Yindyamarra is the Wiradjuri people’s word for respect - a respect for all things that you practice in your daily life.
Several years ago, as the guest speaker at a charitable function, I was told I was a liar.
I had been invited to speak, at a well-known charity driven-social service organisation, on my work in Indigenous studies, with a view to them potentially working alongside a local Indigenous group.
Deep in sharing my research on the Stolen Generations, a time period from 1920-1970s, where it is estimated that over 100,000 indigenous children were taken from their families, a raised voice came from the back of the room. “It’s all lies.”
“Sorry, what?” I paused, very confused. “It’s all lies,” the voice repeated with conviction. I was then informed that “the do-gooders of the south had come up to the north and ruined it for everyone.” The room broke out in a strange rustling rabble, that almost usurped my speech. I continued as best I could.
Interestingly, the so called ‘lies’ I was telling were coming straight from the Australian Government’s “Bringing Them Home” Report – the 1997 Australian Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.
I cannot begin to tell you the emotions that raced through me that night. I left feeling very wronged, almost as though someone had physically hurt me. Then this thought came: Wow – If I feel this deeply affected by being called a liar on one night, imagine having lived with this every day.
A glimpse of White Privilege began to emerge.
Blessings and Yindyamarra as we all begin to open our eyes together,
Marg
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