Ceilidh Brown | McCall MacBain Foundation

Master of Indigenous Studies 

Indigenous histories shape who we are as people; they hold the knowledge needed to care for our environment, communities, and ancestors. However, the consistent undermining of Indigenous histories through colonisation and marginalisation has led to colonial narratives being presented as fact.

Instead, I am passionate about uplifting Pacific histories to show that decolonisation is possible, and to highlight the empowerment and resilience that lie within Pacific stories and knowledge systems. It is important we seek and value Indigenous knowledge in order to decolonise our history and our world.

Being tangata Niue reinforces my alofa and passion for history. Niuean knowledge is underrepresented in research and education, and the existing literature is mainly written through a colonial lens.  The misrepresentation of our stories and histories has resulted in Niue being overlooked and underrepresented in Pacific history as a whole. I am extremely passionate about helping Niuean history to be researched and told by tangata Niue, reflecting our culture, values, and lived experiences. 

Sponsor: McCall MacBain Foundation 

Mentor: Joanna Bourke

Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and Marketing and Communications Lead at Pacific Dance New Zealand. Joanna has extensive experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and Pacific development across Aotearoa and the region. She is committed to supporting leadership grounded in creativity, collaboration, and community impact.