As Australia inches toward reconciliation with our indigenous people, it has become a feature of life to acknowledge the original custodians of the land by naming the local language group.
This happens in workplaces, on radio, in public meetings, on websites and so forth. Pretty much anyone who wants to do the right thing or be seen to be doing the right thing, will acknowledge the first inhabitants of the land.
Australia Post has even printed their satchels and boxes with a space for acknowledging traditional owners and encourages us to address mail like this:
Blogger Kylie
Bidjigal country
Kylie's street
Sydney suburb
Now that I'm working in a shop, I send a few parcels so I realised this was a great opportunity to make this little gesture several times a day.
Of course, for many people it is an affront so I set about it without fanfare, hoping that there would be positive feedback before the naysayers spoke up. My naivety stuns me sometimes.
It didn't take long for someone to make a video call, aggressively accusing my boss of, well I don't know what, but "LOOK AT THIS PARCEL" and "KULIN COUNTRY" were prominent.
The boss was taken by surprise and didn't know what to say. I apologised for the discomfort it caused my innocent manager and quietly raged.
And then, an angel from on high whispered in my ear: "If the indigenous country was made a standard part of all addresses in our internal directory, it would no longer be a one person crusade but would set the standard for the way the organisation writes all addresses, Australia wide."
And so I started to research who to talk to about this idea. At first it was slow going and then I remembered that I have met a marketing person, she might know who I should talk to.
And she did.
And 24 hours later I had emails from three people, all saying "Let's try to do this" "Let's get it into the Reconciliation Action Plan"
It might take some time but I believe it will happen.
What a wonderful idea you had and a great movement to start. We had a visiting professor from Australia at a university here. An affair was organized for her benefit. She decided to lecture me on the sins of our slavery and how awful we were. I cut her short and reminded her of AU's own indigenous people and things done to them. She clapped her mouth shut and stalked off. Or, did I stalk off? Yes, I think it was mutual stalking off. I often wonder how she felt about what her country had done.
ReplyDeleteWe are slowly improving but there are still many Australians who resent hearing anything about it. Every colonial power did horrible things based on their own supposed superiority. Humanity is ugly
DeleteA marvelous idea Kylie and good on you. Here, I find more and more acknowledge the tribal lands they occupy, by name, and mention it in lectures or in articles, etc.
ReplyDeleteBut definitely more needs to be done. Everywhere.
XO
WWW
What I did cost nothing for me and didn't impact the recipient, either. Why would I not ?
DeleteLOUD applause from here. Thank you. With hope.
ReplyDeleteI have confidence that it will become part of the directory. I have a lot less hope that it will see common use
DeleteThat's an interesting experiment, and of course there will always be people who throw a wobbly and try to stick to the status quo. Northern Ireland has traditional "townlands" and we're encouraged to use them in addresses but hardly anyone does.
ReplyDeleteI so often love the status quo but this so easy to do and doesn't infringe on my rights or expectations in any way. There's no reason not to
DeleteSame thing is going on here but could stand a big boost as not many people make the acknowledgement.
ReplyDeletePeople find it threatening, which is why we need strong leadership
DeleteKudos to you Kylie for getting the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteSx
Thank you :)
DeleteDo you think all Australia wide ‘branches’ in your organisation take it up….or only those who look kindly on it. Wishing you luck - hopefully you’re not knocking your head against a brick wall
ReplyDeleteReconciliation is organisation policy but there will be plenty who make no attempt to support it. All I hope is that by putting it in our directories, there is an implication that it's important
DeleteThis is the most wonderful thing!!! How kind and sensitive of you!!! Yea!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) and welcome!
DeleteKylie, this is a potentially huge topic worldwide and the question often arises as to who were the 'original' people. Australia has the benefit of knowing exactly when and where the changes have taken place in the last 250 years and the English language and culture has dominated for a relatively short and identifiable time. Good luck with finding an aboriginal substitute for a postcode. (that is not meant to be a flippant comment because it's a real issue for modern postal services).
ReplyDeleteGraham, I hadn't stopped to think that we have the benefit of a well understood history, immigration wise.
DeleteIt means we can't pretend we don't know!
We still have postcodes, their borders are necessarily a lot more specific than the borders of aboriginal langugage groups :)
The best of luck Kylie. It's noble and subtle - a way of recognising Australia's ancient roots - paying due homage to those who lived in harmony with the land. In the past I met several educated white Australians who seemed to dismiss aboriginals as if they were a sub-human embarrassment. It pains me how those amazing people were affected and forever changed by the arrival of white folk - not very long ago
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil. I figure it costs me nothing to try to acknowledge the original inhabitants. There will never be justice but hopefully the symbolism will encourage the white people to think and the indigenous to know somebody cares.
DeleteIt blows my mind that children were stolen from their families in my own lifetime, it really is all so very recent and raw
Well done you! I hope it happens.
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