Aboriginal Leaders in Victoria Promote Culture and History of Indigenous Australians

Local leaders in in the Australian state of Victoria are busy promoting the understanding of the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander among its citizens. This is in conjunction with what the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is pushing for – constitutional recognition for Australia’s Indigenous Population.

Pledge for indigenous reconciliation

Before he was declared the winner in the 2013 election, Prime Minister Abbott promised that he would spend a week each year in an indigenous community that is located in the remote areas of the country. He also promised that he would make it a priority of his government to work on the indigenous reconciliation.

It was reported in September this year that Social Justice Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Mick Gooda, thinks the pace of the reconciliation efforts was very slow and had called for a popular vote by the end of the coming year. Mr. Gooda was tasked to promote indigenous rights and recognition.

The report came out at the time when Prime Minister Abbott was spending the week in the northern Outback. He fended off the calls for an early referendum, which he thinks would be half-baked. He said that recognition involves the citizens’ acceptance of the reality of their country. It seems that the Prime Minister is asking for more time to finalize things, although he had hinted on the possibility of a referendum happening in 2017.

Promotions in Victoria for understanding of history and culture

St. Kilda, a suburb in Victoria is one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections. Its tramways and road take commuters to and from the Central Business District and the beach suburbs each day. One road in particular bends and goes around Albert Park’s southeast end. People had to take this road but they do not know the reason why they had to do so, according to a Boon Warrung elder, Carolyn Briggs.

The reason, as Ms. Briggs explained it, is for the people to pass by the “Corroboree Tree” that is called “ngargee” in the Aboriginal language. Local aborigines including Ms. Briggs conduct cultural tours within the park. This particular tree, a 20-meter high red gum tree is believed to be 700 years old. It is one of the few Indigenous Australian landmarks that remain. It is located near the junction of Fitzroy Street and Queens Road.

During the early settlement days Aboriginals held many ceremonies, events, community storytelling and other activities under this particular tree. It had been the meeting place of Aboriginal boys who were embarking on their initiation trips. It continued to witness ceremonies beyond 1835 when the British settled in the area.

The Corroboree Tree is considered a symbol of reconciliation and survival because it is the only living ngargee in the entire continent, according to Meyer Eidelson, a writer and historian, who featured the tree and 29 other Aboriginal sites of significant importance in his book called “Melbourne Dreaming.”

At Yarra Park is an 800-year old scar tree, which was used by Aboriginals to make houses, shields and canoes. Scar trees are red gum trees that bore scars from the ceremonies held by the Aboriginals. Yarra Park rings the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a sporting venue that was once a corroboree site and campground.

Melbourne has a long history of celebrating Aboriginal culture. There is a forest of totem poles in the city and spear statues and rock carvings. Even a modern installation, the Webb Bridge that is used by cyclists and pedestrians had been designed to resemble an Aboriginal eel net.

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