Whakataukī | Proverb
"Kia tupato - me titiro whakamuri kia anga whakamua"
Be careful - look to the past to move forward into the future.
Primary sources are the voices of the past speaking to us directly - original documents, letters, photos, testimonies from people who lived through events. By analyzing these sources carefully and critically, especially from multiple perspectives, we understand history more truthfully. Always ask: Whose voice is this? Whose voices are missing?
📜 Primary Source Analysis Template
Unit 2: Decolonized History
📋 Learning Objectives:
- Analyze historical primary sources critically
- Identify bias, perspective, and purpose in documents
- Contextualize sources within their historical moment
- Recognize whose voices are present and absent
- Develop historical thinking skills
Attach photo/copy of your primary source here, or write key excerpts below:
Type of source:
(letter, diary, photo, newspaper, government document, speech, etc.)
Date created:
Author/Creator:
What was happening in New Zealand/the world when this was created?
Who was the intended audience for this source?
What is the main message or argument of this source?
What evidence or examples does it provide?
What language or tone is used? (formal/informal, emotional/factual, biased/neutral)
What is the author's perspective or bias? How can you tell?
Whose voice/perspective is MISSING from this source? (Think: Māori vs Pākehā, men vs women, wealthy vs poor)
Is this source reliable? What makes you trust or question it?
Why was this source important at the time it was created?
How does this source help us understand history from a decolonized perspective?
What impact does this source still have on Aotearoa today?
🌟 Extension Challenge
Counter-Narrative Research: Find a PRIMARY SOURCE that presents a DIFFERENT perspective on the same event. Compare and contrast the two sources!
Second source found:
How do these two sources differ in their perspective?