Pai is a powerful girl who displays several characteristics of Mysticism throughout Whale Rider. Despite constantly being told she cannot be a leader because of her gender by her grandfather Paka, Pai knows in her heart that she can help her people. She cares very much about the people of her tribe and desperately wants to bring everyone together. She spends most of the movie trying to learn all she can about being a leader, while still respecting her grandfather as she understands that he just wants what is best for her. However, she still sees the injustice in having only male leaders and strives to prove that she can be the chief her tribe is looking for. A true feminist Pai sees nothing wrong about having a female chief. Despite being
