Maybe I had an overly optimistic view
or let’s say a simplistic view of Melbourne/Australia in my previous blogspot. I guess that's what happens when you don't dig further than what appears on the surface. However, as it was my first impression when I first arrived in Melbourne, I'm not going to edit it. It is just another side of Melbourne, from the point of view of a traveler.
But when you do actually start digging and questioning, you realize that not everyone feels at ease in Australia. Aboriginal people, whose country has been taken away from them, surely don't.
The documentary we watched in class 3 weeks ago, Utopia by John Pilger, was
absolutely revolting and quite distressing. I became aware of things I didn't
know were happening. I realized that Australia was a deeply wounded country and was quite shocked by the reality of things.
As I wanted to learn more about this hidden side of Australia, I went to the discovery center at the Melbourne Museum. Over there, I found a book entitled Elders: Wisdom from Australia's Indigenous Leaders from Peter McConchie and was captivated while reading it.
Here are some extracts that
particularly struck me:
“The Europeans thought of us as
just Neanderthals and barbaric. As far as we are concerned, the European were
the barbaric ones. What gives another the right to kill just because they want
that bit of land you’re living on?” Vilma WEBB (Bibbulmun Wardandi people)
“They just went out and killed
everyone – women, children, warriors, everyone. They did things like burying
babies up to their necks in the sand and see who could kick the head of the
baby the furthest, riding people down and running sabres or swords through
them.” Vilma WEBB
“There can be no reconciliation
between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people of this land because there has
never been a partnership in the first place to reconcile about.” Max DULUMUNMUN HARRISON (Yuin nation)
These are showing the depth of
the wound. We are talking here about INVASION, VIOLENCE, MASSACRE, DISPOSSESSION and LOSS OF CULTURE!
Let’s also not forget the Stolen Generations
issue. Between 1900 and 1970, so many
Aboriginal children, usually from mixed blood, were forcibly taken
away from their families in order to “purify” them, and to assimilate them. They were placed into institutions or foster
families where they were often abused and were never allowed to see their
families again.
On this subject, I recommend everyone to watch the movie called Rabbit Proof Fence. I watched it when I was in high school and will never forget it. It was so disturbing, especially when you know that it is based on true facts.
Nobody seems to be willing to talk about how Indigenous people were and still are treated. It has become a taboo. The worst part is that a lot of people are actually unaware of the current situation.
Someone in the documentary, whose name I have forgotten, said Australia needed an external mediator to deal with Australian Indigenous issues. I think it is quite a sensible idea. Let’s face it, nothing is
improving. The country seems to be stuck. How can a country promote peace when
such a horrible thing is happening under its roof?
Here are some shocking facts
that Peter Phipps introduced to us:
- Nowadays, Indigenous people’s
life expectancy is around 17 years less
than the one of “white” Australians.
- Around 29% of Australia’s prison
population are Indigenous people. However, Indigenous people represent only 3% of the whole
population.
- Indigenous people used to be
multilingual (sometimes speaking up to 4 or 5 languages). Nowadays, a lot of
their languages are critically endangered.
- They are still neglected. They have to deal with racism. Their
living conditions are appalling. As a result, they sink into alcoholism, do
drugs and commit suicide. Have a look at this television report!
Even though the quality of this video "The Hidden Crime" is not great, I would also recommend to watch it, as it is a really good summary of the history of the Indigenous people.
TIME TO OPEN OUR EYES...
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