Happy Friday afternoon to you!
It is monthly review time already! Quick recap in case you missed what my goal is for 2022 – it is to Cultivate routines to expand my knowledge and experiences. January really did get off to a cracking start for me in terms of progressing towards my goal, however, as I share my progress with each habit I am focusing on below, I am aware that January is definitely an easier month for a number of the habits I have chosen to establish.
My focus for this review is on the habit of taking an hour a week to learn more about our First Nations Peoples. I would have spent at least 10 hours on this during January. It has been a real awakening to me and I do admit to being ashamed that it has taken me so long to start working on this. I have known I have had massive gaps in my knowledge of the suffering and injustices endured by the First Nations Peoples but did not act upon it. I hope the resources I share below encourages others to start their journey earlier than I did:
First Australians Documentary Series – this is freely available on SBS on Demand and was such an excellent starting point for my learning. There are seven episodes and each one has a specific focus. I highly recommend watching from start to finish but I did choose one episode for the younger kids to watch which was episode three and it focused on the first Australians of Victoria at the time Wurundjeri clan and their leader Simon Wonga. The absolute bravery, tenacity and determination shown by the First Nations People to just survive their unjust treatment was amazing.
The Indigenous population of Victoria was estimated to be at least 11,500 before the founding of Melbourne in 1835.
Less than 30 years later frontier violence and the introduction of European diseases had decimated the population and only about 2000 Aboriginal people survived.
All non-indigenous people living on the land of the Wurundjeri should watch this episode to learn how the First Nations people were treated at Coranderrk.
Historical insights into Racism in Australia with Aboriginal Elder Colin Jones – Indigenous Health MedTalk Podcast – this podcast is the audio from a lecture presented by Elder Colin Jones at a Cultural Immersion for GP registrars at Bunya Mountains. Jones has a wonderful presentation style that is engaging, impactful and full of knowledge accrued from both lived experience and his extensive formal education.
8 Things To Know About Jan 26 By Taneshia Atkinson via @clothingthegaps Instagram page – this is a must-read for all.
Frontier War Stories – Michael Organ – Australia’s founding figures – Michael Organ is a former Australian politician, archivist and local historian. He discusses three key figures Lieutenant James Cook, Admiral (First Governor) Arthur Phillip and Major General (Fifth Governor) Lachlan Macquarie and why understandably, Aboriginal people do not celebrate them.
A lovely reader sent me a great list of resources back in early January and I am working my way through it, researching my own resources and expanding who I follow on my social media networks to create greater diversity in my feeds and broaden my understanding.
If you are keen to read a breakdown of my progress towards my goal, habit by habit you can do so here.
Have a great weekend.
Nic
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Thank you Nicole, I really applaud your efforts and it gives me incentive to do the same . Thanks for your always inspiring and educational posts.