"But a man without a sense of his roots is a tumbleweed without aim or purpose, being tossed hither and yon by whatever winds are blowing."
I have to agree with you completely there. I am a Project Officer in a Court in Australia, where I am helping to set up a Koori Court - a special sentencing court for Indigenous Australians.
The entire reason for the Court comes from a recognition of the harm that has been caused by the uprooting of all their culture and beliefs, being forced to live in areas that weren't their own country, and in so many cases removed from their family and roots to be raised by people who had for the most part had nothing but disdain, and sometimes outright hatred of where they came from. And, of course, not being able to choose their own roads.
Losing their roots and their knowledge of who they are and where they came from - which is one of the most important factors of their culture - has led them to alcohol, drugs and crime. It's a generational problem, and not one that can be solved easily. Our process involves the indigenous community by including Elder's in the process - not only to educate the offenders, but to strengthen their own ability to make a difference for themselves and their community. We can't change what has been done in the past, but we can help them rediscover their roots, and help each other to choose the best road for them.
I will be printing this post out to show to my manager, who is an Indigenous Australian, from Tasmania. She grew up knowing she was Aboriginal, but at the same time being told there were no Tasmanian Aboriginals. I know she will appreciate it.
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Date: 2009-04-28 02:48 am (UTC)I have to agree with you completely there. I am a Project Officer in a Court in Australia, where I am helping to set up a Koori Court - a special sentencing court for Indigenous Australians.
The entire reason for the Court comes from a recognition of the harm that has been caused by the uprooting of all their culture and beliefs, being forced to live in areas that weren't their own country, and in so many cases removed from their family and roots to be raised by people who had for the most part had nothing but disdain, and sometimes outright hatred of where they came from. And, of course, not being able to choose their own roads.
Losing their roots and their knowledge of who they are and where they came from - which is one of the most important factors of their culture - has led them to alcohol, drugs and crime. It's a generational problem, and not one that can be solved easily.
Our process involves the indigenous community by including Elder's in the process - not only to educate the offenders, but to strengthen their own ability to make a difference for themselves and their community.
We can't change what has been done in the past, but we can help them rediscover their roots, and help each other to choose the best road for them.
I will be printing this post out to show to my manager, who is an Indigenous Australian, from Tasmania. She grew up knowing she was Aboriginal, but at the same time being told there were no Tasmanian Aboriginals. I know she will appreciate it.