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Let this conversation over Adam Goodes inspire us to push for a final settlement Let this conversation over Adam Goodes inspire us to push for a final settlement
(35 minutes later)
Red eyed, before dawn, the first person I see is Mick Gooda. He is one of Australia’s social justice commissioners, a sharp mind masked by a garrulous demeanour whose ear for vernacular and quick wit makes people laugh but leaves them thinking deeply.Red eyed, before dawn, the first person I see is Mick Gooda. He is one of Australia’s social justice commissioners, a sharp mind masked by a garrulous demeanour whose ear for vernacular and quick wit makes people laugh but leaves them thinking deeply.
He is also a “brother”, a fellow Indigenous man. We greet each other with our inverted handshake that acknowledges our kinship.He is also a “brother”, a fellow Indigenous man. We greet each other with our inverted handshake that acknowledges our kinship.
“It’s good to be among our people when we are hurting.” He says. “It’s good to be among our people when we are hurting,” he says.
We both say how we wish Adam was here. Adam Goodes is never far from our minds.We both say how we wish Adam was here. Adam Goodes is never far from our minds.
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“Here” is Garma, an annual celebration of Indigenous culture on Gumatj land on the Gove peninsula. It is also a pivotal meeting of corporate, political and Indigenous leaders from right across Australia.“Here” is Garma, an annual celebration of Indigenous culture on Gumatj land on the Gove peninsula. It is also a pivotal meeting of corporate, political and Indigenous leaders from right across Australia.
There is a great conversation growing here. A conversation that is being had throughout our country. How the booing of an Indigenous footballer is echoing an even louder question: who are we?There is a great conversation growing here. A conversation that is being had throughout our country. How the booing of an Indigenous footballer is echoing an even louder question: who are we?
Australia’s great thinker on race, an eminence grise of the Indigenous community, Noel Pearson, wonders if he knows Australians at all. He says he thought he did, but the derision, hatred, the apologists for racism makes him think twice.Australia’s great thinker on race, an eminence grise of the Indigenous community, Noel Pearson, wonders if he knows Australians at all. He says he thought he did, but the derision, hatred, the apologists for racism makes him think twice.
Then again, he says, perhaps he knows them too well. In the oratory that this lawyer and activist is renowned for, he warns our country is staring into an abyss.Then again, he says, perhaps he knows them too well. In the oratory that this lawyer and activist is renowned for, he warns our country is staring into an abyss.
Marcia Langton – Professor Marcia Langton – let me emphasise that, a woman of learning and scholarship and ideas and words, has never shrunk from a fight in her life.Marcia Langton – Professor Marcia Langton – let me emphasise that, a woman of learning and scholarship and ideas and words, has never shrunk from a fight in her life.
I was an aimless 17 year old delivering mail at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra when I met her. She was studying for her degree at the Australian National University. She sat me down, told me of the struggles of our people and our responsibilities to that struggle. She lit a fire in me and helped inspire an ambition that has guided my life since.I was an aimless 17 year old delivering mail at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra when I met her. She was studying for her degree at the Australian National University. She sat me down, told me of the struggles of our people and our responsibilities to that struggle. She lit a fire in me and helped inspire an ambition that has guided my life since.
Related: Nova Peris says government language around Indigenous people is patronisingRelated: Nova Peris says government language around Indigenous people is patronising
Now we talk again in the stillness of this land, under a sky whose stars have guided the Gumatj for two thousand generations. Marcia’s eyes are hollowed out, despairing that the battles she has waged since childhood, she is waging again.Now we talk again in the stillness of this land, under a sky whose stars have guided the Gumatj for two thousand generations. Marcia’s eyes are hollowed out, despairing that the battles she has waged since childhood, she is waging again.
“I’ve called them pig ignorant,” she says. “We are talking to morons!”“I’ve called them pig ignorant,” she says. “We are talking to morons!”
Marcia is tired. She says, we can’t fight this on our own. Everyone has to step up.Marcia is tired. She says, we can’t fight this on our own. Everyone has to step up.
Young Indigenous kids here have used ochre to smear Adam Goodes’ number 37 on their bodies. Old ladies say they’re searching for the words to explain racism to these same kids.Young Indigenous kids here have used ochre to smear Adam Goodes’ number 37 on their bodies. Old ladies say they’re searching for the words to explain racism to these same kids.
Our non-Indigenous fellow Australians tell me of their despair at the lack of political leadership, and I can only share that despair.Our non-Indigenous fellow Australians tell me of their despair at the lack of political leadership, and I can only share that despair.
Our country is hurting. A great nation that in a little over 200 years has created an example of tolerance and cohesion that is the envy of the world, that embodies those values in a word sacred to us: mateship.Our country is hurting. A great nation that in a little over 200 years has created an example of tolerance and cohesion that is the envy of the world, that embodies those values in a word sacred to us: mateship.
