Whales Tohora @ the Museum of Science - Boston

On Friday the 3rd of September I had the chance to go to MOS and see the traveling exhibit Whales Tohora. While the exhibit is now closed, I highly suggest looking to see if it is coming to a museum near you, as it was a great exhibit.

Whales Tohora combines the biological information about whales and their evolution with the role the whale plays in Maori peoples of New Zealand. The exhibit takes you on a tour of the past, present and future roles of the whale and the Maori people.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the stories of whale riding told from inside the belly of a whale:


These are tales told by modern members of the Maori tribe of the whale riding traditions and the stories of settlement in New Zealand. Many of the Maori tribes believe that their ancestors came to the island on the back of a whale and this tradition plays an important part of Maori culture and is the cornerstone of the whales significance to them.

A truly touching legend is that of Cheif Tinirau and his friend the whale named Tutunui. Poor Tinirau was tricked into letting an evil man ride his whale and when Tutunui brought the man back to his home, he and his fellow villagers killed and ate the poor whale. When Tinirau heard of what had happened he tricked the evil chief and killed him. This story has inspired much of the Maori's art and traditions. For more info check out: Pataka and the story of Tinirau.



One of the most impressive stories shared through the exhibit was the story of the Maori people themselves and the cycle of whale use they have been through and are still going through. From a people who worshiped the whale and never hunted them, simply taking what was offered them in the form of beached whales for meat, to a people who actively participated in the whale hunting trade to the point where it was the major source of income for them, now to a group of people dedicated to the preservation of whales, and working with the state government to protect them at the same time honoring their traditional use of the whales for food, weapons, ritual, and art. Once again only taking what is offered them in the forms of beached whales and taking that once step further by working to save those whales when possible. It is truly inspiring to see a people examine their life and history and future and make changes to continue their culture and to protect its legacy for the future.


Whales Tohora home page