Paikea’s Determination to Become the Chief

Paikea’s Determination to Become the Chief Whale Rider by Niki Caro is a story about a 12 year old girl who is the true heir to be chief of the tribe but her grandfather, following Maori traditions, believes that the role of chief is to be the first born son of the chief only. Throughout the movie, Paikea is determined to prove that she is the true heir and can be the chief of the tribe. This movie shows how she struggles to get her grandfather’s approval due to his beliefs and the tribe’s tradition which dates back to ancient times.

By the end of the story he realizes that Pai is the one and only heir to be chief of the tribe. Throughout the story Paikea must prove to her grandfather that she has courage, determination, and that she has the ability to lead the people of the tribe. Pai cares about her tribe, their culture, and their traditions. Although she is only twelve years old, Pai shows leadership abilities and she is always right by her grandfather’s side. She wants to learn the traditions, so if her dreams of becoming the chief work out, she can pass them on to the rest of the tribe and be a good leader.

Paikea is trying to show that she is a strong, courageous girl and she can be a good chief. One side of her wants to prove to her grandfather she can be chief and she wants him to love her even though she is a girl, and the other half wants to prove that a girl can be just as good of a leader as a boy. Paikea shows courage because even though her grandfather has his disbeliefs in her and being the chief, she does whatever it takes to prove to him that she was just as good as any boy in the tribe. Paikea is very determined to learn the ways of her people.

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She looks through the windows and into the classroom where her grandfather is teaching the boys how to fight since she is not allowed to participate and learn with them. She asks her uncle to teach her how fight like the boys, and soon she becomes very good at fighting and can say some chants that only boys are supposed to know. Although her grandfather does not want Pai to learn and know any of the male traditions of the tribe, learns them, and is better than the boys. She is determined to prove to her grandfather that she can be the chief and be better at it than any boy in the tribe can.

At the end of the movie Paikea rides the whale out to sea; her grandmother gives the whales tooth to Koro that Pai retrieved from the lake when none of the boys could get it. After these two important events, he now knows that Paikea has the courage, determination, and the ability to become the chief of the tribe. Paikea inspires her uncle to teach her the taiaha, a stick used for fighting. Women were forbidden to board a waka, a fighting ship of the Maori tribe, and Paikea is able to sit in her dad’s waka with Koro at her side and she leads them off in a chant.

As the waka leaves all the villagers gather around the beach with excitement and perform a ritual ceremony as the waka heads out to sea celebrating the new heir to the chief. None of this would have been possible had Pai not fought traditions and had the determination to become the leader of the tribe Throughout the movie Whale Rider, Paikea has many struggles; although she didn’t know them she lost her mother and brother when she was first born, her father moving to Germany because he is not able to care for her, and her trying to get her grandfather’s approval.

Though she has these struggles she is still determined to prove to that she has what it takes to become chief of the tribe. Paikea is an inspiring young girl, she helps her uncle become a better person and she makes her family and the people of the tribe very happy by proving she has the courage to save the whales when her grandfather failed. By the end of the movie Paikea’s grandfather finally accepts the fact that she is the chief when her grandmother gives him the necklace of the with the whale’s tooth, which Paikea retrieved when none of the boys in her grandfather’s fighting class could do it.

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