The Maori way

I know that when I get a feeling about something that I am in it for the long haul but on the odd occasion I find that I am faced with situations where I feel pushed out of safety.  I love who I am as a Maori Doula and what I offer to Maori Women in terms of prenatal and antenatal care, that I would not change what I do.  Not because I am set in my ways or that I am not willing to compromise, but merely because it has taken this long to have the old ways of birthing reaffirmed in daily life.  That I don't want these teachings compromised in any way, as when I feel that I feel my safety net is being taken away from me.  My tikanga, ahuatanga and Maoritanga is what makes what I do unique and what makes each experience with a whanau unique.  I learn their tribal customs and those rites that pertain to their tribal links and it's those tribal links I acknowledge in making the birthing experience what it becomes.  I go out of my way to assist in births that are not embraced by mainstream Doula or Midwives.  My abilities are learned and nurtured by people who are no longer here, it's those skills that I can not find in any text book or classroom learning.  It's those skills that I fear, I will not be able to use if I decide to take on the accredited route.  I'm torn and I'm feeling it's effects in such a big way, that I feel that I have caused a riff within my circle of friends.  I had no intention of intending to offend anyone, I felt I needed to share the aspect of concern at the time and what I was feeling.  I don't feel that there is a united backing in our wanting to Doula in our own way, in the Maori way as I grew up with.  Papa, what would you suggest I do?  I'm sounding egotistical and selfish, yet I feel I need to protect our ways.