Aboriginal?

[tmallie]

Wisdom of vision only to be applauded, didn’t we all have to move forward.

I am Aboriginal and I work in the field of cultural heritage. I have helped different indigenous communities here and overseas in the collection and recording of cultural information before it's lost forever.

I believe that this is the key to giving future generations identity and pride in themselves and their culture which in turn lead hopefully to positive outcomes.

T

 

[Happy]

From ABC, January 2, 2007


WITNESSES COOPERATING WITH INDIGENOUS ABUSE TASK FORCE: ACC



The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) says the national task force looking into violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities has not yet had to compel any witnesses to give evidence.
The commission - which set up its headquarters in Alice Springs in September last year - is leading the investigation, but is supported by officers from the federal, state and territory police force, as well as various agencies.
The commission's director of intelligence, Kevin Kitson, says the task force has been working with agencies who may have information about child abuse and violence.
He says so far they have been cooperative.
"One of the major things that we're trying to understand is the different level of interventions and the different levels of reporting," he said.
"So if that there are rates of violence and abuse that go unreported to police but which are known to health and education sectors, that's the kind of data that we want to sweep up with the first major phase of the task force."
Mr Kitson says the task force has been meeting with Indigenous people to gain an understanding of crime in communities.
"The first part is to get out there, to understand, to observe," he said.
"Understanding will be built over a period of time and we're grateful for those who have given us the time, who have welcomed us to their land, to their country, to have the opportunity to sit with them for a while.
"We hope to be able to take up the invitations to return."

A lot of finger pointing, but no cooperation

 

[Julia]

A lot of finger pointing, but no cooperation

Happy,

Can you expand on what you mean here? The article sounded to me as though co-operation was in fact being offered.

Julia

 

[Happy]

"The first part is to get out there, to understand, to observe," he said.
"Understanding will be built over a period of time and we're grateful for those who have given us the time, who have welcomed us to their land, to their country, to have the opportunity to sit with them for a while.

What is there to understand?
Talk is cheap, crime is crime

 

[rederob]

What is there to understand?
Talk is cheap, crime is crime

I'm sure the price of eggs will crop up soon!

 

[Happy]

From ABC , January 7, 2007



CONVICTED MURDERER GIVEN DAY RELEASE: REPORT


A man who brutally killed a northern Tasmanian pensioner has reportedly been released from prison on day leave.
Ivan John Jones was sentenced to 20 years in jail for murdering 72-year-old David Crawford at Lefroy in 2000.

A newspaper has reported that six years into his sentence, Jones has been moved from Risdon Prison to the minimum security Hayes Prison Farm, and has been granted day release on several occasions.

Prison director Graeme Barber has refused to comment on individual cases, but says the Corrections Act allows inmates with Aboriginal heritage to apply for day release to attend culturally significant events.
He says the purpose of such leave is to assist in rehabilitation.

Quite amazing, but getting to this throw away comment -

the Corrections Act allows inmates with Aboriginal heritage to apply for day release to attend culturally significant events.

Hard not to suspect that there are different treatments depending on races in Australia, , where everybody is equal.

Looks that some are more equal than others.

 

[Happy]

From ABC, January 10, 2007

ARREST SPARKS RIOT IN CAPE YORK COMMUNITY


Police say they have restored calm to the streets of the Cape York Aboriginal community of Aurukun after an overnight riot involving up to 300 people.
Police have declared the town an emergency zone.

The riot started after a man was arrested over an assault and fell ill while in police custody.

The rioters damaged shops, a tavern and the police station, smashing the glass doors and windows.
Sergeant Kim McCoomb says the riots began outside a medical clinic where the man was taken.
"The crowds rioted and both police vehicles were extensively damaged and the Aurukun police station was also damaged when the crowd attempted to gain entry," she said.

Sergeant McCoomb says extra police have been flown into the community and a major incident room has been set up in Cairns.
"The current situation appears to be under control and the streets are reported to be quiet," she said.
"Most people have returned to their homes at the moment.

"There have been some additional police brought in to support the officers that are in the area and they'll continue their investigations today to determine what started the unrest."


BREAKDOWN IN TRUST

Aboriginal activist Sam Watson says the Aurukun riot is similar to what happened on Palm Island two years ago, when locals rioted after the death of a man in police custody.
He says there has been a breakdown in trust between police and the Indigenous community, and has called on Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to act.
"Beattie has totally marginalised Aboriginal people by removing the department of Aboriginal affairs and sacking our minister," he said.
"Aboriginal people feel so much more vulnerable.
"This latest incident on Aurukun is a direct result of this, because Aboriginal people feel they have no voice in government, they have no power, no capacity to attract government attention unless they do take direct action."

