12/07/2025
Many cultures honor death. Many hold the sacredness of it!! We were taught to be afriad of death. We were taught it's taboo to even talk about death.We shouldn't be afraid of it at all! It's part of the process! That's why understand the process is so important. When you understand and don't fear death it's actually very beautiful!
Maori culture understands death as a sacred transition that connects the living world with the ancestral world.
In Maori culture, whanau which means extended family and community gather around the person who is nearing death. No one dies Some sing, some watch over the body, some pray, and some speak directly to the spirit of the dying person. The emphasis is on connection, not fear.
After death, the body is treated with extreme respect. Washing, dressing, and preparing the body is done by loved ones. There is no rush and no shame.
The central practice is called the tangihanga. This is a multi day ceremony that takes place on a marae which is a communal meeting house. During the tangihanga, the entire community gathers with the family.
Kaumatua are respected elders who guide the community. During end of life care, they offer wisdom, support, and leadership. They speak for ancestors and uphold cultural practices during the tangihanga.
Kai karanga is a role held by women. It is the ceremonial call that welcomes people into the marae during the tangihanga. The karanga connects the living and the dead and calls the spirit safely forward.
Every part of this ancient system reminds us that dying is communal, spiritual, relational, and sacred. The modern Death doula career is a continuation of traditions that have existed across global cultures long before the medicalisation of death.
