Comments on: An Aboriginal Healing Foundation http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/ Working in support of justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:22:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: melody mandeno http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-68 melody mandeno Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:46:33 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-68 I think the Healing Foundation is a wonderfull way to go. Their certainly is a need for specialisded training in the area of post childhood traumamtic experience. The effects are life long and not only affects the victim of removal from family, but whole generations of family and community. I think the Healing Foundation is a wonderfull way to go.
Their certainly is a need for specialisded training in the area of post childhood traumamtic experience. The effects are life long and not only affects the victim of removal from family, but whole generations of family and community.

]]> By: Berice Robb http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-69 Berice Robb Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:58:37 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-69 I was very interested to read your vision of the proposed Healing Foundation Gary. In particular, the treatment of kids in prison should be analysed and addressed. The engagement of specialized and culturally aware staff in all prisons, and particularly youth detention centres, I think is urgent. Enough specifically trained staff would allow time for one on one interaction between staff and prisoner. ‘Cultural renewal’ and ‘cultural identity’ seem to be pretty catch phrases, but considering the chaotic, intergenerational dysfunction caused to indigenous families (through the practice of child removal among other perpetuated effects of non-indigenous settlement), it seems to me that security and stability should come first, coupled with facilitation of strong family input while in detention. Though often fragmented, it is extremely important that any family or community connections be encouraged (with any outside negative influence being monitored by staff). Confidence through order would then underpin the building of self-knowledge and cultural renewal. With too few specialized and engaged staff, not only do the kids continue destructive behaviour within the system, but the staff, many of whom are Aboriginal people, also become discouraged and it’s easy to see why they resort to high-handed controlling tactics. Public policy encompassing the treatment of Aboriginal people in our prison system, particularly young Aborigines, is vital to the healing process. I was very interested to read your vision of the proposed Healing Foundation Gary. In particular, the treatment of kids in prison should be analysed and addressed. The engagement of specialized and culturally aware staff in all prisons, and particularly youth detention centres, I think is urgent. Enough specifically trained staff would allow time for one on one interaction between staff and prisoner. ‘Cultural renewal’ and ‘cultural identity’ seem to be pretty catch phrases, but considering the chaotic, intergenerational dysfunction caused to indigenous families (through the practice of child removal among other perpetuated effects of non-indigenous settlement), it seems to me that security and stability should come first, coupled with facilitation of strong family input while in detention. Though often fragmented, it is extremely important that any family or community connections be encouraged (with any outside negative influence being monitored by staff). Confidence through order would then underpin the building of self-knowledge and cultural renewal. With too few specialized and engaged staff, not only do the kids continue destructive behaviour within the system, but the staff, many of whom are Aboriginal people, also become discouraged and it’s easy to see why they resort to high-handed controlling tactics. Public policy encompassing the treatment of Aboriginal people in our prison system, particularly young Aborigines, is vital to the healing process.

]]> By: Geraldine Bate http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-70 Geraldine Bate Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:49:42 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-70 Dear ANTaR, Congratulations on your Myspace win! I am very happy to have contributed to it and to any other endeavours of ANTaR. I agree that the healing needs to come from and go to every quarter of Australian Indigenous society. I find it so hard to believe that so many politicians and white citizens in general, cannot see that unless the healing, rehabilitation and reparation processes grow out of Indigenous minds, then there is little progress. Mind you, I also believe that one of the main reasons for binge-drinking and depression in white culture is its failure to practise in profound self-examination, but that's another story. Power comes from within each individual and when the needs become clearer to extrapolate and be expressed, then the rational and bureaucratic minds can understand and act accordingly. I am with you all the way. Love and strength to all. Geraldine Bate Dear ANTaR,
Congratulations on your Myspace win! I am very happy to have contributed to it and to any other endeavours of ANTaR.
I agree that the healing needs to come from and go to every quarter of Australian Indigenous society. I find it so hard to believe that so many politicians and white citizens in general, cannot see that unless the healing, rehabilitation and reparation processes grow out of Indigenous minds, then there is little progress. Mind you, I also believe that one of the main reasons for binge-drinking and depression in white culture is its failure to practise in profound self-examination, but that’s another story.
Power comes from within each individual and when the needs become clearer to extrapolate and be expressed, then the rational and bureaucratic minds can understand and act accordingly.
I am with you all the way.
Love and strength to all.
Geraldine Bate

