Lance,
Last night I listened - late - to two addresses organised by the Brisbane
Institute. The first was by Mark Latham and the second by Noel Pearson.
Unfortunately both men have become 'marked' by recent out of context
statements attributed to them, both on the nature of Welfare.
In view of Lance's 'Actions always speak louder than words' - I dispute the
word 'always' - I thought these two addresses most relevant. In each case
they were speaking about the social numbing that is the result of continued
welfare, even into generation after generation. I thought this seminar was
well constructed in that a non-Aboriginal person was advocating for his
people and an Aboriginal man was advocating for his peoples. In actual fact
there were more similarities than differences.
The primary suggestion was introduction of what was called 'innovative,
entrepreneurial welfare'. In other words instead of over arching welfare,
which is supposed to fit everyone's needs and manages to probably fit very
few, we encourage welfare on a case by case basis. Mark gave three
examples,two in Australia and one in England to illustrate what he meant.
Each involved cooperation between certain authorities - usually in the form
of 'bending rules to allow the scheme to fit' and encouragement;even certain
financial assistance. They were not gradiose schemes but they involved those
partaking in imaginative work which resulted in reduced crime statistics and
other evidence of a regained social interest.
Noel Pearson was on a similar track: it is no use trying to induce
Aboriginal Peoples health with an imposed European system. As Noel has said
on several occasions '... my people are not useless. They can think and work
things out.' During my stay in the Territory I so often saw this and tried
in my own small way to encourage this attitude. As I was at the time working
for a Government Dept. this procedure was often criticised. I was once
criticised for not spending enough money. This was a time when on the
outstations I was helping the Peoples to build houses out of bashed down ant
hills, bark and saplings. Primitive? Degrading? To us maybe but those people
loved them: if someone died in a house it could be deserted or burned; if
they wished to move on they could; if they were left they did not become a
ruin they became compost. I was roundly criticised for these houses but not
by those that lived in them. When the People begin to live much more
sedentary lives their needs change as do the homes they live in but they are
still idiosyncratic as would be expected.
Considering health. My firm belief is that the most constructive way to
overcome the terrible health statistics is to restore the People's
connection to the land. Think of the diseases ravaging Aboriginal Peoples:
diabetes, heart conditions, obesity, and cancer. The illnesses are all
induced by some form of addictive behaviour: overeating, alcoholism, smoking
and other drug taking of various types. All addictive behaviours are, in my
experience, induced by an inability to cope with life. As an alcoholic my
aim when drinking was to get sober - that is normal. Despite forty years of
trying I never did succeed.
So what is the relationship between establishing the connection with the
land and health? The connection will allow the Peoples to develop their own
way of life which, in my experience, was very healthy. And, last night I was
watching the Compass programme on ABC and said to Carolyn at one stage, "I
remember being at several Aboriginal corroborees on Groote Eylandt in which
each went for three days without stopping. This was Aboriginal People's
spirituality. They became one with their environment; the throbbing and
tinkling music with the movements; day turned to night and as the night wore
and the fire reflected an orange light on the dancers there was a sense of
oneness, of completeness. The Peoples were confident, open and sparkled.
They were once more part of a creation.
I strongly believe that the advent of food rationing stations - later
superseded by supermarkets - did more harm to Aboriginal peoples than the
massacres and the rest (although not the stolen generations) because it took
away the reason for the men to be. They became almost irrelevant and
drifters. The children became the hunters, it was they who hunted for food
on the supermarket shelves. Sure the reason d'etre for the men can and will
change eventually, but it will be assisted greatly by being able to retain
enough of their culture, spirituality, and encouragement as Noel Pearson is
advocating. They can, and must, become the masters of their own destiny.
Sovereignty for them means just this. Not of their own Government or land
but of their own minds.
I am hoping that the addresses from last night will be placed on the ABC web
pages for I think they could represent a turning point in our relations with
the People. And Lance, a large part of this will be how we use words. We are
NOT allowed to use words as we like. If I was to influentially and publicly
name Kennett a social misfit he would have me in Court for defamation so
quick my head would spin. And, is all Parliamentary Privilege used in a
constructive way? I think not.
_______________________________________________
Ian J. Henderson Murdoch University
24 Harfleur Place Humanities
Hamilton Hill Murdoch, 6150.
Western Australia, 6163
Tel and Fax: (08) 94183972
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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