First Nations Deserve to Heal and We Need to Stop Standing In Their Way

Unfortunately, the results of the referendum last Saturday night devastated many people, especially many First Nations people. Even the leaders of the no campaign did not jump for joy. They smiled but you could feel that this was not a victory even for them because they had concerns for First Nations people as well. I want to say how mad I am at the no-camp but I will not be mad towards Anthony Mundine and Jacinta Price. I don't think this is a true victory to them either. I think if we can blame anyone we should blame Peter Dutton and any white person who voted no because they are racist.

Now I'm not saying every person who voted no is a racist. It's a bit more nuanced than that and even though I voted yes I can see why a lot of people got confused and voted no. I think that a lot of First Nations people and white allies wanted the voice to be a definite thing. The biggest flaw was that it could be ignored and it's clear that First Nations want to be listened to in a way that they can never be ignored.

I think what this has taught us is that there are a lot of racists in Australia but there are also a lot of people that care about First Nations people. I think a lot of people indigenous and non-indigenous want something implemented that cannot be ignored for First Nations people and although this was just a first step I think a lot of First Nations people have waited for change for far too long and wanted some serious guarantee and Australia decided they wanted something permanent and unignorable too. 

I myself voted for Yes. This was not a decision that I came to on my own. I called up a friend of mine who is a First Nations person and runs a First Nations catering business. I asked her what she needed me to vote and she asked me to vote Yes. I trust this woman a lot. She catered my wedding and she has a kind motherly energy about her. I was always going to vote how she wanted me to. I did not want to make a decision on behalf of First Nations people. I wanted to make the decision with them.

So where do we go from here? Well, I called 13 YARN to ask them how they felt. I'm still yet to catch up with my friend (She's a busy woman) but I know that I will go to a Survivor's Day event next year even if I have to get up at the crack of dawn. I want to read Uncle Jack Charles memoir. I want to watch Rabbit Proof Fence and I will continue writing poetry that honours them and dreams alongside them for a better future.

I always wondered why I had so much empathy for First Nations people growing up even though I wasn't raised to have empathy for them. I think on some level I knew I was experiencing intergenerational trauma and from my research on this I have learnt that a lot of First Nations people are sufferers of intergenerational trauma and not always from a family violence cause, it's mostly a colonialism cause where white people stole their children and raped their women and murdered a lot of First Nations people. Those incidents have affected First Nations people today and why is it so prevalent? Because some of these things continue to happen today, we need to stop it all.


I am going to end this entry with a poem I wrote just before the referendum where I was imagining what First Nations people's healing would be like and how I will be healing alonside them. <3







Beyond The Trauma


I will not be the one to stand in your way.

Colonialism can get fucked.

Let me build a bridge for you,

To meet me where I am,

Where all the healers heal,

Beyond the trauma.

Beyond the trauma.


I used to wonder where my empathy came from.

Where my love for First Nations came from.

I think on some level I always knew,

I was suffering from intergenerational trauma too.

I've learnt so much on my way.

I welcome you to stay.

I welcome you to stay


I will not be the one to stand in your way.

White privilege needs to be in the past.

Let me elevate you.

To where I am.

Where the healers heal.

Beyond the trauma.

Beyond the trauma.


Now I see yes in every yard.

It gives me hope to see.

That the voice could set you free.

To have the same privileges as me.

I want you to find your magic too.

Beyond the trauma.

Beyond the trauma.


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