With the release of the new Reo Māori Stamp Set by TEACHERLATTE x Maimoa Creative, I wanted to take this opportunity to have a little kōrero with Linda from TEACHERLATTE about her business and what the release of this new set of stamps celebrating the Māori culture signifies for her.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Linda and I am the teacher and owner behind TEACHERLATTE. My story begins with my family who hails from South Vietnam. Due to the war, my parents were displaced and were lucky enough to be resettled in Geelong (Wadawurrung Country) where I was born and raised. Their story of struggle, hope and resilience has made me who I am and inspired me to become a teacher. As a teacher, I am passionate about creating an inclusive and culturally safe classroom for all learners from all backgrounds.
PHOTO CREDIT: TEACHERLATTE
What is Teacherlatte?
TEACHERLATTE is a socially driven brand whose mission is to make a difference in the education space.
PHOTO CREDIT: TEACHERLATTE
What is the kaupapa (significance/story) behind your brand Teacherlatte?
TEACHERLATTE opened in 2019 during my third year of teaching as a primary school educator. I wanted to revolutionise how teachers can use stamps as effective marking tools to help us assess work and provide feedback to our students.
I also wanted to incorporate positive phrases that can promote a growth mindset into our stamps e.g. you can do hard things, brain workout, proud of you, keep going, etc. In my last year of studying my Masters of Teaching, I wrote a thesis on Growth mindset and neuroplasticity - which is the ability of the brain to change its neural networks, meaning that we can change the way we think and perceive things. This is important in education because we ultimately want our students to become resilient learners when faced with challenges and obstacles.
Something special about TEACHERLATTE are the creatives behind the collections - I love working with artists from BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and minority communities to bring their voices to the forefront, voices that have been historically marginalised and still oppressed today. I hope this can make a difference especially for students to see someone from their own community thriving so that they can be proud of who they are and where they come from, I want them to know the world is their oyster.
PHOTO CREDIT: TEACHERLATTE
Why is releasing collab collections celebrating indigenous/First Nation communities important to you/your brand?
It’s important to me to continue amplifying the voices and work of First Nations Peoples, being a non-Indigenous person living on stolen land. As a teacher, I believe the education system is still very eurocentric and there still needs to be a lot done to create culturally safe classrooms especially for First Nations children who learn to live between two different worlds - the world and cultural practices their ancestors lived by and the western world today. I am so fortunate to have worked with incredible First Nations artists, Lakkari Pitt who is a Gamilaroi yinarr (woman) and Mooki Pen, a Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islander) artist. Now, students are learning and seeing First Nations culture, achievement and history from a First Nations perspective, this is a moment worth celebrating.
PHOTO CREDIT: TEACHERLATTE
How do you hope this latest Māori stamp collab collection will be received by your customers and followers?
The Maimoa Creative and teacherlatte stamps are made specially for NZ educators and students, I hope our collection can make a difference for educators and to bring pride and joy into a student’s day when they see their work and culture being celebrated. Our stamps were a true collaborative effort from talented Māori creatives, firstly with Aroha’s personal hand lettered work to Josh Hurae’s beautiful motifs and captured by the talented Kylie from Two Coasts Studio. I hope NZ educators can finally enjoy the results from our 6 months project!
PHOTO CREDIT TWO COASTS STUDIO
What is an encouraging message you would like to share with educators around the world?
Teachers, you are valued and the work that you do matters. There is a proverb from Nelson Henderson, ‘the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.’ You are making a difference, even if you don’t see it today or tomorrow. Thank you for your tireless work and everything that you do!
Any further comments you’d like to add?
I would like to thank Aroha for being such a pleasure to work with. From the first drafts to the second, third and fourth revisions, your passion for revitalising te reo Māori shone through our entire 6 months of collaboration. I am incredibly honoured to create this special collection as a work of celebration of your beautiful culture and language.
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The stamp collection will be available to purchase from TEACHERLATTE website. $112.00 NZD for the set (six designs), or $22.00 for individual stamps. Free shipping for AU and NZ on orders over $80. All royalties made directly support the artist, and New Zealand Charity Kura Kai.
Follow TEACHERLATTE on instagram @teacherlatte
Māori motifs by Josh Hurae from Ūkaipō Arts
