Peter Slattery

It’s noticeable.

The indigenous presence can be noted, if not everywhere, then constantly and in many places.Simplistic and lipservice? Or simple and respectful?

I kinda like it.

If you can’t access the following video show then you might just go find a computer where you can. It is a homage to PAWS UP which is just one terrific idea put together by Bernie Shakeshaft in Armidale.

Working with border collies, the boys look after the dogs, train them, take them to shows and with detailed care, encourage the dogs to jump as high as they can. It is competitive…and they often win.

The music as you might hear, from Uncle Martin of Bowraville, is the same piece I used on my tribute to him. Seemed to fit.

If you don’t have flashdrive then really…download it.
In the meantime, here are a couple of pics that might give you an idea of what it’s all about.

There are both spoken and unspoken elements of this programme.

With the dogs
If you want the dogs to jump high…they need to look up
If they try a jump and don’t make it, they are caught by one of the boys

If they can’t make the height after three jumps, then they are pulled out for that day

If they do make the jump, when the go over the top, instead of facing a 9 foot drop, they land over on bales of hay and as before, are looked after by helpers

In conversation
How is your dog travelling today?
How are you travelling?
Hey crazy thought…might be some connection between the two?
Hey another crazy thought…does the way you act for example, towards your teachers, have anything to do with the way they act towards you?

Within the overall programme
The boys are involved in something fun and interesting
They have responsiblity for the dogs and for each other

They have a role and place in the programme
They have an identity within the programme

The boys respect themselves, the dogs, each other…

The boys are respected by others for what they do and how they present themselves

There is partnership and participation

This is something meaningful and challenging…a chance for everyone to shine

A wonderful programme. Well done Bernie. Good onya boys.

I sometimes wonder about the term ’role model’. Might be a bit too simple or something. But where I have no doubts at all is in thinking that young people need elders and youngers around who inspire, encourage, and uplift. And do so in major and minor ways, sometimes actively and sometimes simply by being who they are and simply being around, and sometimes simply by being. So with these thoughts in mind I am putting up this post for Uncle Martin. And for all of us. 

Uncle Martin. You are one cool dude. And this is a tribute to you. These are some pics I took the last few times we worked together at the Beyond Empathy camp for young people.

And let me say I enjoy your playfulness, your modern and respectful blending of the old and the new…you have a great way of practically and constructively combining new and old ways. I like how you bridge cultures in a modern world, and I enjoy the playful noise that you bring along with you wherever you go as you jump in and do EVERYTHING on offer…and I value your quiet teachings. I am glad we are friends.

The wonderful artworks here are by Steve Donovan. (All of them I THINK). And the music is…hey guess what? Might just be you Uncle Martin.

It would be a really really REALLY good thing if we could start to get a handle on what it is that might be that keeps our young indigenous people in the world and connected ratther than heading into Juvenile Justice.  The NSW’s  Commission for Children and Young People quote Attorney-General Robert McClelland.

“Finding ways of building up their identity, skills and confidence, rather than pulling them down, is the key to reducing the rate of Indigenous kids who find their way into the juvenile criminal system.”

The article tells us that Indigenous young people are now 21 times more likely to be detained in custody than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

There is some pretty good evidence about sense of identity and sense of belonging and connection being fundamental in the wellbeing of all humans.

And possibly particularly so with those who have been dislocated and disconnected. Our task may well be to find some better ways of doing this.

These two pics are of a couple lovely young people showing us the value of both the old and the new. Onya!

We find ourselves still in an extraordinary environment. Reminded constantly that we are not at home. Though we do also feel ‘at home’ and very, very welcome. And we are continuing our learning continuing talking with Canadians, and spending a lot of time with First Nations people talking about our different countries and where we might overlap and where we might differ. The language sometimes in itself telling us just this. The terms: First Nations, Indigenous, Aboriginal and Native all being used here at different times and in different ways. The ‘Residential Schools’ reminding us of Stolen Generations. Visiting Christian Island Reserve reminding us of Missions. And on Christian Island Reserve buyng a cap which was of course, made in China, just like so many things in Australia. Reminding us also of the international nature of our modern world.

And of course for us….the snow…

Which makes jogging a whole new experience…

A couple of days ago my partner Janine and our 3 year old son and I, went to give a workshop with the students at the Anishaabe Education and Training Circle in Barrie (just North of Toronto) about our different perspectives on the work we do. (Actually my son just got me to bite the green stuff off his strawberries but he was there and really making significant subtle contributions).

The adult students were particularly interested in Indigenous issues in Australia and New Zealand. Janine, my partner being Maori and Indigenous to Ao tearoa, was able to speak of her homeland and her more recent work in Australia with Indigenous Child Care Centres, and spoke of the similiarities and differences across our three countries. You will have to consult her for more details. As a whitefella Austalian I did not and do not feel entitled or well-placed to speak of Indigenous Australian issues. I figure Indigenous Australians are emminently capable of speaking about those things themselves.

