The approach of NAIDOC week has me thinking about how I, as a white woman, can best support Aboriginal people.
In recent years I have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with refugee and migrant communities. Not surprisingly, many know very little about Australian history and their knowledge of Aboriginal Australia is limited to negative and stereotyped stories from mainstream media. Also, not surprisingly, they are keen to learn about their new home, but they are often unsure of where to start. This has sent me looking for books to share.
Luckily there are now fantastic resources out there, which I wish were available when my family came to Australia as refugees. Developing cultural awareness helps people become aware of their own prejudices (or not to develop them in the first place!), reduces suspicion and mistrust, and fosters respect and pride.
So this NAIDOC week, help to spread the word about what our extraordinary First Australians have endured and achieved over the millennia.
Adults
The Little Red Yellow Black Book: An introduction to Indigenous Australia (Fourth Edition) (2018)
Welcome to Country: A Travel Guide to Indigenous Australia by Marcia Langton (2018)
Youth
Welcome to Country Youth Edition: An Introduction to our First Peoples for Young Australians by Marcia Langton (2019)
Kids
Young Dark Emu: A Truer History by Bruce Pascoe (2019)
This piece was written by one of the ICLA eFriend Peer Support Workers. eFriend is an online platform where you can connect with a trained peer support worker whom has their own lived experience of feeling lonely, isolated, stressed or worried. You can speak to your eFriend Peer via video or phone call. Your eFriend Peer will listen, validate and provide hope. If you like, they can also assist you to identify any other services you may like to try or help you create plans to improve your personal well-being. Or they can simply listen.
To book your first call visit: https://my.efriend.org.au/preregistration/