Indigenous people in Eden calling for just recompense 20 years after Olympics
The Commonwealth Government of Australia on behalf of the Defence compulsorily acquired, portions of the Eden Local Aboriginal community subject lands pursuant to lands acquisition Act 1989, by way of imposing restriction on the said land. This compulsory restrictions acquisition was carried out without the prior, free and informed consent of the Aboriginal community.
Racism wasn’t built in a day (and it can’t be torn down in a day either)
Cultural Competence training or Cultural Awareness training, whatever it is called, should not be positioned as punishment. If Student Evaluation Surveys on mandatory courses tells any academic anything, it is that people made to participate in a space they are not willingly entering will not actively engage and will actively resist.
On-screen diversity is important but what happens offscreen is paramount
We need leaders on all levels who understand the importance of representation in the media, because they themselves have shouldered the burden of representation and wish to make a world where others of non-Anglo heritage see themselves on and off screen. The consequences of doing otherwise are stark.
Defunding the police and abolishing prisons are not radical ideas
It is not so radical to say we need to defund police and pour much needed funds and resources into areas that improve social issues such as housing, health, education and employment. These, in turn, reduce the incarceration rates of Aboriginal people and reduces the over-reliance of degrading and dehumanising punitive measures such as prisons.
To my fellow blerds: this is for you
This article is for the young blerds of our community, the blak nerds who haven’t really felt included in the community or made to feel “different”. Our IndigiNerds going into the gaming industry, cosplay realm or just being a panellist on a stage at a comic convention.
History Made: Torres Strait Adoption Bill passes
Today, 8 September 2020, the child rearing practices of Torres Strait Islanders were given recognition in the law of Queensland by the passage of the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa (Torres Strait Islander Traditional Child Rearing Practice) Bill 2020 through parliament. Years of Torres Strait Islander Elder advocacy have led to this extraordinary outcome.
Racism still exists in social work today – we need more Black faces in the profession
The truth is that racism – and the desire for genocide – underpinned the historic child removals by social workers throughout the Stolen Generations. It’s an uncomfortable truth, but I’m not pandering to anyone’s sensibilities here. Racism still exists in social work today.
It is important to respect Indigenous science practice
Our ancestors navigated across the land using the stars and the planets, they recognised the link between the phases of the moon and the tides. They predicted changes in the weather and identified the variable nature of distant stars in the night sky.
Together our Voices are the most powerful of all
The greatest lesson I learned from the dialogues is the generosity of spirit of our old people and their pragmatism. They turned up to the meetings with energy and they brought the cultural protocol and the allegories and the leadership, and they led with the language of peace and friendship.
We don’t get to gatekeep conversations, we have a responsibility to encourage them
And even though colourism is not a new conversation, and neither is cultural appropriation, or community accountability, I feel both a freedom with which younger ones are willing to talk about them, and an attempt to shut them down by some of my contemporaries which I do not want to engage in.
Warranggal Warruwi towards Maal Circle
We are protectors of country that are labelled as ‘activists’ to portray a disconnected image and scare mainstream society away from issues at hand. However, we have proud mob who are doing the work with their own varied skillsets to contribute to our obligation to care for the life giver.
