ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation)

Rottnest Island (Noongar name: Wadjemup) has a unique place in Western Australia’s history. Rottnest was an Aboriginal prison from 1833 to 1931, when the last prisoner left; previously hundreds of Aboriginal men died on the Island and were buried there.

Whilst Rottnest is a popular holiday and tourist destination, the Island also has a special status for every West Australian person of Aboriginal descent alive today. Hundreds of Aboriginal people from across the State gathered there in February 2009 for the launch of the Rottnest Island Authority’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

A gathering like this is a time to reflect on the suffering and pain imposed on our people, the Aboriginal people of Western Australia. On Sunday we had a national sacred ceremony that reminded us of the suffering of the victims of the Victorians bush fires. The thing that makes that event and the historical events that happened on this island the same, is, tragedy.

When human’s lives are lost in tragedy we are overcome with pain and suffering, we ask ‘why oh why?’ Aboriginal people continue in pain and suffering. Sadly there are two tragedies; one is ‘mother nature’ and what she dishes out to us; as the great human family, we are all vulnerable. The other tragedy is ‘us’ as human beings imposing suffering on our fellow humanity.

Mother Nature is a very powerful force, which our old people have known for many generations. In contrast, our people did not know about the force being imposed on them, through colonisation. They were vulnerable to exploitation, anguish, sickness and heart break. They were made to feel that they had no self-worth, they were treated as vermin, and our people were actually classified as Flora and Fauna. This sentiment still continues today due to a deep pain that buries us in a dark place, deep in the bosom of pain – ‘Psychological Inferiority’!

In tragedy we seem to overlook our differences with great conviction, as we should, and we all join together to make a difference. Sadly we have not completed that journey together in making a difference regarding this place; Wadjemup, or Rottnest, as it is more commonly known. We have been taking this up through very committed people, Nyoongar people, other Aboriginal people, non Aboriginal people who have been working in togetherness to get this right.

This island is a jigsaw of our state; it is a jigsaw of Aboriginal people in WA, this island has a history that belongs to all Australians.

Part of its history tells the sad story of how our Aboriginal men where rounded up and incarcerated in this place - some times for the most pettiness of crimes - living in harsh, cold conditions. The agenda was to remove our warriors out of regions and get them out of the way; this allowed the State to be conquered and developed. Our people had spears, the colonists had the law, the gun, and they imposed their own authority on Aboriginal people of this state. I am not here to make anyone feel guilty, but this history belongs to us all; black and white. We own it, our children own it and our future owns it. It is the truth.

We see the crows fly and carry out their role as hunters and we see the seagull carrying out their role being hunters. One is black the other is white. The crow knows its place and practices its role as being a great bird that is very astute and calculating. He remains a friend to us. We observe the seagulls who also knows its place and practices its role as being a bird that is also very astute and calculating. They are different, yet they are the same. They live together, survive together and respect each other.

Two different cultures, different colours, different ways and means, yet they live in harmony and in balance. Our community is moving towards this, in a very slow manner. But it is going there. We as a community, must, like the crow and the seagull respect each other, respect each other’s cultures, live amongst each other and celebrate in the great gift given to us, creatures of this land.

The quokkas are symbols of our people who died here, their sprits live in them, they patrol and care for this place now and we like the seagulls and the crows must respect the keepers of this island. Look deep into the eyes of a quokka and you will see yourself, looking deep into some ones glazed empty lost soul. This island of lost souls; hundreds of our men died and are buried here, never to return to their country. This is a very sacred place for our people. For all I know, I probably likely have direct blood buried here in the Rottnest Island sand. This place is part of me. Not my country, but a forced resting place of my people.

Let us respect it, less we forget, that as Australians we are the owners and custodians of our history together and we need to embrace each other so that our children can be very much the richer for the access to this place and its history. Many people, many different language groups, many men from different cultures, different age groups, but Aboriginal, who still remain here and we must, together, allow their spirits to be set free by doing the right thing and holding this place as a sacred place, to learn from and show our respects to the great loss of life. This place is neutral ground. This place is the heart of Reconciliation in Western Australia.

Let’s not dance over the remains of our people, their sacrifice must not be in vain. These people were heroes, not criminals! They stood for what they believed in; they stood for what they were, since time began – hunters, gathers, warriors, leaders – proud men; the native peoples of this land.

So let’s worship this place like a sacred site it is; a resting place of our dearly departed. Let’s build this place into a monument of respect; a testimonial to forgiveness, trust, respect and dignity.

Let’s embrace our Aboriginal community by acknowledging and recognizing their diverse cultures, languages, customs and nations. Let’s use this place, events and events to come, as tools to bring together our people and our community into a new beginning. A new beginning, that allows absolute respect, with sincerity, like the admiral respect, between the crow and the seagull, between black and white. Let’s together, lead the nation.