How can non-Indigenous young people be brave and make a change in our current cultural climate?
“No matter where we come from, elders ask that we seek to deepen our connection to each other and the country that nourishes us.” Vicky Shukuroglou, Loving Country.
No matter what background, every Australian must play their part in advocating for change and empowering First Nation peoples, their cultures, and their stories. As a non-Indigenous Australian, we must take responsibility and stand up to our history, committing to empower the First Nations people and culture whom rightfully own and belong to this land. The below ideas are designed to spark inspiration as to how you can #bebrave and #makechange within your own life and community, consistently and sustainability, as a non-Indigenous Australian.
Before we can advocate, rally, support and empower First Nations cultures and people, we need to make a commitment to better understand culture. Ways of developing an understanding could include;
Spending time on Country.
First Nations cultures are built on and around a strong connection to Country. The concept of ‘Country’ from a First Nations perspective encompasses not just the land but the sky, waters, animal life, and spirits of ancestors who have walked before us. Getting outside, away from a screen, provides an opportunity to personally connect with Country. This could be going to the local beach, lake, park, field, forest - anywhere you can. Stay present by focusing on what you can smell, see, hear and touch. Take deep breaths, sit still, walk, run, or do whatever you do to make you feel calm and grounded. Be mindful of your footprint; take all rubbish with you and respect the flora and fauna. Stay open to experiences and reflect on how you feel.
Learning As Much As You Can.
A lot of Australians today never got the opportunity to learn the extent of what happened historically or fully understand what culture is and what it means to First Nations people. To advocate for real change, we need to commit to deeper learning. Reading books, listening to podcasts, watching films, following First Nations leaders and organisations on social media, and undergoing educational courses are all ways we can begin re-learning. When we are learning, we are hearing the voices of culture and the stories that need to be shared. Through learning, we can begin to understand that First Nations cultures and knowledge systems are not something from the past. They are alive, strong, and resilient.
Once we develop a personal understanding, we can then begin to speak from that place and take action within our lives and communities. This may look like;
Subtle action.
Subtle action involves the small things we do every day that can make a difference to the cultural climate we live in. Empowering First Nations people in our everyday lives could be; using appropriate and respectful language around culture including speaking up when you witness racism or discrimination. It could also include supporting Indigenous businesses, wearing ally-friendly clothing, or even simply talking about what you have learned about First Nations cultures with family and friends. The little actions we do every day make up who we are and they reflect what we believe. Let’s make sure they represent our commitment to empowering First Nations peoples and cultures.
Major action.
Major action involves questioning the systems that govern how we live as a community and as a country while looking at the ‘bigger’ picture. As we learn more, shifting our habits and language, we can begin making more powerful calls to action. This could include using your vote to empower First Nation leaders, rallying and advocating for culturally appropriate and responsive policy change within your workplace and/or governing bodies, or embedding cultural education into your community or workplace. It could also involve researching the relevant social groups and community spaces in your local area and discovering what role you can play there.
By Neve Roseman
