Meet Amelia Butler

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amelia Butler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amelia below.

Amelia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Firstly, this question is interesting because it implies that you “find” your purpose. It is my belief that your “purpose” finds you! This is my experience when I look back on the many things I have done over the years – most of which I did not actively seek out! A great example of this is my work as a Māori cultural practitioner here on Turtle Island (USA). I actually moved to the USA to pursue a career in hiphop dance and was a professional dancer in the LA dance industry for a number of years! Never in a million years did I think I would be teaching my language and culture here in America! However, once I had my first child things shifted with my dance career and I started looking at what else I could do for work. I had the idea of teaching te reo Māori (the Māori language) to kiwis living abroad and the rest is history! It is my experience that my purpose – to empower others through sharing Māori culture – really did find me 🙂

Another thing I’ve noticed about purpose is that people often think your purpose is about what you do but I’ve learned that purpose is ultimately your core intention in life. For example, my purpose is to empower others which is something I have done in many ways over the years! As a Māori cultural practitioner I empower Māori by giving them access to Māori culture and language while they are living abroad. This allows them to reclaim and reconnect with their cultural heritage. For those who are non-Māori engaging with Māori culture is a way for them to connecting with their own indigeneity, empowering them in who they are.

So, how did I find my purpose of empowering others? I took a self-development and leadership course in my early 20s which played a big role in helping me to identify what was at the core of who I am and what I do. I’m grateful that my purpose found me earlier in life and for it to have created a strong foundation for me and for everything I do! For those who are unsure about their purpose I encourage you to “allow” it to find you! Whether it’s empowering others like me or something different it’s already there if you take a deeper look 🙂

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Kia ora! My name is Amelia Butler and I am an indigenous Māori woman and Māori cultural practitioner from Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am the founder and director of Learn Māori Abroad, a US-based organization that offers Māori language classes, traditional Māori dance workshops (such as haka) and cultural workshops. We also have our kapa haka (traditional Māori performing arts) group, Ngā Ānahera Māori, who perform across the US at corporate and community events.

I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Native American brothers and sisters whose lands we currently reside on. I am writing this from the lands of the Chickasaw nation in Memphis, TN. My business is based on Tongva territory (LA). I encourage you to find out the name(s) of the local tribe(s) where you live as a “first step” of acknowledgement of the lands and indigenous peoples of the area where you reside.

I’m excited to be launching a new offering for BIPOC women this year! This offering will focus on guiding WOC on a process of reindigenization to support and empower them in their healing journeys.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three skills that have been impactful on my journey are:

1) The ability to create community
2) A strong work ethic
3) Confidence

1) The ability to create community – Creating and having community will make a profound and lasting difference in your life. I have heard that people who are part of a community actually live longer! I encourage you to build relationships with others, whether it’s in-person or online through social media, and start creating a community today. It could be around your business or something you are interested in (your passion or hobby)! I have found that the value of having community is priceless. Your community will be there to pick you up when you are down and support you with whatever you are up to in the world! Being able to build community is an important part of success in many areas of life!

2) A strong work ethic – Being able to do something consistently day after day and developing a strong work ethic definitely pays off in the long run! While it can be challenging, taking a small step everyday can add up to something big in the future! What is something small you can to today that will make a difference in your tomorrow? As Nike says, “Just do it!”

3) Confidence – I’ve never been afraid to just “go for it” and put myself out there. If there is something you are scared of doing I encourage you to do that! Because the next time will be easier! And the time after that will be even easier! Being able to break through fear and build confidence will greatly impact your life.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My mother exposing me to Māori culture and language and my father supporting that has been extremely impactful on me. Without her doing that I would not be doing any of the Māori cultural work I am now doing.

When I was growing up in Aotearoa, New Zealand my Māori mum made sure that my siblings and I knew who we were as Māori kids. She installed pride in us when it came to being Māori and ensured we knew a lot about our culture and identity as Māori.

If it wasn’t for mum putting me into Kōhanga Reo (Māori language preschool), fighting for me to learn te reo Māori (the Māori language) at high school and encouraging me to study Māori language and culture at University I wouldn’t be where I am today; teaching the Māori language and culture to learners living all over the world. Mum also regularly took us to visit our grandmother (her mother) and immersed us in Māori culture through trips to the marae (traditional Māori gathering place) and visits with her whānau (family). Mum would also take us to Māori wānanga (cultural workshops) to learn more about the culture.

I am so grateful for my mother sharing Māori culture with myself and my siblings. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe! Thanks so much mum!

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