Haven't heard much from Labor but just heard a speech by Tony Abbott. Looks like he wants the great indigenous leaders like Noel Pearson to self determine the way forward. Not mad on the Libs but if Tony means what he says then good on him. Now he has to deliver!
It has taken the Libs a long time to be dragged kicking and screaming towards self determination. Prime Minister Howard would not even apologise for the wrongs of the past. In his speech Tony referred to the 1788 landing as the beginning of modern Australia which is a very debatable view. Shades of colonialism methinks. On the positive side Tony Abbott admitted the great wrongs that were perpetrated on the indigenous Australians from the time of the landing. He seemed moved in his speech. Let's hope he can get self determination up and running strongly. Part of the action plan has to be an enlightening of all Australians about the past and to build a deep respect for their indigenous brothers and sisters. All Aussies watch their TVs and I am convinced this is the medium for getting all Australians on board. This is a matter much more serious than can be handled by Twitter, Facebook or the internet in general, although they may have a role to play.
My deep-rooted personal view is that the advancement of indigenous Australians should be through a bipartisan approach by the Federal Parliament.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Indigenous Australians - Indigenous Philosopher Kings and Queens as Leaders
In earlier posts I described how the governments of the day need to identify indigenous leaders of the order of the Dodson brothers, Noel Pearson and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks et al and give these great leaders the unfettered opportunity to self determine the future for their peoples. I see them as the Philosopher Kings and Queens of their peoples and can't wait to know that they are in the highest halls of Australian governmental power bringing about the change that is needed for indigenous Australians.
In the ABC Q&A this week Professor Fiona Stanley and others put the above view and I was heartened.
Those who believe in the cause need to canvass their pollies of both sides to see which side, if elected, will act and act decisively and without all the bureaucratic palaver.
In the ABC Q&A this week Professor Fiona Stanley and others put the above view and I was heartened.
Those who believe in the cause need to canvass their pollies of both sides to see which side, if elected, will act and act decisively and without all the bureaucratic palaver.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Despair hurting the cause for Indigenous Australians
"Lessons learnt from violent colonial past", The West Australian, Thursday May 23, 2013. In this article we are reminded that in 1833 Midgegooroo, a Noongar leader was executed by firing squad without trial. He was the father of Yagan a Noongar who resisted white settlement. Yagan was later killed by a white settler. This is the despair of happenings as part of the systematic destruction of the aboriginal culture(s) across Australia that progressed well into the 20th century.
In the same article we read of the effort of the current WA state government which is in the process of resolving a settlement of the 2006 Noongar native title decision. "This is said to include a $1 billion package of cash and land transfers to the Noongar people of Perth and the South West." The Premier Colin Barnett aims to reach a settlement with the native title representative body ".....that would extinguish all future native title claims in Noongar country but benefit an estimated 35,000 Noongar descendants." The agreement is also to include "...recognition of the Noongar people as the original inhabitants and traditional owners and this would be enshrined in an Act of Parliament."
If this is accepted by the Noongar people it could be a good thing but only time will tell. I suspect that the hurts of the destruction of the culture of the Noongars still runs deep.
In recent editions of The West Australian the despair about far too many suicides amongst aboriginal youth is recorded and is being addressed. Also there are often articles despairing the high proportion of aboriginal incarcerations within the total prison population. This blog has addressed this issue in previous posts. I have just received an email from Generation One who have set about taking positive action to reduce this incarceration. My experience in a past career and from what I read still suggests to me that many aboriginal youth learn from their elders to have a major disrespect for anglo Australians, whites if you like, such that acts of crime are somehow part of the fight to right the wrongs of the destruction of aboriginal societies. A sort of terrorist warfare if you will. On one level this is understandable given the horrific wrongs of the past. On another level, if true, how is it helping the achievement of a true reconciliation commencing with Kevin Rudd's apology? Any effort to right the imbalance of aboriginal incarcerations needs to be bold enough to explore with the elders the depth of animosity that may manifest itself in needless criminal activity.
