When looking at The Whale Rider from a historical perspective, one particular way of looking at it is the contemporary vs. the traditional. The village is at constant battle with holding on to the old sacred traditions, while at the same time trying to find a balance with modern contemporary culture. This is seen especially in the scene where Hemi is excited to have his dad watch him demonstrate the use of the taiaha, only to leave right after he is done and then go hang with his buddies instead. We see this also in how the kids and the adults talk to each other: the kids say how they can't wait to be older so they can leave the village and start anew, while the adults (like Koro) hang on to the traditions and try to keep them alive as hard as they can. The one who finds herself caught in the middle is Paikea, who wants to be the next leader of their tribe but is forbidden to. Looking at this film from a historical standpoint will help the viewers see this constant battle between the contemporary and the traditional.
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