Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate

I am saddened to read the article:  Chapman Murray, "Soaring Kimberley youth suicide rate demands attention," The West Australian, 28 June 2016, p19.  To quote:

"Rates of indigenous suicide in the Kimberley over the past 10 years were seven times the national average."  The national rate is 12 suicides per 100,000 people while rates in the Kimberley are 74 people per 100,000.

Professor Chapman indicates that "Indigenous suicide may be considered one of the 'downstream effects of the processes involved in colonisation followed by further cultural disruption in the wake of the efforts to recolonise."  Against this scenario he writes:  "....suicide appears to have been unknown in traditional indigenous society."  He cites indigenous youth being the group most at risk.  On top of this Professor Chapman indicates high rates of suicidality behaviours such as self harm among indigenous populations at 10 times those experienced by the non-indigenous population.

To read this on the eve of a Federal election almost devoid of any voiced commitments to indigenous affairs is a dreadful irony.  Bill Shorten did indicate that he is proud that there are more indigenous Labor candidates for this election than ever before.  If elected they face a massive challenge to address problems such as Professor Chapman's article reveals.

I still hold to my position that the Federal Parliament should have an honorary body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prominent persons representing the various indigenous communities across Australia.  These leaders should be allowed to sit with the House of Representatives at least twice each year and be able to state their problems to the whole parliament which must listen then act in a bipartisan way.  The normal business of the House would be suspended for the period of these meetings as a sign of respect that the whole nation is listening and is prepared to act together to right the wrongs for indigenous Australians.  I ask for such a revered group with its members not restricted by political party affiliations even though some of its members might happen to be elected state or federal politicians for example Pat Dodson a senator in the WA upper house.  These respected persons are the Philosopher Kings and Queens of their people and parliament must listen.

My plan is radical but nothing ventured nothing gained.  We are not winning at the moment and indigenous persons are dying by their own hand or earlier than would be expected and indigenous youth is being incarcerated at an alarming rate. We must get the local community views directly into the parliament not have them filtered/trickled in through layers of people.

Help me gather momentum for what I have suggested.



GD

Sydney : 1788/2016

More poetry.  Another sonnet.  I can't help myself and once again apologies to all good poets.

Sydney : 1788/2016

Wind sighing in that quiet green place

Waves lapping on white sand shore

Tribes living free by ancient law

Furtive dark eyes from craggy face

Peer bemused at that urgent race

That grunts and pulls as it seeks ever more

From that unblemished pristine shore

I am silent, still, as a city gathers pace

The bridge, the bustle, about to gush

White, brown and black for life do claw

Towards their goals amid the rush

Of the awakening giant with greedy maw

Hopes won, hopes dashed in the selfish push

For understanding, love, amid traffic’s roar Enough already! GD

1788

I humbly offer this sonnet I penned some time ago with apologies to all good poets:

Australia Day - The Terra Nullius Excuse

Webs shimmering in the dewy morning air

Wisps of smoke from dwindled fires

Bird calls from leafy lofty spires

He stands tall, lean, one-legged there

On rocky headland salt-sprayed bare

What strange craft on sea swell mires

The calmness of these homeland shires

They come these harbingers of despair

Strange ways and customs do they bring

Taking anything and all they need

No talk or bargain was there made

They must away their death we sing

Tithing our land with evil greed

Mysterious arrogant force displayed

Enough already!

GD

A Treaty

Heard Bill Shorten say today that he would support a Treaty once the constitutional recognition of Australia's First Peoples has occurred.

This is good news but the bad news is the fighting and unrest in the Aurukun community in the north east of Queensland.  The teachers have been pulled out and the schooling has gone over to distance education offerings.  A report stated:  "Twenty-five teachers and staff are leaving Aurukun after the principal of Noel Pearson's Cape York Academy had his car stolen by a group of youths, one who was brandishing an axe."  It's a major worry.

GD