant Professor of Chicanx and Central American Studies at UCLA. We discuss her academic journey and early interests in the project of ethnic studies, as well as in building Maya community spaces in diaspora. Boj Lopez works in the growing field of Critical Latinx Indigeneity which she approaches as a bridge of conversations between Latino/Chicano Studies and Native American and Indigenous Studies. This approach interrogates the complicated relationships with categories like ‘Latin,’ which some refuse. Yet, at the same time also leaves room for Maya diaspora communities who may adopt or use the ‘Latin’ category for survival. The book Indigenous Archives recently released and we explore some of its premise which responded to questions of why displaced Maya diaspora communities look for each other and how they find one another. Boj Lopez shares an introduction to her book that confronts the dominant function of archives of upholding hegemonic narratives located in centers of power, and shifts to archives beyond dominant institutions, such as the mobile and living ones found in inter-generational ancestral clothing and textiles. References: Floridalma Boj Lopez, ‘Naming, A Coming Home: Latinidad and Indigeneity in the Settler Colony’, The Funambulist, 41 (2022). Floridalma Boj Lopez, Indigenous Archives: The Maya Diaspora and Mobile Cultural Production (Duke University Press, 2026) Notes on Terms: Xela/Quetzaltenango (Xela is shortened from Xelajú N’oj, which is an Indigenous Maya name for this place. Whereas Quetzaltenango is the official national place name derived from Nahuatl); Tongva (Indigenous people and place name for Los Angeles, California); Soonkahni (Indigenous place name for the Salt Lake Valley in the Newe/Shoshone/Goshute language); Maya-K’iche’ (K’iche’ refers to an ethno-linguistic group of diverse Highland Maya peoples and communities, and Maya is a post-colonial term that has been adopted by many, which contemporarily refers to the Mayan culture and people in Mesoamerica); Corte (A skirt that is typically made and worn by Guatemalan Mayan women often featuring ikat or jaspe patterns. Corte is derived from Spanish and it is also known as Uq or Uk in the K’iche’ language). Huipil (A generally loose-fitting feminine blouse worn by Indigenous Mesoamerican women, which in Guatemala are often lineage-based and regionally distinct, identified by their unique patterns, colours, and styles; huipil is derived from Nahuatl, but this garment is also known as p’ot in the K’iche’ language). Kab’awil (Maya concept for duality or pairing of oppositional or complimentary forces; etymologically it is a compound word expressing the number two and face, which means to see with multiple visions or faces or a double view; philosophically linked with interconnectedness, complexity, and plurality, which is often depicted in textiles as mirrored images such as two exact birds facing different directions).
59 total episodes available
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- What is Wai? Indigenous Words and Ideas?
<p>Hosted by an urban and mobile Wīnak (Mayan) with roots in Iximulew (Guatemala), an upbringing in Soonkahni (Salt Lake Valley, Utah), and in relation with Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (The Great Pacific Ocean). Wai? [pronounced why] (W.A.I.: Words and Ideas) is a podcast based on various issues, topics, and perspectives including critical analysis, reflection, dialogue, and commentary on culture, society, education, history, Indigeneity, and more. The purpose of this project is to share words and ideas that are locally meaningful, globally relevant, and critically conscious.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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