]]> By: Alemka Dauskardt http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-76 Alemka Dauskardt Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:18:06 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-76 I was excited to read about the Aboriginal Healing Foundation initiative. So needed. So timely. So much work to be done. As a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist, I am primarily concerned with the issues of Spirit and Soul. I see the sorry state of some aspects of the indigenous community mainly as a consequence of “loss of Spirit” suffered through many different damaging aspects of colonization. Working mainly with non-indigenous people, I also see the sorry spiritual state of non-indigenous Australians. And, I see the connection between the two. Yes, we need the healing in Aboriginal communities. And the non-indigenous Australians, descendants of settlers who were perpetrators, as well as all of us who are indirect “beneficiaries” of those acts of perpetration - need healing. The Soul of the nation needs healing. Transgenerational effects of colonization continue for the colonized and the colonizers alike. We all suffer when disconnected from the Spirit and from our own past. From our individualistic blindness, it is difficult for us to conceive that we continue to pay for the wrongdoings of our ancestors through our own unhappiness and that of our children (Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of youth suicide, for example). And there are things that can be done and should be done. We need to revisit the past in a healing way. ”Sorry” was a big step in that direction. In my work, I focus on restoring the connection with the Spirit, with our respective cultural and spiritual roots, and with our ancestors. I also work with respect to the Laws of Life, which are very much like those described in Tjukurpa, and I do my work through Dadirri – a form of quiet awareness and deep listening practiced by Aboriginal people. There is a wealth of healing knowledge in the traditions of Aboriginal culture. We, non-indigenous people, can draw on that. And, maybe, indigenous people can benefit from some of our expertise in restoring their traditions. There are also methods of healing which work directly on reconciliation, and contribute to the healing on a level of a nation. These could be some of the tasks worthy of Foundation’s attention and support. I’d be more than happy to put some of my energy towards this goal. What’s the next step? All the best Alemka Dauskardt I was excited to read about the Aboriginal Healing Foundation initiative. So needed. So timely. So much work to be done.
As a Psychologist and a Psychotherapist, I am primarily concerned with the issues of Spirit and Soul. I see the sorry state of some aspects of the indigenous community mainly as a consequence of “loss of Spirit” suffered through many different damaging aspects of colonization. Working mainly with non-indigenous people, I also see the sorry spiritual state of non-indigenous Australians. And, I see the connection between the two.
Yes, we need the healing in Aboriginal communities. And the non-indigenous Australians, descendants of settlers who were perpetrators, as well as all of us who are indirect “beneficiaries” of those acts of perpetration - need healing. The Soul of the nation needs healing. Transgenerational effects of colonization continue for the colonized and the colonizers alike.
We all suffer when disconnected from the Spirit and from our own past. From our individualistic blindness, it is difficult for us to conceive that we continue to pay for the wrongdoings of our ancestors through our own unhappiness and that of our children (Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of youth suicide, for example).
And there are things that can be done and should be done. We need to revisit the past in a healing way. ”Sorry” was a big step in that direction.
In my work, I focus on restoring the connection with the Spirit, with our respective cultural and spiritual roots, and with our ancestors. I also work with respect to the Laws of Life, which are very much like those described in Tjukurpa, and I do my work through Dadirri – a form of quiet awareness and deep listening practiced by Aboriginal people.
There is a wealth of healing knowledge in the traditions of Aboriginal culture. We, non-indigenous people, can draw on that. And, maybe, indigenous people can benefit from some of our expertise in restoring their traditions.
There are also methods of healing which work directly on reconciliation, and contribute to the healing on a level of a nation. These could be some of the tasks worthy of Foundation’s attention and support. I’d be more than happy to put some of my energy towards this goal. What’s the next step?
All the best
Alemka Dauskardt

