Evidence Library

Charles Pakana describes his experiences as a disconnected Aboriginal man and how he has had to fight for his identity, like so many others have also had to do. Carrying great pride in his heritage, he has worked with community in Victoria for nearly 20 years, advocating for truth, voice and treaty. Charles seeks acknowledgement of disconnected people, and acknowledgement from the government that its legacy of genocidal acts have inflicted brutal disconnection upon thousands of Aboriginal people, who, without family, clan and nation support, continue to fight for a better Victoria and Australia.

Katherine Clarke is a Wotjobaluk woman from the Wimmera who works in the arts. She is concerned about exploitation of First Peoples art by the commercial world, with no understanding or respect for the storytelling and culture that gives First Nations art its meaning. She also talks about the undervaluing of First Nations artists and their work and makes suggestions for addressing it, which would help self-determination.

Carolyn Lawson is from the Latji Latji Maraura Tribe from Mildura. She describes police violence towards community over many years, including children. She wants investigations into incidents that have happened, and for police and the Coroner’s Court to be re-educated about First Nations people and history. She also praises the local police in Robinvale, who get to know community and get involved with NAIDOC Week.

Lionel Lauch is a Gunditjmara Kirrae Wurrung-Bundjalung man. He is the co-founder of Living Culture, which teaches people to see through an Indigenous perspective in the Mornington Peninsula area, including bush tucker, medicine, dancing, art and cooking. Lionel’s family experienced intergenerational trauma through the Stolen Generations. Growing up in out-of-home care he experienced racism, violence and abuse. He has also faced racism in the health system throughout his life, which has affected his health. He has learned to let go of the anger and despair he felt growing up and feels immense pride in culture as an Aboriginal man.

Emma Mayall talks about her Grandfather, who lost his connection to his heritage and for a large part of his life denied he was a First Nations man. She talks about the struggle of trying to find out more about her Dadda’s history and her own identity as a First Nations woman.

Emma Mayall talks about her Grandfather, who lost his connection to his heritage and for a large part of his life denied he was a First Nations man. She talks about the struggle of trying to find out more about her Dadda’s history and her own identity as a First Nations woman.

Uncle Henry Atkinson is a Wolithiga man. Born in Echuca, his father was born in 1891 and his mother around 1928. Uncle Henry describes the conditions at missions, including the Black Plague, stolen wages and the walk-off at Cummeragunja mission, when people were treated so badly they left and walked as far as Mathoura, Deniliquin, Echuca, Moama and Mooroopna. He describes children later being taken away from their parents, never to see each other again. He remembers segregated classrooms and Aboriginal children not being allowed to play sport or speak language. Uncle Henry also describes his battles to return ancestral remains, the need for housing and the importance of looking after younger generations coming through. Over his life Uncle Henry has gone on to be a champion fireman, General Manager at General Electrics and a Monash University Professor, starting Aboriginal studies courses.

First Nations men in the Metropolitan Remand Centre say one of the biggest issues across the prisons is the high cost of phone calls. It stops people being able to speak with their families, which is something that helps people feel sane and connected. They also talk about the shortage of mental health, methadone, banking, employment, housing and health services, which all have serious flow-on effects.

First Nations men in the Metropolitan Remand Centre describe how they are laughed at, targeted and taunted by prison staff, are sent to isolation for long periods, denied health services and have only restricted access to support, art and culture programs that are ‘taught’ and delivered by whitefellas. They say the across-the-board racism is why there are so many deaths in custody. The things that help are real community cultural programs, secure housing and employment opportunities. They are calling for the cost of phone calls and toiletries to be lowered, to be able to attend funerals and to have cultural packs.

Jesse Milne is a Waka Waka man who was in and out of foster homes as a child and ended up in residential care. Feeling lonely and abandoned he coped with his pain through drugs and alcohol, which led to a life of crime, violence and prison, starting with juvenile detention from the age of 12 or 13. As an adult, the cultural rehabilitation program Wulgunggo Ngalu helped turn his life around by connecting him back with community and culture. He is now a proud dad himself. Jesse says the child protection system should look to place kids with their families instead of foster homes and residential care.