Lynne C

Violent invasion of country, with devastating impact upon those living at the time, and enduring consequences through generations of First Peoples and those who live with and love them. Destruction of family through stealing of children. Destruction of connection with land, water and skies. Destruction of respect, history, everything.

My education in the 1970s and 80s was a whitewash, a lie. It was all about white effort and courage. The language used to describe First Peoples was glib and patronising, with an attempt at quaintness. We used to draw “boomerangs” and “bark humpies”. First Nations culture was portrayed as homogenous. I feel sick to recall any of it.

Clearing barriers so that First Peoples can ascend to their rightful place as the original custodians of this land. Treaty. Compensation. We can never reclaim the lives lost and destroyed, so we need to clear the decks and have First Peoples take the reins.

it sometimes feels as though there is a burden upon those affected by the devastation of colonisation to muster the energy and write, speak, sing their stories. We need to be open to whichever ways they wish to use to express their truths. We need to acknowledge the exhaustion that may come with this, when they have been pitted against white violence and deaf ears for hundreds of years.

it sometimes feels as though there is a burden upon those affected by the devastation of colonisation to muster the energy and write, speak, sing their stories. We need to be open to whichever ways they wish to use to express their truths. We need to acknowledge the exhaustion that may come with this, when they have been pitted against white violence and deaf ears for hundreds of years.