What I decided to talk about was the dilemmas/issues/decisions that I am confronted with, as a non-indigenous Australian, when given the opportunity (and they are numerous) to work with Indigenous Australians. So I have decided to post these questions. There are others, and I know the answers to each of these questions are going to be different for each of us, so as I sit here in Canada, these are the things that occur to me:

1. What is it that helps people flourish no matter who they are? And are these elements common to all peoples or different and specific?
2. How does change come about? When faced with a person, a family, a community or society who/which is unhappy, distressed…trapped in misery or hardship, what is it that might help that person/group start to shift?
3. If I work with this Indigenous person/community will I make things better or worse? I carry my culture with me, my values and views. Will I continue, unwittingly, to colonise? Or will I be helpful?
4. If not me, then who? In this situation, at this time, in this moment, who is the best person to offer something? Who is best placed? And if the need is great, and the window open only briefly, then am I the best person (the only person?) in that moment to offer something?
5. If I am to offer something, what do I need to be aware of? Pay attention to?
What is it that I need to be aware of and attend to that is unique and different, about me and about this moment and the person in front of me?
6. f I decide that on this occasion, I do offer something to this person, or this family, or this community…what do I need to make sure I hang on to in myself, make smaller, less intrusive? What do I need to maximise in my self to be helpful? What skills, ideas, strategies, might I need to make bigger, stronger, more accessible, more useful, more creative, more accessible… so that another person might take them, play with them, change them and make their their own?

So…these are my thoughts. I am interested in how others similarly confronted, and might answer these questions. And what other questions you might ask yourselves.

We came here for many reasons. Learning being one of them. A few days ago I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the final session of the Indigenous Voices Cafe here in Barrie about an hour North of Toronto. The round table discussion Cafe being an initiative of the Native Community and Social Development Program at Georgian College, Barrie Campus. Someone thought that it may well be a good idea when thinking about developing an indigenous health program to listen to the voices of Indigenous people. Oh where do such crazy ideas come from!! The results were a DVD and a booklet, but as everyone kept saying, the relationships that were built between health professionals, academic staff, business people and Indigenous peoples, was the aspect of real importance. And while I heard many times that further action was indeed necessary, I also heard repeatedly that the conversation and the very developing and nurturing of relationships was in itself part of that action.

And to guide them, the group came up with a Code of Honour which appears in rough form below.

And here held by Austin Mixemong, Pottawatomi man and Traditional Teacher, my host and friend…

…a more elaborate and neater version. Possibly more beautiful. Both noble.

And apart from anything else, one of the things I really like about this code of honour, is that there isn’t a single ‘DON’T’ anywhere to be seen.

This morning I told Austin that he was up on my website. He said: ‘Cool.’ (Old Indian saying).

I have been quick to put something up here as Amy (below) tells me that although I claim her as a favourite person there is no pic of her on my website…there is now Amy!

And so we went bush again with the Beyond Empathy mob…hip hop, circus, indigenous dance, film-making, percussion…and oh dear…paint ball…

and it was amazing as on other occasions.

Not always easy…but easy is easy. The tougher moments are the test and the negotiations and discussions were truly remarkable. I would vote for you for Prime Minister Danny…an 18 (19?) year old young man who raised with everyone something that he thought was important and with no expecatation that his preferred option would be taken up, was fair, assertive and articulate. Fantastic stuff…I will post more about this week as it was terrific. Just thought I better get Amy up here fast!

As part of the ongoing discussion on this website about ‘what matters?’, here are some comments from Oliver James, writing in ‘The Observer’ January 2006:

‘The Affluenza virus is a set of values which increase our vulnerability to psychological distress: placing a high value on acquiring money and possessions, looking good in the eyes of others and wanting to be famous. Many studies have shown that infection with the virus increases your susceptibility to the commonest mental illnesses: depression, anxiety, substance abuse and personality disorder.’

I do not think I am about to disagree with Oliver. The same ideas just keep on popping up everywhere. He goes on to say that:

‘The virus values prevent you from fulfilling fundamental human needs which seem to exist in every society. Whereas you want a better car or greater intelligence or bigger house, you can survive without them; the same is not true of Needs.

The precise content and labelling of such needs is debatable, but four are very commonly identified: security (emotional and material), connectedness to others, authenticity and autonomy, and feeling competent.’

This stuff just keeps on popping up. And again, for me the top four that stand out are:
- A sense of connectedness and belonging
- A strong sense of self and identity
- Some control of your life
- Good solid relationships

Gee, there must be something in all this. Damn! And I was just about to go buy a Mazzarati. Or said a little more honestly, there are times when I get carried away with the day-to-day and just kind of forget. It’s easy to do. And so this, including the pic, is a bit of a reminder to myself.

This is a bit of a development from the last thing I put up. The camp where most of us were young-ish…and some of us somewhat older. And good things happened:

And as our 5 day camp together came to a close I asked a question of a bunch of people of various ages ranging across 35 years. This is what I asked: What is the best thing in the world? And this is what they said:
Life
Music
Friends
Children
Life
Music
People
Life
Love
My daughters

So…how would you answer the question? What do you think is the best thing in the world?

So in June we went and did it again. The Beyond Empathy camp in Northern New South Wales. Many of the old crew, and some new crew. Around 50 or so of us, mostly yungins but some of us older ones to add something we hope. And we did a bunch of stuff. And the animoto video here gives you a pretty good idea of what that all was.

And if you can’t make that work for some reason or if you just prefer pics that don’t move about…here are some stills.

A very good experience of people working together, getting on, finding differences, finding the common ground…eating, talking, laughing, pushing boundaries a tad…all in all … a good thing.