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Without prejudice : Comments
By Bill Calcutt, published 29/6/2020The global resurgence of the Black Lives Matter campaign reminds Australians of the ongoing disproportionate rate of incarceration of indigenous people in this country.
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In another segment Miriam went with some female and male elders who maintained an evening 'patrol' in their area, collecting youths out after dark and taking them in the patrol bus back to their individual homes/camps. The housing in this area was pretty poor to atrocious.
Contrasts all over the place.
An acquaintance has two sons who have done quite a lot of work on stations 'up north - NT and Qld - and he told me there are some communities (camps?) where outsiders, including the police, daren't go for fear of your life. True or false, I cannot say. However, in Taree NSW, about 100 Ks from me, there is a 'suburb' called Purfleet, which has an Aboriginal Council, and where police are not permitted without express permission - as I understand it. Now, once I gave a lift to one fellow for about 2 ks towards Purfleet. Now, he wasn't 'hitching', I just stopped and offered him a lift. Did he show any thanks, any gratitude for saving him quite a bit of a walk. No way. He wouldn't even look at me - except when getting into the vehicle. So?
Anyhow, I've tried not to judge and also not to get carried away with these issues, and with rights and wrongs, and what might be best. But, I see promise on one hand, including some of the education activities - language, culture, materials - in some locations. Genuine effort.
Other areas are terribly disappointing, to say the least.
Foxy,
I wouldn't hold up the plight of the 'Native Canadians' as any 'glowing example'. Many of the women 'disappearing', much prostitution and very little hope. What is going on there appears atrocious. (From a TV doco.)