Indigenous Reflection & Experience

After much discussion and exploration this week it has been made clear that all authors have various opinions towards the Indigenous experience, and thus their writings reflect this. For writers such as Judith Wright, who herself was not Indigenous, her writing reflects a sense of encouragement for people to form relationships with other races. Her poem “Two Dreamtimes” was written for Kath Walker, who is actually Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and it explores a forbidden friendship between the two women. From such a poem I have come to an understanding that the experience differs for all and it is ones’ attitude that can be the discriminator for forming a relationship. This attitude could perhaps allow us today in the 20th Century to form bonds and relationships with people that we may not normally associate with. We need to go outside our comfort zones and befriend others who are not necessarily ‘accepted’ or who don’t ‘fit in’. We must all change for the better…

 Image retrieved from  http://www.magyarulbabelben.net/works/en/Wright,_Judith-1915/Two_Dreamtimes on March 27, 2016.

Is Yotho Yindi’s call for Treaty a move forward for us all in this country??

• Yes it could be seen as that- if a relatively popular youtube video can capture the attention of everyday Australians and draw them to attention on a specific issue, then yes, we are moving forward.
• The video itself was made in a response to the Australian Government and its then PM Bob Hawke failing the Indigenous community. He said there would be a treaty that would recognise the rights of Indigenous land owners and so form a treaty with them, however, it didn’t happen. This song can then be seen as a move forward because if the government aren’t willing to follow through with their actions, there is still hope that the everyday Australian will support the Indigenous community, and in this instance they did just that. The video was a sense of support and aimed to bring attention to the issue.

Image retrieved from http://cdn.scahw.com.au/cdn-1ce5fe9b3a5cf90/ImageVaultFiles/id_167903/cf_7/yothu-yindi-628.JPG on March 27, 2016.