Loulou Gebbie

I don’t know specific dates but I know about the Colonisers coming here in the 1800s, and displaced First Nations people from their Country by acts of genocide and imposing colonial rule. They established missions and First Nations people were forcibly moved into the missions. I think the last two missions remaining were Lake Tyers and Corranderk. Severe injustice was inflicted upon Aboriginal people including massacres, rape, and stealing children. Colonisation has caused extreme disadvantage for Aboriginal people which continues today.

I am 31 years old now and when I was at school we didn’t learn much about First Nations history and culture. I remember we visited Healesville Sanctuary and learnt about some First Nations hunting practices but that’s about all I can remember from primary school. In high school, we had the option to study ‘Australian History’ although I didn’t take that class so I’m not sure what it would’ve included. I went to uni and did an Arts degree and Australian Indigenous Studies was one of my majors – during that course we learnt from many First Nations people (academics, students, artists, writers) and it was great. It opened my eyes a lot, I would say that was a comprehensive starting point for learning and beginning to unpack my own ignorance and personal biases.

I work in the environment sector and would like to see more parks and reserves under joint and/or sole management by First Nations people. I would like to see self determination at the centre of decision making for land management and more funding to support capacity building and First Nations leadership.

As non First Nations people, we can look back on ourselves, our histories and have real frank conversations about the injustice that we’ve benefitted from a system that has been established on genocide and stolen land, we’ve benefitted at the expense of First Nations people. Non First Nations people can educate themselves and self reflect and tell the truth about their own histories with respect to colonisation in this country. I think it is valuable also for non First Nations people to hold space and admit to difficult feelings (eg white guilt and shame) and find ways to overcome these and not let them be barriers to action or a burden on First Nations people.

As non First Nations people, we can look back on ourselves, our histories and have real frank conversations about the injustice that we’ve benefitted from a system that has been established on genocide and stolen land, we’ve benefitted at the expense of First Nations people. Non First Nations people can educate themselves and self reflect and tell the truth about their own histories with respect to colonisation in this country. I think it is valuable also for non First Nations people to hold space and admit to difficult feelings (eg white guilt and shame) and find ways to overcome these and not let them be barriers to action or a burden on First Nations people.