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Owlunar
Senior Contributor

Re: HOME

Hi @utopia

 

You are not alone - I feel as you do - I really care about out Indigneous peoples and why should they assimilate into the white culture? Would we want to assimilate into theirs?

 

Our people took their land, their culture and their children - their religion - forced them from the rich coastal land into the deserts and they did not ask for this - really - I feel so angry about the Lost Generations - what is so great about being white that they would want to be like us?

 

You are right -  people are just not interested - I wonder if I would have been if my son had not been aboriginal - he was fair as a baby but his skin, hair and eyes became darker and his features changed. My mother's family has origins from the Black Irish so my family decided the swarthy good looks came from there - but to me as he grew older he looked aboriginal - 

 

And my family didn't want to know

 

So you are not crazy or alone - I feel the same way - I feel they first peoples had wonderful religious ideas and I also believe no one should try to change someone else's religion - 

 

I know you are sad and discouraged - I wonder sometimes if people become apathetic because so many people don't care - just go with the flow sorta thing - don't be different. Don't stand out

 

I have been different all my life - if I feel uncomfortable when I speak out I know I would feel worse if I didn't - my father stood out and thundered is name into the phone sometimes when he was displeased - but racist - yes - he was - and my mother did not want to stand out in anyway - I think she was afraid to be seen as different - in reality though

 

We are all unique - what a pity people don't rejoice in being unique

 

I get it Utupia

 

Dec

Owlunar
Senior Contributor

Re: HOME

Hi @Teej

 

It's good to see you around again - I have to catch up with what you have been doing and 

 

How are things for you now - I hope things are as good as they possibly can be for you

 

I haven't heard this album but I like the idea of cheering when it's appropriate and booing too - though the noise of booing scares me a little

 

Great to see you 

 

Dec

Re: HOME

I would like to see an element of stronger “assimilation” of Australian Aboriginal culture into our society .....

I would like to see Australian Aboriginal cookbooks on the shelves of our bookstores .....

I would like to see Australian Aboriginal designed and created woven products available in market stalls and sold through high-end home decor stores .....

I would like to see a range of make-up designed by Australian Aboriginal women for Aboriginal women, and for anyone else who would like to learn from them, including (if they permit) traditional application of make-up far more ancient that anything our current society has designed .....

I would like to see Australian Aboriginal inspired clothing and footwear designs by Australian Aboriginal artisans .....

And influences in the construction of homes and community facilities that reflect traditional Australian Aboriginal communal living by Australian Aboriginal community leaders working with architects, incorporating the solar-passive traditional lifestyle that comes with an ancient knowledge of this country and it’s natural resources ..... 

I would like to see Aboriginal language classes on offer within the wider Australian community, and for it to be common knowledge to be able to say hello, goodbye, how are you, etc in the local tribal dialects ....

I would like to see Australian Aboriginal music and dance classes on offer ....

I would like to see nature walks and bush-tucker classes offered by Australian Aboriginal guides .....

We have so much to learn.  In our multi-cultural society our First People ought to be strongly represented, and familiar to us all.

@utopia

utopia
Senior Contributor

Re: HOME

@Faith-and-Hope. Some wonderful wants yiu have listed.
There are a number of places on the Internet where you can buy directly from the Aboriginal artists. Once you start 'liking' some of their Facebook pages - more similar pages will pop up. This is where I find a lot of information.
There are clothing companies, modern and traditional painters, weavers, potters, authors etc. But you do need to do an initial hunt on the web.
Occasionally there has been Aboriginal print designs that large clothing/retail companies have purchased the rights to, from the Aboriginal designers. Unfortunately they don't seem to support a continuing relationship with these designers to produce the products - as the retailers like to get the items made cheaper overseas
There are a lot of Aboriginal singer / singwriters, actors and directors, playwriters, etc. You just need to search to find this art.
I believe Perth would have a lot of plays etc, as the Noongar people are quite prominent. Likewise in Melbourne (biggest Aboriginal population in Victoria) - there are many things to do and see.
There are a lot of Aboriginal run tourist ventures. Most of these are small operators, so again you need to search.
There is still a long way to go til it is more mainstream and doesn't require as much research to find.
But the more we support these small Aboriginal run enterprises - the sooner they will become mainstream.
@Owlunar. Celebrating being unique.
For most if my life I have celebrated and enjoyed my uniqueness. These past 4 years however, since I've joined the mental illness brigade, I dislike being seen as unique or different. I think I have more of a desire now to 'fit in' & to be seen as 'normal'. Definitely an area worth discussing with my psychologist next week.
I've always found most Australians to be apathetic about a lot of things. But maybe as I age, I'm really trying to search for my Utopian dream. Acceptance and compassion and love and helping each other. Rather than a focus on winning, and profit before all else, and each person for themselves.
Maybe this searching is due to my reflecting on the life I want to live and to be surrounded by, since my MI diagnosis.
But all I see on tv or hear on the radio are about bombing people, turning back boats, letting people rot away in detention, the government giving themselves another pay rise, while the average Australian struggles, the reducing of funds to services that support the most needy, the sensationalist fake news reporting, the focus on them versus us mentality, businesses not supporting and protecting their staff. So much in this world us just plain wrong and ugly.
My son today said nothing will change. There will always be wars. We can't stop it. Qho am I raising? A child who accepts that this is it and just goes with the flow?
This is not the world I signed up for. And if more people don't start fighting to gwt things changed, I can't see myself sticking around to watch it.
There MUST BE some change.
There MUST BE some hope.