Now this country is having its greatness tested. Where are the words that rise to meet the challenge? Where are appeals to the better angels of our nature? Where is the Lincoln in our midst who can appeal to this country as the great American president did when he spoke at a time of war of a nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” and then pondered whether this nation “so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure”.Now this country is having its greatness tested. Where are the words that rise to meet the challenge? Where are appeals to the better angels of our nature? Where is the Lincoln in our midst who can appeal to this country as the great American president did when he spoke at a time of war of a nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” and then pondered whether this nation “so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure”.
I can only regret that we have no leader of that stature among our politicians.I can only regret that we have no leader of that stature among our politicians.
Of course we are not at war. But that isn’t to say there are not people who don’t bare the scars of war. I have written of the pain of growing up Indigenous in Australia. I did not write to apportion blame or to play the victim. I have written only to share our reality.Of course we are not at war. But that isn’t to say there are not people who don’t bare the scars of war. I have written of the pain of growing up Indigenous in Australia. I did not write to apportion blame or to play the victim. I have written only to share our reality.
As a reporter I’ve covered conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza and Pakistan – and I have met myself in every one of those countries. In refugee camps I have looked into eyes of the same people I grew up with. I could have been looking into the eyes of the my father. As a reporter I’ve covered conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza and Pakistan – and I have met myself in every one of those countries. In refugee camps I have looked into eyes of the same people I grew up with. I could have been looking into the eyes of my father.
I have seen the same listlessness coupled with defiance, the same suffering coupled with survival. But in those lands, conflict is defined; war given its name. In Australia we don’t even have that.I have seen the same listlessness coupled with defiance, the same suffering coupled with survival. But in those lands, conflict is defined; war given its name. In Australia we don’t even have that.
My people, the Wiradjuri, fought a conflict with the settlers and endured the imposition of martial law. Finally our leader, Windraydyne, marched his people at the invitation of Governor Brisbane into a great celebration in Parramatta. He wore a hat upon which was written the word “peace”.My people, the Wiradjuri, fought a conflict with the settlers and endured the imposition of martial law. Finally our leader, Windraydyne, marched his people at the invitation of Governor Brisbane into a great celebration in Parramatta. He wore a hat upon which was written the word “peace”.
Windraydyne rests in a grave on a property near Bathurst, his war long forgotten and unrecognised with no memorial for his fallen.Windraydyne rests in a grave on a property near Bathurst, his war long forgotten and unrecognised with no memorial for his fallen.
Here rests our dilemma and our great unresolved challenge. How do we as Indigenous Australians reconcile our allegiance to the flag of this nation with the legacy of injustice and suffering that is our inheritance?Here rests our dilemma and our great unresolved challenge. How do we as Indigenous Australians reconcile our allegiance to the flag of this nation with the legacy of injustice and suffering that is our inheritance?
We have had high water marks in our recent history. The Mabo decision overturned the fiction of terra nullius – that this was an empty land to be claimed for the British crown. The apology to the stolen generations acknowledged a great wrong and began a healing.We have had high water marks in our recent history. The Mabo decision overturned the fiction of terra nullius – that this was an empty land to be claimed for the British crown. The apology to the stolen generations acknowledged a great wrong and began a healing.
Now we have a debate about recognising Indigenous people in the constitution. A discussion that is beginning to take form and may lead to a referendum as momentous as 1967 when Australia formalised the full citizenship of Indigenous people, to count us in its census.Now we have a debate about recognising Indigenous people in the constitution. A discussion that is beginning to take form and may lead to a referendum as momentous as 1967 when Australia formalised the full citizenship of Indigenous people, to count us in its census.
Related: Stan Grant: I can tell you how Adam Goodes feels. Every Indigenous person has felt itRelated: Stan Grant: I can tell you how Adam Goodes feels. Every Indigenous person has felt it
But these are pieces of a grander mosaic. What is needed is a full and final settlement of our history. A full reckoning of that moment when a British flag was placed in the ground and the rights of my people extinguished.But these are pieces of a grander mosaic. What is needed is a full and final settlement of our history. A full reckoning of that moment when a British flag was placed in the ground and the rights of my people extinguished.
We need leadership that isn’t waylaid by scaremongers and doesn’t shy from words like treaty and sovereignty. We need leadership which doesn’t diminish the maturity and good will of the people of this country, who rise to the challenge of the greatness we pride ourselves on.We need leadership that isn’t waylaid by scaremongers and doesn’t shy from words like treaty and sovereignty. We need leadership which doesn’t diminish the maturity and good will of the people of this country, who rise to the challenge of the greatness we pride ourselves on.
This is our great conversation. How fitting among a people so besotted with sport that this conversation can be inspired by a sportsman.This is our great conversation. How fitting among a people so besotted with sport that this conversation can be inspired by a sportsman.