Paikea's Determination To Become The Chief In Whale Rider
Paikea’s Determination to Become the Chief
Whale Rider by Niki Caro is a story about a 12 year old girl who is the true heir to be chief of the tribe but her grandfather, following Maori traditions, believes that the role of chief is to be the first born son of the chief only. Throughout the movie, Paikea is determined to prove that she is the true heir and can be the chief of the tribe. This movie shows how she struggles to get her grandfather’s approval due to his beliefs and the tribe’s tradition which dates back to ancient times. By the end of the story he realizes that Pai is the one and only heir to be chief of the tribe. Throughout the story Paikea must prove to her grandfather that she has courage, determination, and that she has …show more content…
Although she is only twelve years old, Pai shows leadership abilities and she is always right by her grandfather’s side. She wants to learn the traditions, so if her dreams of becoming the chief work out, she can pass them on to the rest of the tribe and be a good leader. Paikea is trying to show that she is a strong, courageous girl and she can be a good chief. One side of her wants to prove to her grandfather she can be chief and she wants him to love her even though she is a girl, and the other half wants to prove that a girl can be just as good of a leader as a boy. Paikea shows courage because even though her grandfather has his disbeliefs in her and being the chief, she does whatever it takes to prove to him that she was just as good as any boy in the …show more content…
After these two important events, he now knows that Paikea has the courage, determination, and the ability to become the chief of the tribe. Paikea inspires her uncle to teach her the taiaha, a stick used for fighting. Women were forbidden to board a waka, a fighting ship of the Maori tribe, and Paikea is able to sit in her dad’s waka with Koro at her side and she leads them off in a chant. As the waka leaves all the villagers gather around the beach with excitement and perform a ritual ceremony as the waka heads out to sea celebrating the new heir to the chief. None of this would have been possible had Pai not fought traditions and had the determination to become the leader of the
Whale Rider by Niki Caro is a story about a 12 year old girl who is the true heir to be chief of the tribe but her grandfather, following Maori traditions, believes that the role of chief is to be the first born son of the chief only. Throughout the movie, Paikea is determined to prove that she is the true heir and can be the chief of the tribe. This movie shows how she struggles to get her grandfather’s approval due to his beliefs and the tribe’s tradition which dates back to ancient times. By the end of the story he realizes that Pai is the one and only heir to be chief of the tribe. Throughout the story Paikea must prove to her grandfather that she has courage, determination, and that she has …show more content…
Although she is only twelve years old, Pai shows leadership abilities and she is always right by her grandfather’s side. She wants to learn the traditions, so if her dreams of becoming the chief work out, she can pass them on to the rest of the tribe and be a good leader. Paikea is trying to show that she is a strong, courageous girl and she can be a good chief. One side of her wants to prove to her grandfather she can be chief and she wants him to love her even though she is a girl, and the other half wants to prove that a girl can be just as good of a leader as a boy. Paikea shows courage because even though her grandfather has his disbeliefs in her and being the chief, she does whatever it takes to prove to him that she was just as good as any boy in the …show more content…
After these two important events, he now knows that Paikea has the courage, determination, and the ability to become the chief of the tribe. Paikea inspires her uncle to teach her the taiaha, a stick used for fighting. Women were forbidden to board a waka, a fighting ship of the Maori tribe, and Paikea is able to sit in her dad’s waka with Koro at her side and she leads them off in a chant. As the waka leaves all the villagers gather around the beach with excitement and perform a ritual ceremony as the waka heads out to sea celebrating the new heir to the chief. None of this would have been possible had Pai not fought traditions and had the determination to become the leader of the