From above article -

The riot started after a man was arrested over an assault and fell ill while in police custody.

Hardly a legitimate reason, rather excuse to smash whatever has to do with law and order.

 

[Julia]

I don't mean to make too light of what's a serious problem, but there's a great cartoon in today's "Courier Mail" regarding the police officer who escaped the jaws of a croc yesterday.

It shows two aboriginal people sitting under a palm tree on an island, one reading a newspaper. He says: "The croc had the policeman by the head and LET HIM GO??" and the other replies: "....one thing's for sure - it wasn't a Palm Island croc!"


Julia

 

[Happy]

Could be bad breath or bad smell if he soiled himself too, but going back to less light subject.

From ABC, January 10, 2007

AURUKUN MAN CLAIMS ASSAULT IN CUSTODY

A man whose arrest sparked a riot at Aurukun overnight has complained of being assaulted while in police custody.
It has also been revealed a police officer used his private hand gun to fire a warning shot during the melee.
About 300 people were involved in the riot and damaged the tavern, a shop and the police station.
The unrest happened after a local man arrested for an assault fell ill while in police custody.
He was flown to the Cairns Hospital for treatment and is now in the Cairns watch-house.
Officers from the Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Misconduct Commission are on their way to Cairns to investigate the man's complaint.
Acting Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the man was examined twice by doctors, but she says it appears his injuries occurred before he was arrested.
She says the medical assessments will be part of the investigation into the incident.
"I need to be very cautious because these matters need to be investigated," she said.
"But I understand there was some minor injuries to the person that appear to be some 48-hours-old and may have occurred to him prior to his arrest.
"But this is preliminary information that requires full investigation and confirmation."
Queensland's Communities Minister, Warren Pitt, agrees there has been a breakdown in the relationship between police and the Indigenous community.
Aboriginal activists say the Aurukun incident has echoes of the death in custody and riot on Palm Island two years ago.
They want the Government to reinstate the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.
Mr Pitt rejects the call but says the Government is working hard to rebuild its relationship with Indigenous people.
"That behoves all of us to work closely together with police, the local community and anyone else who can bring anything positive to the table to help rebuild that trust," he said.
"That's not something that happens overnight, these circumstances do leave scars."

Certain part makes similarity to another riot, where incorrect trigger might have been used [re-quoted below]

"But I understand there was some minor injuries to the person that appear to be some 48-hours-old and may have occurred to him prior to his arrest.

And if true, is that trust thing not being manipulated?

 

[Nicks]

I've read about 5 pages of this thread.

Im sad now.

I see that racism is alive and kicking in my country. I never new it was so bad and so many people had so many negative views.

Dont respond please with arguments of handouts, australian, not fair, stereo types, learn to help themselves etc.

I live in a big CBD like many of you. Travel to some of our rural regions and see the struggle these people have. Their whole way of life and culture has been turned upside down in 150 years. In this period, many of them have been born into these outback camps, towns etc. Thats about as good as their raising got, Not much education out there, especially if your family and friends were brought up in the same situation.

Yeah the future looks bright for a 50yr old Aborignal person brought up in Cooper Peady, or Tenant Creek, or Katherine. Not! Oh but this person probably brought it on themself right?? yeah, sure, heaps good chance of making it successful. Thats if they actually live to 50. Its not an individuals problem, but a society problem.

Yes there are a lot of problems with Aborignal Australia - does the fact that it is a consistent theme across the country give you people any indication that its not just a cuning individual desperate to take advantage of the system?? No there is an underlying problem that is generic and general. Thats why it is universally widespread. We cant give the country back to them, we need to share it, but we at least owe it to them to help with the problem (whatever it is).

Easy for us to comment isnt it! Its easy after we watch one episode of one facet of Aboriginal life problems on 60 Minutes. Now we are experts. How many white people trash houses and kitchens, probably more than you think, just doesnt end up on 60 mins. And why does this happen so much to Aboriginals? oh they like dirty kitchens. Could it be something to do with their education and way of life that we dont understand maybe?

You know, there are many groups in this country that get different treatment, disabled, single parents, the poor, migrants and all rightly so. As a white Australian I hope that we would do all we can to improve the social standing of our fellow Aborignal Aussies.

 

[Rafa]

Well said Nicks...

 

[Ants]

ditto

 

[robert toms]

One thing that I have found is that aboriginals are intimidated and cowed by the white population.I live in a town with a sizeable black population and I have lived in Port Augusta SA quite a few years back.I have aboriginal neighbours now.Unless there are genuine attempts to accept aboriginals in the workplace,and in a social settings,nothing will change.From what I see a lot of whites like to perpetuate their "superiority" and the black population are consequently alienated.
One of the double standards I have observed is that when people deride blacks for not wanting to work.They are not welcomed by workers in a lot of work places.Is that a catch 22 ?
Affirmative action by government and semi-government agencies,although of some use,will never change entrenched bad attitudes toward an underclass.The rot is abiding!

