Kansas City, MO
Terrance Hill
When Lametred Jones headed for Australia in 2010, he didn’t think he was visiting the place that he would soon call home. Nor did he think he would encounter a floppy haired black male covered in face paint. A man infamously known to the world as an Aboriginal Australian.
The two men have indirect similarities. They both are of African descent. They both reside in a foreign land. They both come from people who faced atrocious realities. They even have the same hairstyle.
In 2012, Lametred graduated from Kansas State University and moved to Australia two months later with his girlfriend Tess; whom is a native Australian. During their recent return to the Midwest of the United States of America, I sat down with them both for an in-depth take on the Australian-Aboriginal experience.
One of the most eye popping differences between Lametreds former home Kansas City, MO and where he now resides are, “the tickets, drinks, popcorn (are) at least $50 at the movies.” This culture shock for Lametred is understandable, considering the fact that here, a movie night could cost half that. Which is something Tess enjoyed greatly, “It was amazing!” she chimed in. However, those differences can be easily attributed to the cost of living. “Minimum wage is like 20 bucks” Lametred said.
While things are different for Lametred in his new home, things are also pretty much the same. “I party there, I still play basketball…I’m (also) getting into baseball.” It’s safe to say that Lametred is still the same outgoing guy, who is ALWAYS going to enjoy himself. Which is probably why he found himself face to face with an Aboriginal-Australian, learning some Aboriginal culture.
It is believed that Aboriginal-Australians are direct descendants of the first migrations out of Africa over 75,000 years ago. Initially they arrived in Asia and subsequently settled in Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. The Aboriginal people lived there under their own rule until 1788.
One alarming similarity between Africans and Aboriginals is the fact that before European settlement, the indigenous population spoke over 250 languages; now it’s only about 15. Also their skin color and the texture of their hair are identical; they also have similiar hunter gatherer existences and spiritual rituals. The African and Aboriginal similarities even stretch as far as Colonialism.
In 1787, 11 ships left Great Britain and reached Botany Bay in 1788, becoming the first European settlers in Australia. This voyage/settlement was named the First Fleet. The ships consisted of over 1,000 convicts and the settlers immediately brought measles, smallpox and tuberculosis.
In 1788, upon the brisk of colonialism, the term Aboriginal was coined by the British. The word Aboriginal derives from the Latin word Aborigine. Aboriginal-Australian is a specific title for the indigenous people of Australia, Tasmania and nearby islands. The Torres Strait consist of over 250 islands.
Invasion by the Europeans came at a very high price to the Aboriginal people. “When the Europeans came and started building, they took their land.” Tess added
The efforts didn’t stop at just the land as The Stolen Generation details a period of time where children were forcibly removed by the Federal and State government and church missions. These acts were still going on as late as the 1970s. When I asked Lametred about the Stolen Generation, he replied, “Rabbit Proof Fence, it basically tells the story.” Rabbit Proof Fence is a film based on a book about the journey of two Aboriginal girls who escapes a internment camp, in pursuit to return to their Aboriginal families.
It is believed that the last uncontacted tribe of the Aboriginals left in 1954. It is also believed that the last full blooded Aboriginal-Australian was a woman named Truganini; she died in 1876.
In 1967, the Australian Referendum approved the alteration of the constitution to omit certain words relating to the people of the Aboriginal race and so that Aboriginals were to be counted in reckoning the population. Sections 51 and 127 in the Australian Constitution had previously stated otherwise.
Until the referendum, Aboriginal people were not protected by law and were not counted as people of the population. According to Ronoko Rashidi and Mark Collins, Aboriginal people were classified as plants and animals under the Flora and Fauna Act, up until the Australian Referendum.
On August 26th, 1996, Prime Minister John Howard appointed the Motion Of Reconciliation. This recognized the historical mistreatment of indigenous Australians.
Then in 2008, Kevin Rudd offered an “National Apology” to the members of the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian government.
According to Tess, Australia now has a National Sorry Day on May 26th, annually. Also, in some schools such as the one she works in, there is a reconciliation week and it’s main purpose is, “working with indigenous Australians to make sure we value their land and culture… From what happened in the past.”
Although, “Aborigines have been deprived of their heritage through the incursions of settlers,” they still have managed to maintain “one of the richest and most ancient systems of indigenous beliefs to survive into the 21st century.”
Just as we finish the interview Tess added, “What was done to them was disgusting and it is still upsetting… I feel we’ve came along way in my eyes… (However) I can’t speak for Ingenious Australians.”
Let’s hope more Native Australians share the same sentiment as Tess Muir, Kevin Rudd, John Howard and the overwhelming 90% of the people who voted for change in 1967 with the Australian Referendum. Let’s hope Lametreds experience inspires more people to become involved in a collective effort in eradicating social and civil injustice! Let’s hope.
Terrance Hil