Recently I learned of an incident where someone close to me was driving along with an aboriginal friend in his car when a band of aboriginal youths threw two rocks at the moving car breaking the passenger window. Fortunately no one was hurt, but the negative fallout in the mind of the young driver, a white anglo who has many aboriginal friends was very sad. One can see his support for the aboriginal cause waning. He sees these young people destroying themselves and their peers and elders by drawing negative reactions from the wider community because of such vandalistic and dangerous random acts.
Recently the Chief Minister of the NT added to the picture of despair when he boldly suggested removing aboriginal children from abusive environments. The cry naturally was 'back to the Stolen Generation'. There is no doubt that the Chief Minister's motives were solely to protect young children who happen to be aboriginal. No matter whether indigenous or non indigenous there is no excuse that will explain the abuse of young children.
Are we moving forward as a nation of mixed races and ethnicities and allowing our indigenous brothers and sisters to self determine their future as part of this rich fabric of our society? Is there a self destructive undertone that is severely hurting the aboriginal cause? Do more aboriginal persons have to die by their own hands or commit what seem to be needless criminal activities and be incarcerated or can we stem this tide of despair?
In the same article we read of the effort of the current WA state government which is in the process of resolving a settlement of the 2006 Noongar native title decision. "This is said to include a $1 billion package of cash and land transfers to the Noongar people of Perth and the South West." The Premier Colin Barnett aims to reach a settlement with the native title representative body ".....that would extinguish all future native title claims in Noongar country but benefit an estimated 35,000 Noongar descendants." The agreement is also to include "...recognition of the Noongar people as the original inhabitants and traditional owners and this would be enshrined in an Act of Parliament."
If this is accepted by the Noongar people it could be a good thing but only time will tell. I suspect that the hurts of the destruction of the culture of the Noongars still runs deep.
In recent editions of The West Australian the despair about far too many suicides amongst aboriginal youth is recorded and is being addressed. Also there are often articles despairing the high proportion of aboriginal incarcerations within the total prison population. This blog has addressed this issue in previous posts. I have just received an email from Generation One who have set about taking positive action to reduce this incarceration. My experience in a past career and from what I read still suggests to me that many aboriginal youth learn from their elders to have a major disrespect for anglo Australians, whites if you like, such that acts of crime are somehow part of the fight to right the wrongs of the destruction of aboriginal societies. A sort of terrorist warfare if you will. On one level this is understandable given the horrific wrongs of the past. On another level, if true, how is it helping the achievement of a true reconciliation commencing with Kevin Rudd's apology? Any effort to right the imbalance of aboriginal incarcerations needs to be bold enough to explore with the elders the depth of animosity that may manifest itself in needless criminal activity.
Recently I learned of an incident where someone close to me was driving along with an aboriginal friend in his car when a band of aboriginal youths threw two rocks at the moving car breaking the passenger window. Fortunately no one was hurt, but the negative fallout in the mind of the young driver, a white anglo who has many aboriginal friends was very sad. One can see his support for the aboriginal cause waning. He sees these young people destroying themselves and their peers and elders by drawing negative reactions from the wider community because of such vandalistic and dangerous random acts.
Recently the Chief Minister of the NT added to the picture of despair when he boldly suggested removing aboriginal children from abusive environments. The cry naturally was 'back to the Stolen Generation'. There is no doubt that the Chief Minister's motives were solely to protect young children who happen to be aboriginal. No matter whether indigenous or non indigenous there is no excuse that will explain the abuse of young children.
Are we moving forward as a nation of mixed races and ethnicities and allowing our indigenous brothers and sisters to self determine their future as part of this rich fabric of our society? Is there a self destructive undertone that is severely hurting the aboriginal cause? Do more aboriginal persons have to die by their own hands or commit what seem to be needless criminal activities and be incarcerated or can we stem this tide of despair?
Monday, January 7, 2013
NITV CH34
Mega exciting that indigenous Australia can now talk to all Australians through their new free to air TV channel.
