Civic friendship, rooted in a relational ethic of reciprocity and restoration, can contribute to the pursuit of treaty-honouring in settler-colonized countries. We argue this through engagement with Te-Tiriti-o-Waitangi, an 1840 agreement between Māori leaders and the British Crown in Aotearoa New Zealand, encouraged by Anglicans in diverse positions of influence. As a sacred covenant, Te Tiriti joined two traditions in a kin-like relationship. Thus, Māori expected an ongoing relationship grounded in mutual respect. However, the rapidly expanding settler population pursued policies of colonization and assimilation.
Convinced that Te Tiriti remains a sacred foundation on which to build a shared future, we argue for the revitalization of civic forms of friendship that promote the flourishing of all. While authentic friendship can be challenging to maintain in contexts marked by power imbalances, paternalism, and injustice, the intertwining of personal and civic forms of friendship has proven to be invaluable in counter-assimilation struggles for self-determination, justice, healing, and restoration.
Civic friendship, rooted in a relational ethic of reciprocity and restoration, can contribute to the pursuit of treaty-honouring in settler-colonized countries. We argue this through engagement with Te-Tiriti-o-Waitangi, an 1840 agreement between Māori leaders and the British Crown in Aotearoa New Zealand, encouraged by Anglicans in diverse positions of influence. As a sacred covenant, Te Tiriti joined two traditions in a kin-like relationship. Thus, Māori expected an ongoing relationship grounded in mutual respect. However, the rapidly expanding settler population pursued policies of colonization and assimilation.
Convinced that Te Tiriti remains a sacred foundation on which to build a shared future, we argue for the revitalization of civic forms of friendship that promote the flourishing of all. While authentic friendship can be challenging to maintain in contexts marked by power imbalances, paternalism, and injustice, the intertwining of personal and civic forms of friendship has proven to be invaluable in counter-assimilation struggles for self-determination, justice, healing, and restoration.