Debunking

Earlier this year, Wiradjuri Blak Queer artist Clinton Hayden was confronted with cultural and professional harm at the hands of an arts organisation he was commissioned to exhibit with. His experience, Clinton writes, is not an isolated incident, and shows a need for not just acknowledgement of cultural significance, but guaranteed survivance for First Nations artists and cultural practitioners in so-called Australia.

Danika writes of her experiences navigating academia and life, and the power of mob and the knowledges we hold. This article is part of the Black Knowing series, a partnership with QUT’s Carumba Institute and Indigenousx.

Spoiler alert: There is a definition of Indigenous, and Pauline Hanson is not it.

Earlier this week the PM made reference to the abuse of Aboriginal children and immediately followed it up by saying ‘we’re told we shouldn’t talk about it’.

Truth and Treaty are the theme of the second piece in the Reform series where you are asked to consider the possibilities of a better Australia – but that does require you to confront your way of thinking.

When it comes to Indigenous people and free things, many Australians have a lot to say: “Indigenous people get free cars”, “Indigenous people get free houses”, “Indigenous people get free University education.”

Indigenous people are not a homogenous group, and we do not have a centralised or universally recognised leadership group.

The myth of the convict is used to derail conversations about the brutality and unfairness of invasion and colonisation.

These theories are outdated and are not accepted as facts by almost anybody in the fields of anthropology, archeology or history.

Almost certainly there are more important issues effecting Indigenous people than the celebrations on January 26 but that is entirely not the point.

Australia Day, Invasion Day, Day of Mourning and Protest – however you label it, this long weekend should be acknowledged as one of activism.

I’m going to start with a popular lie from racists – the idea that Indigenous people should be thankful white people came and gave us access to the ‘best that Western civilisation has to offer’.