June 1: Happiness is changing the discourse around growing up Aboriginal
What it means to be Aboriginal. How Aboriginal people are identified. Stereotypes around Aboriginality. Where we live, what we aspire to be, what we contribute to society. Much of these issues / topics have for the most part been discussed by people ‘outside’ the Aboriginal community – media commentators, academics, researchers and so forth.
But tonight at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, 200+ locals sat and listened to Celeste Liddle, Zac Penrith-Pulchaski and Sharon Payne talk about the above based on their own personal experiences. And to be part of that conversation around Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, that shift in who controls the dialogue around our own lives, was empowering. For those who couldn’t make it, the podcast is now online here.
This is a shout out of thanks to the Wheeler Centre and Black Inc Books for making the the night possible, and to all those who came along to share the conversation.
An added thrill was seeing my tiddas Yvette Holt and Ellen van Neerven. Both amazing poets who came along also to support and catch up.
Smiles all round as you can see. I was one happy moderator / editor tonight.
