Once Were/Now are Warriors: The Changing Representations of Warriorhood in Māori and American Indian Fiction and Film

Abstract

This dissertation examines the evolving representations of warriorhood in contemporary Māori and American Indian fiction and film, highlighting how traditional warrior archetypes have been redefined in response to changing cultural, social, and political landscapes. Through a comparative analysis of selected novels and films—including Once Were Warriors, Whale Rider, People of the Whale, and Warrior Girl Unearthed—this study explores how Indigenous authors and filmmakers challenge colonial stereotypes and reconstruct warrior identities beyond physical violence and military service, suggesting that these roles are shifting instead to forms of leadership occupied by women and young children.