Australia must avoid being a shallow nation

Many official functions throughout Australia are opened with an acknowledgement to the traditional custodians of the land. Unfortunately, it is not unusual to observe some people rolling their eyes at this. If only they knew and understood the value of such a gesture. An acknowledgment of country may not seem like much, but its value is enhanced if one can understand that this very gesture has been occurring on this land with Indigenous Australians for many thousands of years. It is an ancient and serious gesture, which was traditionally executed to enable passage on another person’s country, as well as to signal good manners.

Today, Indigenous Australians offer a gift to non-Indigenous Australians by enabling them to participate in this ancient gesture. As we execute this ritual together, our history becomes shared and non-Indigenous Australians can become more in tune with the rhythm of this land we both now live on. When we understand the depth of this gesture, we are better able respect and stand alongside each other.

Last week, on his visit to Kalgoorlie, Tony Abbott — who likes to be seen as one who walks alongside Aboriginal Australians — set himself apart from us when he described many of those in remote communities as making “lifestyle choices”. Even his hand-picked Aboriginal advisers denounced him.

It is clear that Abbott wants to be regarded as a prominent leader in this space, but such comments signal he has a long way to go. It is also clear that neither he, nor any other politician, can develop the level of understanding required and respect that comes with it, from a few carefully choreographed appearances at remote Indigenous communities. On these visits, everything is done to ensure the VIPs hear what they want to, rather than what they need to.

It is worth understanding that Aboriginal people in many remote communities are there by anything, but a process of “choice”. They are there because historically their people were rounded up and detained in such places under apartheid-like policies. Nonetheless, such communities have evolved over time. It is also clear that as a nation, Australia has left them to dwindle at the end of the societal vine rather than enabled them to evolve into communities of quality and substance that can nurture a sense of hope and strength.

Nobody ‘chooses’ to locate themselves and their families among the perils of impoverishment.

Many Indigenous people are not necessarily “choosing” to stay in challenging communities; they are effectively “locked” in such places feeling like they have no choice. Nobody “chooses” to locate themselves and their families among the perils of impoverishment. And while many will suggest they should be grateful for all we have “given” them, the ultimate truth is that as a nation we have taken lots from them, not least the land which provides the basis of the mining boom. The truth, then, is that they have been given nothing that will enable them to transcend despair. We might think we have invested exorbitant amounts in such places; but there is room to question whether we have seriously invested in ways that would enable their emancipation, or simply in ways to control remote Indigenous people.

For me it is hurtful, yet sobering, to reflect on the sense of despair in the words of Patrick Dodson, who wonders about the precipice we are brought to with the type of leadership that Abbott has displayed. Dodson wrote: The truly sad aspect of this media-grab commentary is that it encapsulates what is fundamentally amiss in the relationship between descendants of the first Australians and those Australians who arrived in the wake of Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788.

I agree.

I do not know Dodson well, but I know for sure that he is like a lot of Indigenous people around the country, and would never sell his people out, nor roll over when confronted by yet another serious challenge to our humanity. He will continue to help other Australians understand the importance of having Indigenous people connected to their land.

As a nation, this is something Australians could understand better and subsequently value more. Many white Australians choose to live in remote parts of the country to run various forms of livestock or grow crops. As a nation, Australians get this. They romanticise about it. They do not even question the level of funds afforded to subsidise such a choice.

So what is there to value about having Indigenous people connected to their country? From a basic economic dimension, there are obvious tangible gains around tourism, art and culture. When tourists come from abroad, one of the things they want to see is aspects of the oldest human culture in the world. Of course tourism has its dark side where some Indigenous people who are not connected to their country parade as the “exotic” Aborigine and play to the market. I cringe at this as I also cringe when I see cheap “Aboriginal” art “Made in China”. Despite this, Indigenous art, dance and story-telling are all extraordinarily valuable when it is authentically connected to country. With such authenticity there is truly something of value to give to the world.

Aboriginal art, dance and story-telling are all extraordinarily valuable when it is authentically connected to country.

Slightly beyond a basic economic dimension, but not entirely, there is value in having Indigenous people in remote parts of Australia. That value can be environmental and strategic. Do we really want the alternative? Do Australians want their country to become Terra Vacua — a site of vast quarries visited only by a fly in and fly out workforce?

From a moral perspective, if Australians can value and sustain the ongoing human connections to remote parts of Australia, they can be recognised globally as a nation that embraced and overcame the challenge of enabling an ancient human civilisation to survive and indeed thrive. Surely, this must be worth more than being recognised as the nation in which the oldest human civilisation on the planet was terminated.

From a less tangible spiritual dimension, there is tremendous value in enabling the descendants of the oldest human existence to be sustained and connected to country. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu was asked what black South Africans bring to South Africa he said: “We bring Mbuntu!” In part, Mbuntu is encompassed in the notion of: “I am human because I belong.”

There are some parallels with Indigenous Australia here. It is this ancient belonging which acknowledges in a very deep way the enchantment of the land Australians share. Of course non-Indigenous Australians have a sense of belonging to this land, but it is not and never will be as deep as Indigenous Australians. I do not say this to alienate new Australians. I say this because that is just how it is. If Australians cut or stifle this tremendously deep human connection to country, they will be left with something so incredibly shallow.

The best way for all Australians to forge a deeper sense of belonging to their country is to enable such ancient human connections to be sustained. With that, all Australians are better placed to respectfully embrace those descendants and the ancient rituals they offer us to be a part of something that has been occurring here for many thousands of years. Now that is nothing to roll your eyes at.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd

Dr Chris Sarra is the founder and chairman of the Stronger Smarter Institute and an Australian Rugby League commissioner.