Re: HOME

Thanks @utopia ....... 🤗💕

I have gently been sowing whatever seeds I can across many years ...... mentioning to teachers the strangeness in languages such as Indonesian being part of the school curriculum, yet the children don’t know how to greet each other and pass simple pleasantries in their local Aboriginal dialect in the hope that they will venture to find out about Aboriginal language resources individually, and raise the topic amongst other teachers ...... hopefully tapping into local resources ......

I have enquirered about Aboriginal recipes, bush-tucker ingredients, etc from stores, both regular and gourmet ......,

I have suggested to museum stores that they stock Aboriginal handcrafts, clothing and homewares fabrics, hoping to stir up a supply-demand situation similar to what is happening with Aboriginal wall art.

I think there is a greater availability to Aboriginal culture here than in my home state, and I intend to go exploring.

I think if we didn’t already have a second culture within our family, I may have pursued a greater immersion in Aboriginal culture for our kids ...... but with the “perfect storms” we have encountered more frequently than the average, basic survival comes first, and maintaining our current bilingualism and bicukturalism ...... when even this came under intense pressure here. Perhaps I have made break-throughs on that front that help pave the way for greater respect for diversity anyway. I hope so.
utopia
Senior Contributor

Re: HOME

@Faith-and-Hope I think it's very important for children to be able to speak their parents language and to understand the culture. So well done for making that part of your kids life. I am still angry that my ex refused to teach our son his language and culture. My boy has missed out on so much.
That's great that you have been so active in trying to encourage others to incorporate aboriginal art food and culture into their stores.
I think last night I had just had enough. I was worn out and struggling with so much negative self talk. I ended up crying myself to sleep (which is good in a way - I must be getting better because I can cry now. I haven't been able to for a long time).
So today's aim is to sit in the sun, listen to the birds and try not to focus on any negative self talk.
Thank you so much for letting me know I'm not alone in my passions and values. That means a lot.
eth
Community Elder

Re: HOME

You are not alone @utopia.  So much I could say here but I'm just not up to it today.  Thanks for the tag @Teej.  

utopia
Senior Contributor

Re: HOME

Thank you @eth. Take care of yourself today. ♥
eth
Community Elder

Re: HOME

Content warning :  assault

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My father worked in aboriginal education from early in my childhood and I travelled to many communities with him in oz and PNG.  As a result of amazing experiences (including ceremonial) too many to detail, I became an adult who felt compelled to help indigenous people however possible.  In my late 20s I 'answered the call' and relocated my (and my child's) life in order to support an elder who was trying to get a share of a land title claim.  Fast forward a few years and to cut a long story short I was punished severely by her opponents for getting involved in their business (I am caucasian). Taken to the bush and assaulted in a life threatening way. (Post edited as per mod request).  So I learned the very hard way that there is a limit to how involved we (non-aboriginal people) should be and in what manner.  I spent 2001 to 2017 in the NT where the first nation people are way more visible than here on the east coast.  And they have many enterprises developing and businesses and lands that they manage briliantly.  Plus festivals in many communities where they invite outsiders to come in and share their culture.  It is only appropriate to get more involved by invitation in my opinion.  There are food and bush medicine and cultural tours available, again run by A&TI people themselves.  And many art co-operatives which guarantee the proceeds from sales go back to the artists.  A good way to start being involved is going to these festivals - they are usually culture, sport and music and people come from communities far and wide. It is the finance raised at these times that helps get many ventures off the ground.  The biggest one is the Garma, held near Nhulunbuoy which includes educational forums, another I'd recommend is Barunga, outside Katherine and also the cultural tour led by Miriam-Rose Ungenmarr at Daily River is very special.  There are many others. 

I would add there are all sorts of counselling and mentoring organizations now that are also run by A&TI people for A&TI people.  There are many issues facing them still - children still being removed, alcohol and drug problems, domestic violence and finding their country and family as adults who were removed as children.   There is also the push for a treaty and recognition of sovereignty over this land that was not 'terra nulius' when colonized.  And for true history and language to be taught in school.  And for more tertiary education graduates (of whom there are many).  There's much that is not seen at all by people who live in predominately non-aboriginal places.

I've probably raved enough - I just recommend building bridges with first nation people personally as a place to start.  I hope this post doesn't offend anyone.

 

eth
Community Elder

Re: HOME

@utopia et al  I had trouble posting the above as mods requested it be altered twice.  Hoping it comes through this time.

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