 

[Julia]

Nicks

Thanks for a great post which looks for some of the reasons behind the behaviour that receives, deservedly, considerable criticism.

I can't help feeling that much of the problem lies with leadership on both "sides". If someone like Noel Pearson with his undoubted insight and wisdom could work with government (which I believe he has sincerely tried to do) and governments could relinquish their patronising and paternalistic attitude to indigenous people, some genuine progress could be made.
But perhaps not, given the rigid attitudes of some of us who will always see aboriginal people as lesser beings.

I've been in some white households where the filth and destruction is simply indescribable. Just today I've refused community funds to white people who have defrauded the social security system without conscience.

I so wish we could simply judge people by their individual behaviours and not classify them all together on the basis of their skin colour. Very little in life is clearly black and white (I really didn't intend that as a pun), but many shades of grey, and generalisations about an entire race are unjustified and unhelpful.

Julia

 

[2020hindsight]

Be interesting to see what happens re Palm Island and Mulrunji. As I posted on the Corruption thread, ...

Aboriginal leaders have welcomed the appointment former New South Wales chief justice Sir Laurence Street to lead a review into the decision not to charge a policeman over a death in custody on Palm Island.

The death of the man known as Mulrunji led to riots in November 2004, and a Coroner's inquiry that found the officer responsible for the death.

But there was widespread outrage when Queensland's Director of Public Prosecutions announced that no charges would be laid.

Sir Laurence Street, who starts work (last monday), spoke to ABC's Conor Duffy about his new job. etc etc

A man dies in police custody with bruised liver/spleen etc. Meanwhile an aboriginal protester who later threw a stone is serving 18 months in jail White man's law can be such an ass - (and apparently corrupt ? when you're on the receiving end?)

 

[Happy]

From ABC, January 11, 2007

ARREST SPARKS DISTURBANCE IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

Police at Maningrida, 500km east of Darwin, required the assistance of traditional owners to help quell a disturbance in the town last night.

The trouble was sparked by the arrest of a man who had allegedly assaulted a police officer while they were searching a house.

Another man from the house allegedly smashed the windows of a police van.
A short time later police say around 100 people converged on the station, some of them armed with star pickets and iron bars.

Several windows at the police station were smashed and rocks were thrown onto the roof.
Traditional owners were called in to help placate the group and peace was restored to the community.

Looks like that difference in culture mentioned in earlier posts explain this episode too.

 

[banjo_pete]

Im sick of the word sorry! Australia should not feel guilty anymore. The chip on the shoulder will never ever go away, this is why in 80 years time their will be no change to this problem. I have run a pub in aboriginal area and let me tell you, that everytime i kick one of them out due to mny reasons ranging from drunken behavior thru to scabing money, the same thing has come out of each and everyone of their mouths "are you rich white fella, because im going take you to court and take all your money". I know i am a racist, because i steriotype every aboridginal person i meet and that is they are a danger to me and my family. Now shoot me down if you like but, this is the way i feel.

 

[tmallie]

Does that mean that I am a danger to you and your family.............????

Troy (Aboriginal man)

 

[Nicks]

Im sick of the word sorry! Australia should not feel guilty anymore. The chip on the shoulder will never ever go away, this is why in 80 years time their will be no change to this problem. I have run a pub in aboriginal area and let me tell you, that everytime i kick one of them out due to mny reasons ranging from drunken behavior thru to scabing money, the same thing has come out of each and everyone of their mouths "are you rich white fella, because im going take you to court and take all your money". I know i am a racist, because i steriotype every aboridginal person i meet and that is they are a danger to me and my family. Now shoot me down if you like but, this is the way i feel.

Thats what you get from people who aren't as fortunate as you to have had an education and to have been brought up above the poverty line and treated with dignity and respect by people who stereotype them like you do. Im not saying that behaviour is right, but if you understand where it stems from maybe we can realise we all have a part to play in it.

 

[banjo_pete]

What is the answer????? No one knows! But i have a idea. It involves handing power back to them! Now every aboriginal artifact shop i have been to, is run by white Australians or even overseas people. Why not give them the right to sell their own art and culture? Just imagine making it illegal for the white man to be involved in the production, wholesale and the retail of aboriginal art? Could you imagine these ppl seeing some one in their comunity suceeding at the white fellas game. Role models would start to occur, a sense of pride and worth would flow back. They would be adding to the community both black and white. Something has to change and if they can see ppl succeed then just maybe this will spur others on.