The trick is to have SBS encourage its viewers to watch CH34. A sample I viewed enabled me as a non-indigenous Aussie to understand more about the history of Aboriginal life before 1788 and after 1788.
Get it out their so that the ratings suggest a difference is being made and indigenous Aussies are being given the respect they so richly deserve.
The challenges for non-indigenous Australia will be to tolerate and live with the nuances of Aboriginal cultures as they exist in the 21st century.
The trick is to have SBS encourage its viewers to watch CH34. A sample I viewed enabled me as a non-indigenous Aussie to understand more about the history of Aboriginal life before 1788 and after 1788.
Get it out their so that the ratings suggest a difference is being made and indigenous Aussies are being given the respect they so richly deserve.
The challenges for non-indigenous Australia will be to tolerate and live with the nuances of Aboriginal cultures as they exist in the 21st century.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
No Referendum in 2013 about indigenous Aussies
Do I hear correctly that the Federal Labor Government is resiling from holding a referendum in 2013 to recognise indigenous Australians in the constitution? The referendum would have provided the Federal Government with a wonderful opportunity to educate all non-indigenous Australians about their indigenous brothers and sisters. Through a carefully crafted TV campaign leading up to the referendum the profile of the needs of indigenous Australians could have been lifted.
The Labor Government better come up with something as life is not so flash for a lot of indigenous Australians, especially in the remote communities of the desert and the north.
The Australian population at large must show the pollies that enough is enough. Speak up indigenous leaders, insisting on a better deal based on self determination and the right to be connected to country while having plenty of resources to meet the primary needs for food, shelter, clothing, health and security.
The Labor Government better come up with something as life is not so flash for a lot of indigenous Australians, especially in the remote communities of the desert and the north.
The Australian population at large must show the pollies that enough is enough. Speak up indigenous leaders, insisting on a better deal based on self determination and the right to be connected to country while having plenty of resources to meet the primary needs for food, shelter, clothing, health and security.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Appalling statistics
In an article titled "Fear and guilt drive child policy" (The West Australian, Thursday, September 6, 2012, p21) Amanda Banks the legal affairs editor of the West Australian newspaper cites incarceration figures for indigenous Australians in WA as follows:
"As at last Thursday, 65 per cent of the juveniles in custody in WA were Aboriginal. Department of Corrective Services figures also reveal that nearly 40 per cent of adults in our jails were Aboriginal. Yet indigenous people make up just 3.8 per cent of the population."
Banks goes on to state that "Logically, the social disadvantage faced by many in the indigenous community is the main driver of this over-representation in the criminal justice system." She claimed that: "Making this connection is nothing revolutionary."
Banks then cites material from the Curtin University annual ethics lecture from last week as delivered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Wayne Martin. The Chief Justice identifies appalling conditions in which some indigenous children live and harks back to the long lasting negative consequences of the Stolen Generation. He wants these conditions changed for the better so that these indigneous children "...are no longer left in situations that condemn them to a life of desperation."
How long is this situation going to be tolerated by the indigenous First Australians and non-indigenous Australians?
In previous posts for this blog it has been suggested by a senior indigenous leader that part of the cause for these high levels of incarceration is also a pay back action against the whites for wrongs of the past : a sort of underground fighting back.
The hearts of all Australians must bleed when they contemplate these disproportionate levels of imprisonment. The minds of those who care to and strive to change this must be working overtime.
All hail movements like Generation One which aim to see indigenous persons in meaningful employment that will enable them to easily meet their primary needs for food, shelter and clothing and also to be proud of what they are achieving. All this within a context of retaining connection to country as enabled by successful land rights decisions.
From recent protest action it is evident that there are those in the indigenous communities who would have sovereignty over their lands under legislation that goes back to the days of Queen Victoria. These persons are clearly aggrieved at what they probably see as a cop out by those indigenous persons who take on what might be termed employment as typified by non-indigenous Australians.
It is so complex. One cries out for the big indigenous leaders like the Dodsons, Noel Pearson and others to lead indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to get it right so that there is a true and lasting reconciliation.
