The last 6 months in the Kimberley region
of Australia have been a bittersweet enrichment. My child health clinics in
very remote areas allowed access to bright and dark elements of Australia’s
fabric. There is an incredibly rich and historic culture that spreads across
the desert, freshwater and saltwater people. It is punctuated by spiritualism,
identity and family. Stories of creation and great warriors soak the bold
landscape. Long stretches of bushland have been described to me as a vast
network of highways, having been travelled by foot for thousands of years.
How then, does a living 50 000 year old
culture suddenly have to fight for sustenance? There is a broken spirit,
despairing for a dismantled past and stolen future. Respect has been forcibly
removed, and a path back has not been mapped.
Graduates of the Australian school system
will be familiar with European settlement, the occasional rifle vs spear battle
and the “close the gap” campaign. There
are breaks of generally unknown gruesomeness in our recent history. Massacres
of Aboriginal people are documented across Australia, with the number killed often just noted as “hundreds”. Most
sites are now a residue of history, with evocative names like Skull Creek. I am
unsure why we are taught more about Roman emperors than this difficult aspect
of Australian history. It is shameful that the massacres occurred, and it is
shameful that they are poorly acknowledged. The weight of history must not be
underestimated. These issues have an ongoing direct impact on the lives of
Australians, as I found out in conversation with local Aboriginal men on the
verandah at Fitzroy Crossing.
Recent events have once again propelled Indigenous policy
into the minds and media of general Australia. For those who have any
connection with the affected areas, the issues are not revelations, they are
reminders.
The vast majority of Australians are
horrified when we hear about Indigenous suicide/sickness/insert latest media
article. Media stories can drive a discussion which occurs in lunchbreaks
around the country. Discussion leads to education and opinion, and I believe
this is where our approach to Indigenous Australians needs to improve.
How do we provoke discussion? Indigenous issues
jump into the mainstream if there is a human element to a story. An
enthusiastic statistical discussion is not going to happen, but questioning the
reason guards shackle an Indigenous child is more thought-provoking. Seeing the
people behind the statistics creates an impetus to learn more. We need exposure
to those affected to understand the actuality of “closing the gap”. Seek out indigenous journalism, find out the
name and beliefs of your local mob,
and start a discussion.
It is easy to look away from the intense
glare of a horrible reality. We need to adjust our eyes and face the truth. With
education, exposure and acknowledgement, we will be able to improve lives and
appreciate the full richness of Indigenous culture.
