Drowning Victim, 6, Came From New Zealand Three-Day Maori Ceremony Precedes Return Of Body To Native Land

Leilana Tuau rested peacefully Monday in the living room of her grandmother’s Dalton Gardens house, surrounded by family, friends and flowers, waiting to go home.

The 6-year-old girl’s body will be flown to New Zealand on Wednesday where she will be buried next to her grandfather.

“This was a place she stayed, but not a place she knew like home,” said Georgina Erickson, Leilana’s mother.

Leilana wandered away from her grandmother Friday while swimming with her cousins, ages 7 and 5, at City Beach. Another swimmer found her drowned in shallow water a few minutes later. The accident happened about 30 minutes after city lifeguards went off duty for the day.

“We know that Leilana has gone home and we know that she is at peace,” Erickson said.

That peace comes from Erickson’s deep religious and cultural beliefs. Erickson has maintained strong ties to her native Maori culture since moving with her daughter and husband, Kristopher, to Coeur d’Alene from New Zealand last year.

Monday that meant continuing the “Tangi” - a three-day Maori burial ceremony - for Leilana in her mother-in-law’s living room, and arranging her flight to New Zealand.

“You don’t take your family to a funeral home,” Kristopher Erickson said. “You take your family home. Even in death, you take your family home.”

During the Tangi, Leilana’s body will not be left unattended.

Family members sleep on the floor next to Leilana’s tidy bed and take turns staying with her during the day. The “whaikorero” - morning and nightly prayers - are followed by a “waiata” or song.

Bouquets of flowers ring the bed.

The ceremony is a way of staying with Leilana’s soul until she is buried, Georgina Erickson said. The ritual will be repeated again with family and friends in New Zealand.

“Until they’re (buried) their spirit never goes too far from their body,” she said.

Family and friends will remember Leilana, who celebrated her 6th birthday in May and only lost her second baby tooth last week, as outgoing, adventurous and warmhearted.

“She wasn’t scared to try anything new,” Georgina Erickson said.

Added Kristopher Erickson: “She knew no strangers. She loved everybody.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: A trust account has been established through First Security Bank to help Georgina and Kristopher Erickson with funeral expenses. Donations can be made in Leilana’s name to any First Security Bank branch.