"As at last Thursday, 65 per cent of the juveniles in custody in WA were Aboriginal. Department of Corrective Services figures also reveal that nearly 40 per cent of adults in our jails were Aboriginal. Yet indigenous people make up just 3.8 per cent of the population."
Banks goes on to state that "Logically, the social disadvantage faced by many in the indigenous community is the main driver of this over-representation in the criminal justice system." She claimed that: "Making this connection is nothing revolutionary."
Banks then cites material from the Curtin University annual ethics lecture from last week as delivered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Wayne Martin. The Chief Justice identifies appalling conditions in which some indigenous children live and harks back to the long lasting negative consequences of the Stolen Generation. He wants these conditions changed for the better so that these indigneous children "...are no longer left in situations that condemn them to a life of desperation."
How long is this situation going to be tolerated by the indigenous First Australians and non-indigenous Australians?
In previous posts for this blog it has been suggested by a senior indigenous leader that part of the cause for these high levels of incarceration is also a pay back action against the whites for wrongs of the past : a sort of underground fighting back.
The hearts of all Australians must bleed when they contemplate these disproportionate levels of imprisonment. The minds of those who care to and strive to change this must be working overtime.
All hail movements like Generation One which aim to see indigenous persons in meaningful employment that will enable them to easily meet their primary needs for food, shelter and clothing and also to be proud of what they are achieving. All this within a context of retaining connection to country as enabled by successful land rights decisions.
From recent protest action it is evident that there are those in the indigenous communities who would have sovereignty over their lands under legislation that goes back to the days of Queen Victoria. These persons are clearly aggrieved at what they probably see as a cop out by those indigenous persons who take on what might be termed employment as typified by non-indigenous Australians.
It is so complex. One cries out for the big indigenous leaders like the Dodsons, Noel Pearson and others to lead indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to get it right so that there is a true and lasting reconciliation.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Referendum on Australia's First Peoples
The West Australian newspaper reported in the week commencing 9 April 2012 that the Federal Government is to spend $10 million on advertising in preparing the Australian population for the referendum scheduled for 2013. This is good news provided that they allow professional advertisers to assist in designing the messages to be delivered. It is vital to educate all Australians about indigenous Australians as so few Australians have the comprehensive experience that enables a positive understanding of the nuances of indigenous culture(s). There is a real striving by indigenous Australians to move forward ranging from the recent angry protests at Herrison Island in Perth WA to the wonderful work of the Generation One movement to create employment opportunities and the awesome work of great indigenous leaders like Patrick Dodson who is a national treasure and an inspiring leader of his Broome people.
In the same West Australian newspaper article cited above it was reported that Patrick is worried that the referendum will be delayed beyond 2013 and that the result will be a negative about recognising Australia's indigenous people in the Australian Constitution as the First People and the true owners of the land.
Let us hope that the Federal government can assist all Australians to understand with sympathy even the anger of the protestors and the desire of indigenous Australians to be respected as the true spirit people of this wonderful land of Australia. A valid yes vote can only occur if there is tolerance for cultural practices that do not fit the white European mould and a desire to contribute to Australia's First Peoples to be able to have self determination, inclusive of those aspects of 21st century living like health, shelter, sufficient sustenance to sustain long life and above all respect every day of their lives.
In the same West Australian newspaper article cited above it was reported that Patrick is worried that the referendum will be delayed beyond 2013 and that the result will be a negative about recognising Australia's indigenous people in the Australian Constitution as the First People and the true owners of the land.
Let us hope that the Federal government can assist all Australians to understand with sympathy even the anger of the protestors and the desire of indigenous Australians to be respected as the true spirit people of this wonderful land of Australia. A valid yes vote can only occur if there is tolerance for cultural practices that do not fit the white European mould and a desire to contribute to Australia's First Peoples to be able to have self determination, inclusive of those aspects of 21st century living like health, shelter, sufficient sustenance to sustain long life and above all respect every day of their lives.
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