]]> By: John Tracey http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-77 John Tracey Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:38:47 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-77 I am very dissappointed by this healing foundation notion. In Qld., where I live, Aboriginal wages were stolen from workers and put into the Aboriginal welfare fund, which sounds to me very much like the healing foundation idea. The healing foundation is the cosmetic and tokenistic option to avoid paying proper compensation to victims of crime. Aboriginal people stolen from their families and their descendents who have secondarily suffered because of the original crime should be paid compensation in the same way that white victims of crime should be paid - dollars in the pocket. The Aboriginal welfare fund took Aboriginal peoples money and spent it on things that white citizens take for granted such as public services, paid by the tax payer. The Qld government, in its response to stolen wages and the millions that were left in the Aboriginal welfare fund, is to set up another Aboriginal welfare fund and has ruled out proper compensation as white victims of crime get. The proposal for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the NT involved a $12.000.000 "payment" to traditional owners - to be put in a fund to pay for health, education and roads projects - again things that the taxpayer gives to white communities. White land owners involved in real estate deals get profits - dollars in the pocket - for such dealings, but ABorigines get another Aboriginal welfare fund. Many mining companies who, if there was a real native title framework, would be paying percentage of profit to traditional owners as capitalists with land assetts, but instead mining companies give community halls, schools, roads etc. - as a tax deduction to the mining company, and no profits to traditional owners. I am dissapointed that ANTAR can endorse such a thing. Justice is justice, cosmetic tokenism is cosmetic tokenism and the healing foundation idea is just another Aborigines Welfare Fund.. I am very dissappointed by this healing foundation notion.

In Qld., where I live, Aboriginal wages were stolen from workers and put into the Aboriginal welfare fund, which sounds to me very much like the healing foundation idea.

The healing foundation is the cosmetic and tokenistic option to avoid paying proper compensation to victims of crime. Aboriginal people stolen from their families and their descendents who have secondarily suffered because of the original crime should be paid compensation in the same way that white victims of crime should be paid - dollars in the pocket.

The Aboriginal welfare fund took Aboriginal peoples money and spent it on things that white citizens take for granted such as public services, paid by the tax payer.

The Qld government, in its response to stolen wages and the millions that were left in the Aboriginal welfare fund, is to set up another Aboriginal welfare fund and has ruled out proper compensation as white victims of crime get.

The proposal for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the NT involved a $12.000.000 “payment” to traditional owners - to be put in a fund to pay for health, education and roads projects - again things that the taxpayer gives to white communities. White land owners involved in real estate deals get profits - dollars in the pocket - for such dealings, but ABorigines get another Aboriginal welfare fund.

Many mining companies who, if there was a real native title framework, would be paying percentage of profit to traditional owners as capitalists with land assetts, but instead mining companies give community halls, schools, roads etc. - as a tax deduction to the mining company, and no profits to traditional owners.

I am dissapointed that ANTAR can endorse such a thing. Justice is justice, cosmetic tokenism is cosmetic tokenism and the healing foundation idea is just another Aborigines Welfare Fund..

]]> By: Mack http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-80 Mack Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:58:51 +0000 http://www.antar.org.au/blog/an-aboriginal-healing-foundation/#comment-80 Many people now seem to be calling for a Healing Foundation, there is less agreement on precisely what this will do.The Aboriginal welfare fund took Aboriginal peoples money and spent it on things that white citizens take for granted such as public services, paid by the tax payer. The proposal for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the NT involved a $12.000.000 “payment” to traditional owners - to be put in a fund to pay for health, education and roads projects - again things that the taxpayer gives to white communities. Mack Many people now seem to be calling for a Healing Foundation, there is less agreement on precisely what this will do.The Aboriginal welfare fund took Aboriginal peoples money and spent it on things that white citizens take for granted such as public services, paid by the tax payer. The proposal for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the NT involved a $12.000.000 “payment” to traditional owners - to be put in a fund to pay for health, education and roads projects - again things that the taxpayer gives to white communities.

Mack

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