1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,033
I'm Jen Cloher. I was born on Wurundjeri Land in Naarm Melbourne, Australia. I'd always known I was Māori on my mother's side, but that was all I knew. I didn't grow up with my language or culture, but in 2019, I toured Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time, and the experience changed my life. It made me want to know more about who I am and where I come from.
2
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:00,045
Since then, I released my fifth album, 'Ko Au Te Awa Ko Te Awa Ko Au'. And the first season of this podcast.
3
00:00:00,045 --> 00:00:01,010
Being so open about my journey was scary, but also life affirming. I started to meet people that felt like family. Then at the end of 2024, I played a couple of farewell shows in Naarm, [00:01:00] packed up my life and moved home to Aotearoa or to learn Te reo Māori.
4
00:00:01,010 --> 00:00:01,025
For the first time ever, I have no idea where I'm going or what the outcome is. What I do know is that these conversations with Māori and First Nations artists, who are writing and performing in their languages, have inspired me to keep going.
5
00:00:01,025 --> 00:00:01,037
Was it terrifying? Yes. Was it difficult? Yes, and I just kept trying, and the way for me to learn to eventually speak those languages was through song.
6
00:00:01,037 --> 00:00:01,039
To find my voice.
7
00:00:01,039 --> 00:00:01,048
Who I am as a Tūhoe wahine, and as a Māori wahine, and as a Māori parent - who am I?
8
00:00:01,048 --> 00:00:01,049
To be myself.
9
00:00:01,049 --> 00:00:01,057
Don't waste your whakapapa by being something that you aren't. Just be Māori, and it's right, whatever it looks like.
10
00:00:01,057 --> 00:00:01,058
To show up.
11
00:00:01,058 --> 00:00:02,011
A lot of people really struggle [00:02:00] to talk politics, but everything is political. Everything is personal, you know? Every decision that they make from that beehive is, directly going to impact my son.
12
00:00:02,011 --> 00:00:02,012
Heal the past.
13
00:00:02,024 --> 00:00:02,027
I have this soul wound, this mamae, this deep hurt about not being able to articulate myself in the way that I know that my Ancestors would've been able to just three generations ago.
And to never be ashamed of where I've come from.
14
00:00:02,027 --> 00:00:02,032
Oh yeah. Here come the Māori's from Australia.
15
00:00:02,032 --> 00:00:02,055
Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau. Welcome to season two of 'Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home'. You can find it wherever you find your podcasts, or head to everybodys trying podcast dot com.
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,033
I'm Jen Cloher. I was born on Wurundjeri Land in Naarm Melbourne, Australia. I'd always known I was Māori on my mother's side, but that was all I knew. I didn't grow up with my language or culture, but in 2019, I toured Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time, and the experience changed my life. It made me want to know more about who I am and where I come from.
2
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:00,045
Since then, I released my fifth album, 'Ko Au Te Awa Ko Te Awa Ko Au'. And the first season of this podcast.
3
00:00:00,045 --> 00:00:01,010
Being so open about my journey was scary, but also life affirming. I started to meet people that felt like family. Then at the end of 2024, I played a couple of farewell shows in Naarm, [00:01:00] packed up my life and moved home to Aotearoa or to learn Te reo Māori.
4
00:00:01,010 --> 00:00:01,025
For the first time ever, I have no idea where I'm going or what the outcome is. What I do know is that these conversations with Māori and First Nations artists, who are writing and performing in their languages, have inspired me to keep going.
5
00:00:01,025 --> 00:00:01,037
Was it terrifying? Yes. Was it difficult? Yes, and I just kept trying, and the way for me to learn to eventually speak those languages was through song.
6
00:00:01,037 --> 00:00:01,039
To find my voice.
7
00:00:01,039 --> 00:00:01,048
Who I am as a Tūhoe wahine, and as a Māori wahine, and as a Māori parent - who am I?
8
00:00:01,048 --> 00:00:01,049
To be myself.
9
00:00:01,049 --> 00:00:01,057
Don't waste your whakapapa by being something that you aren't. Just be Māori, and it's right, whatever it looks like.
10
00:00:01,057 --> 00:00:01,058
To show up.
11
00:00:01,058 --> 00:00:02,011
A lot of people really struggle [00:02:00] to talk politics, but everything is political. Everything is personal, you know? Every decision that they make from that beehive is, directly going to impact my son.
12
00:00:02,011 --> 00:00:02,012
Heal the past.
13
00:00:02,024 --> 00:00:02,027
I have this soul wound, this mamae, this deep hurt about not being able to articulate myself in the way that I know that my Ancestors would've been able to just three generations ago.
And to never be ashamed of where I've come from.
14
00:00:02,027 --> 00:00:02,032
Oh yeah. Here come the Māori's from Australia.
15
00:00:02,032 --> 00:00:02,055
Nau mai, haere mai e te whānau. Welcome to season two of 'Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home'. You can find it wherever you find your podcasts, or head to everybodys trying podcast dot com.
