General Discussions

[DJC]

On a previous theme....if you want to see a 'rainbow' have a look at a map of the indigenous groups within Australia.

I remember when I first started teaching I was sitting with a young indigenous lad.
He was from the Northern Territory and somehow or other had found himself caught up in the NSW  juvenile Justice system.

We were watching a game of touch football and more than half the boys were indigenous inner city kids.
We talked about home and the the things he liked to do...a lot of hunting and fishing, very little schooling was pretty much the things he enjoyed.

He pointed to the group playing football and said..."See these blokes, they're 'yellowfellas' (I'm not sure why he picked that colour but he did). They don't know any of that stuff."
He saw 'himself' as different.

So finding that united indigenous voice may still be a challenge in this day and age.
Some issues are universal, others are area or people specific.

Have a listen to the Warumpi Band’s “Black Fella, White Fella” Lods.

The emergence of Indigenous leaders like Pearson, Wyatt, Burney and Dodson has diluted the Yella Fella tag that was once widespread in northern Australia.  I suspect that the success of Indigenous footballers of all hues has played a part too.  And then there’s the influence of artists like the late, great Archie Roach.

However, it is to be expected that self-interest plays a part in expectations in Indigenous communities as it does in all parts of society.

Programs failing because the wrong person was employed is generally code for the program not being adequately planned.  Even in traditional owner and cultural heritage organisations, it’s common for off country people to be employed.  Several Victorian peak Indigenous organisations are led by interstate people.

Victoria’s first people’s assembly works well.  It was set up after extensive consultation to establish how best to represent Indigenous Victorians.  It doesn’t suit everyone, perhaps because it gives a voice to ordinary folk and not just the outspoken.  I would imagine that any Indigenous voice to the Commonwealth Parliament would require a similar consultation process.