Kanyini Reflection Before watching the Kanyini documentary I had a very broad view on the topic of equality for

aborigines. My views have been shaped by the media and my surroundings. I understood the huge amount of loss the Europeans had caused them, and was disgusted by the way they were treated, from the overtaking of country, horrible massacres and the removal of children from their families (Stolen Generation). Keeping this in mind, I also felt that the Australian citizens had moved on. In 2008, Keven Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister of the time, offered his apology, on behalf of the Australian government, to the indigenous community. The national apology would contribute to the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as our first nations peoples and to national healing and reconciliation. Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people receive special treatment from the government. Some examples of this include, the Community Development Employment Projects, in remote areas of Australia, Aboriginal Medical Services and Aboriginal Legal Services, the Indigenous Employment Program and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples education programs, such as the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme. All of these benefits are in place to help the indigenous community. Before watching Kanyini I was confused on the Aboriginal communities never ending battles regarding racial equality.

As we watched the Kanyini episode I was given a more personal view of the mistreatment of the Aborigines. I learnt of the very disciplined lifestyle of the Aboriginal Australians. They were trained to look after their ceremonies, land and each other, to take no more than what was needed as they were all connected to their surroundings. The land belonged to them and they belonged to the land. This made me wonder if the Indigenous people felt partially responsible for the loss of their culture, as if they felt they could have done or said more. Bob Randall expressed the confusion the children felt about the Christian religion. The bible taught them murder was a sin, and to love thy neighbour, yet the Europeans were killing the natives. It was contradictory and hypocritical. Bob also noted the presence of racial superiority in many towns, and highlighted the problem of stereotyping. Although they had integrated into the white community they still felt as they were being shunned and weren't accepted into society. Finally, he mentions the list of diseases we have bought to the Indigenous people, including diabetes, early death, suicide, poverty, obesity, high blood pressure, kidney disease and eye disease. Europeans are responsible for these crippling diseases found in Indigenous communities today.

Bob Randall stated that the Indigenous community would be happier if they could live undisturbed in the outback. I agree with this statement, but believe that if it were to happen they should not be receiving all of these benefits. I researched the percentage of aboriginal people living in the outback, 6% lived in remote Australia and 16% in extreme remote Australia. This shows the minority of Indigenous Australians lived in secluded areas of Australia. It has been approximately 200 years since white settlement, and 78% of the indigenous population has integrated. The Indigenous community have been assimilated too long to turn back. I believe if you asked any Aboriginal Australian living in your local suburb if they would prefer to live the life they have now, or be bought back into the remote country and told to fend for themselves, the first option would be highly favoured. In past lessons we learnt of the European history and how they believed their actions all had huge

consequences. For example, they accepted that the Bubonic Plague was a consequence of their 'misbehaviour'. This led me to question if the Aboriginal Australians felt that the European invasion was a consequence of their actions. During class discussions most people agreed that the aboriginal people were rejected by society and subject to harsh stereotyping, and also agreed that society must change. We are society, and we, collectively, are responsible for this damage. We are the newest generation, and it is our challenge to change the way people think. Although after watching Kanyini my opinion on the racial battles of the Aboriginal Australians has not changed. Georgia Emms