Dead Serious #017 Life and Loss in Aboriginal Australia
Dead Serious #017 (MP3- 13MB- 32MIN)
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Today I interview Joanne Harrison.
Jo is an indigenous health worker who is currently the Victorian Project Officer responsible for ‘bridging the gap’ between Koorie communities and palliative care.
Aboriginal Australia has had to deal with having their kids stolen by governments, being incarcerated and being isolated in contemporary society…………..however as Jo says, there is so much we can be doing together…………white Australia and Aboriginal Australia to ‘come together’ and work for the benefits of us all.
Jo discusses Aboriginal spirituality, her peoples’ ties to the land, connectedness and reincarnation. She talks to us about the “Stolen Generations” and “Deaths in custody”, the fight for “land rights” and Native Title. She talks about how grief is expressed in Aboriginal communities and about ‘Sorry Business”.
Though I have known Jo for some time, I learned lots by talking to her about the things that impact on her community, and subsequently on the Australian community as a whole. You will probably find, as I did, that this struggle is similar to struggles other indigenous communities have had to have in other countries, to be recognised and accepted as the original owners of the land.
From my perspective as a fourth generation Aussie of Celtic heritage, I feel sad about the treatment Aboriginal Australians have received at the hands of the bureaucrats and over the past two hundred years………….I know I can’t change history…………..BUT I CAN build relationships with my indigenous friends and support them in pursing empowered solutions to the issues they face. I can support them in having their custodianship of the land acknowledged and promote moving forward together to build a more tolerant and compassionate society.
There are a number of resources Jo highlights for you if you want more information on Aboriginal health issues in Australia or Victoria or if you are interested in finding out more about Australian Aboriginal heritage. Just click on the highlighted words and follow the links.
Jo also refers to ATSIC (The Aboriginal and Torris Strait Islander Commission), which was dissolved by the current government incumbents, despite the protests of Aboriginal elders and the majority of the Australian community.
Sincere thanks to Jo for sharing her wisdom and igniting the passion in us all.
Thanks also to Armen Firmen for the fantastic music track, “It’s too Late” and to Tom Whitty for providing it. If you want more information about these guys, contact me via the Blog and I will refer you to Tom (their website is currently under construction).
Recorded as always on Skylook and supported by Motorola.