My strength is not of my own but of many

You can connect with your ancestors without knowing their language, says BYUH alumnus, and learning your culture makes you unstoppable

BY RAHEL MEYER

Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi,

Chesser Cowan, a BYU–Hawaii graduate from Hamilton, New Zealand, said his connection to his ancestors shapes who he is as a person. Cowan, who is of descent of the indigenous people of New Zealand called Maori, said he grew up learning about his ancestors’ traditions and stories and the importance of remembering them. Cowan shared this lesson of looking back is exemplified in one of his favorite Maori proverbs.

It says, “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini,” meaning, “My strength is not of my own but of many.” Cowan shared it entails the important perspective that no one is self-made.

“Everyone at one point in their lives has received help from someone else and someone else. And so my strength is not from my one but from many who have come before me.

“I want to make sure I’ll be the best future ancestor for my people and I hope my descendants will be good ancestors for their descendants. ... Heavenly Father wants for all of us to be good people and to be caring, ... We can always learn from the past.”

A unique culture \

Cowan said Maori ancestry differs from other cultural ancestries since not a day goes by where Maoris don’t reference their ancestors. “We acknowledge them. We keep them in our memories through our songs and dances. And we usually talk about them when introducing ourselves. It’s a way we have been taught. When you move forward, you must look back to see where it all started.”

In Maori culture learning from his ancestors not only gives him strength and inspiration, said Cowan, but it empowers and inspires him to be a better person. “It unlocks the feeling that they’ll always be with you. You can always call upon them for help.”

Cowan said there are several ways he calls upon his ancestors for help, including meditating at the beach or in the environment, because it helps him realize everything is connected. However, he said he feels closest to his ancestors when he sings chants from his region since he realizes he is just one star in the galaxy of his relatives and there were many before him.

“When I sing these songs, I feel empowered. I feel like there is someone else touching my shoulder, there is someone else pushing me on. And that’s my mindset. I can’t go one day without knowing my ancestors weren’t there.”

Empowering others

Cowan said it is important to realize it is never too late to learn more about your culture and your genealogy. When he was talking to a couple of new students of Maori heritage who hadn’t grown up in New Zealand, Cowan said they expressed their insecurities about not speaking the language.

“I told them the fact that you are Maori … is enough. You’ll always be enough for your ancestors. You should never be ashamed of who you are, regardless where you grew up. And if you didn’t have the luxury of learning your [ancestor’s] language … It’s never too late. It’s who you are.” Cowan said he realized empowering and educating people with their culture makes them unstoppable. “I truly believe that culture does not divide us, it makes us more united. That’s how we can connect. By listening to similar stories that are relatable.”

Reconnecting in the present

Cowan said when his mother gave him his grandfather’s journal before leaving for college in Hawaii, he didn’t expect it to be of such a significance to the people around him. One day, Cowan explained he found out some of his relatives were living in Hawaii. He said they connected and he met up with them for dinner at their house.

Throughout the dinner, Cowan explained they talked about their common ancestry, until they stumbled over the most surprising coincidence. “Little did I know the father of the relative I’m visiting was in that journal, and it was a special feeling. I let them borrow it and read it, and they learned stories about their father they hadn’t heard for a while. This relative was my auntie.”

Cowan explained he is incredibly grateful to share this connection to his auntie and the journal has been copied into the Archives at BYUH. “Now it’s available whenever they want to read it.”

Ancient guidance

The stories of his ancestors convey many life lessons, said Cowan, including the value of giving kindness to others. He especially looks up to his ancestor Nukanoa, an ancestor from his subtribe the Ngāti Pōpōro, in this regard, shared Cowan.

He was one of the youngest tribal leaders in his subtribe, known as Ngati, and was chosen to be a leader at a very young age since his older

Chesser Cowan with his ancestor looking over him. Photo by Marwin Jay Villegas. Graphics by Akira Nagahama.

brother and father were seriously ill, explained Cowan.

He became a very prominent, skilled warrior and very loving chief in his respective area, but Cowan said what stood out most to him was Nukanoa’s love for his sisters. He had many sisters and respected them by always putting them first. “He was mostly influenced by [them] and [they were] helping him become a leader,” said Cowan.

Cowan said his ancestor’s story taught him it doesn’t take much to help people feel loved and respected. “Kindness is a free gift no matter how old you are. You are only a true leader if you serve others.”

Sharing these stories with his friends or at his work, as a demonstrator guide in the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Aotearoa (New Zealand) Village, has helped him grow in the most unexpected ways, said Cowan. “Talking about their triumphs, their failures and their moments of growth really defined me as I sought and found relatable circumstances.”

During the Aotearoa presentation at the PCC, Cowan explained he shares his ancestors stories on stage and sometimes he feels prompted to share some personal experiences from his ancestors and how they overcame their trials and doubts.

“No doubt, [sometimes] I start tearing up, and I know when I talk about them, they’re with me. I can feel their special spirit. And I think that’s something that I’m very proud of.” He said as he shares his stories with others. it “in turn becomes [the visitor’s] story when they leave our beautiful place. I never thought that talking about others would actually edify me, but it did.”

Paige Taylor, a senior from New Zealand majoring in social work, said others can learn from Cowan to be unapologetically themselves. “You can tell that he is undeniably and fiercely proud to be Maori through his energy when performing. … We shouldn’t shy away, but rather stand with pride and be staunch when we represent our own culture and whanau [family].”

Lasi Cowan, a BYUH alumna from New Zealand and wife to Chesser Cowan, said her husband is always making the conscious decision to read more books and converse with elders although he is already immersed in his culture.

“He is passionate and respectful not only about his culture but also the cultures of others. He loves people and is always looking for ways to serve. Everyone needs a Chesser in their corner.” •

Maori carving of ancestor. Graphic by Akira Nagahama.