Kiri Bear and son

Colonisation was devastating for the first people’s of Victoria. In addition to outright murder, the colonisers brought disease and introduced animals that wreaked havoc on the land, destroying food plants, cultural sites and waterways. I have learned about the frontier wars, the ways that settlers systematically targeted, poisoned and hunted first peoples throughout the state. My ancestors arrived at the tail end of the frontier wars in the 1850s, they made their fortunes on the goldfields and then bought (stolen) land and raised sheep. The sheep ate all the yam daisys, a staple food of first peoples and compacted the earth to prevent more growing. Farmers enclosed great swathes of fertile land, preventing first peoples from accessing their traditional food sources through hunting and foraging. I could write pages and pages about this but I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.

Not at all. Most of what I know I learned by seeking out knowledge and information on my own – participating in training with first nations people, attending performances and watching media produced by first nations people. There is plenty information for those who look but it is very easy as a white woman not to engage with any of it. My 14 year old son says “they didn’t really say anything, they acknowledged the traditional custodians of the land but they never explained what happened.”

Treaty! Education! Truth telling! Reparations! I want to see our government actually taking responsibility for the history of this country and prioritise the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. I want to see Aboriginal history taught in schools, I want adults to educate themselves and pay attention to media produced by Aboriginal people. More integration and promotion of aboriginal languages throughout Victorian society.

Listen, pay attention, question what we’ve been taught about ‘How things are.’ Stop assuming that white = right. Non-First Nations Victorians need to do their homework, to educate themselves about the history of this place and to come to terms with their own emotional reactions to that so that they can come into right relationship with First Nations people. Support treaty, vote for governments that will continue to prioritise treaty. Pay the rent.

Listen, pay attention, question what we’ve been taught about ‘How things are.’ Stop assuming that white = right. Non-First Nations Victorians need to do their homework, to educate themselves about the history of this place and to come to terms with their own emotional reactions to that so that they can come into right relationship with First Nations people. Support treaty, vote for governments that will continue to prioritise treaty. Pay the rent.