Climate Change and Cultural Loss
I come from a strong bloodline of Gomeroi people from Tamworth, Moree, and Narrabri. My mother’s father grew up on stolen lands in Gomeroi country. As a child, my mother, along with her mother and stepfather, moved down to Mount Gambier, South Australia (Boandik Country) for work. They never had any intention of moving back, which unfortunately played a significant role in the loss of culture throughout my family. We are still in the process of building that strong connection with our people and Country.
In recent years, through family research, my aunties on my mother’s side found a connection to the Aboriginal people. However, much of it is lost, and what remains is a clear indication that my family was a victim of the British government’s attempt to ‘breed the black out’ of my family or, in white terms, they were part of the Stolen Generation. They removed the colour but not our culture! From written documentation, it is said one mother had two daughters, yet they were taken away and placed into a ‘white family’. Growing up, they were told they were from Ireland. When their birth mother got permission to visit, it is said the girls were told that she was not their mother and was just a crazy lady on drugs.
Due to my mother’s side of the family being brought up in white culture, the aspect of being Aboriginal was removed from the family. Many of them are still in denial that they could be of Aboriginal descent. However, after reconnecting with her roots, my mother discovered her Aboriginal heritage. She embraced it and raised us to be proud of who we are, where our people have come from, and the continuing resilience held through our family to make constant changes for a better future.
She went on to have eight children, including myself, and is now a grandmother to nine grandchildren, soon to be 11. With her nursing degree, she has dedicated herself to supporting the Aboriginal community by working in the local Aboriginal clinic. She has now moved on to helping the elderly from all different cultural backgrounds within her community.
In society nowadays, it is more accepted that Aboriginal people can have fair skin. Growing up on Boandik Country, where my family were active, well-known people, gave me the advantage of being able to engage with the local cultural group and they took me on as one of their own. They also gave me my totem, the red-tailed black cockatoo. I furthered my studies to protect this endangered species and published a book about them.
As an Aboriginal person who is ingrained in her culture, it is almost impossible not to notice the challenges of other minority groups of First Nations people and how they are impacted. While climate change impacts almost everyone worldwide, it affects minority groups, like Aboriginal peoples, much more. Coming from a regional town in South Australia, Mount Gambier, climate change affects us in the form of more frequent bushfires that are much hotter and cover more land. We experience longer, drier winters where we don’t get the expected rain for a wet area, almost condemning us to drought even though water is present. Shorter summers with high heat are more common than not.
Native plants are flowering later due to the seasons changing, and cultural seasonal calendars aren’t as accurate anymore. Due to expanding civilization and the use of land for unsustainable farming and agricultural practices, the land is drained, pushing the water into the sea. An immense amount of bushland is removed to grow supermarket produce, including fruit, vegetables, meats, and wines.
Native plants are flowering at different times because of the constant change in weather, causing many animals to be confused and hibernate longer. Consequently, they don’t have food to eat or feed their young, or nests or locations to reproduce.
We are very fortunate that an Act that was passed a few years back by our Member of Parliament, Troy Bell. The Act does not allow fracking and drilling to proceed in the southeast as it would not be good for the environment and the many sources of local businesses like fishing and agriculture, which would cause many job losses. Not only that, but fracking and drilling would also impact the ponds by removing more and more water from drought ‘dry areas’.
Emotional Impact
The loss of culture and connection to our land has had a profound emotional impact on my family and me. The stories of our ancestors being taken away and placed into white families, being told they were from Ireland, and being denied their true heritage are heart-wrenching. The denial of our Aboriginal descent by some family members adds to the pain and confusion. In simple terms, we have been robed of our own culture!
The changing climate and its effects on our land and wildlife are deeply concerning. The frequent bushfires, longer, drier winters, and shorter, hotter summers are not just environmental issues but also cultural ones. The disruption of native plants and animals affects our traditional practices and knowledge, further eroding our connection to our heritage.
The Boandik people, like many other First Nations communities, are deeply connected to their land. Climate change threatens this connection by altering the natural environment that is integral to our cultural practices. The loss of native plants and animals disrupts our traditional knowledge systems and ceremonies, which are tied to the natural cycles of the land.
The Act passed to prevent fracking and drilling in the southeast is a beacon of hope. It shows that there are people who care about preserving our environment and the livelihoods of local communities. It is a reminder that we must continue to fight for our land, culture, and future generations.
The journey to reconnect with our culture and land is ongoing, and it is filled with both challenges and triumphs. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of First Nations people.
There is an immense amount of climate justice work required to create a future worth living for many generations to come. In this future, I hope to see Indigenous people treated as sovereign beings, and their cultures and perspectives valued by the Australian public. A future where the past is acknowledged and not forgotten. We must move forward collectively to achieve a fairer and more just society, with consideration and collaboration with First Nations people.
Even though I am young, I can clearly identify the challenges faced not only by my people, the Gomeroi mob, but also by other mobs across Australia and diverse cultures around the world. Growing up in a regional area, opportunities are limited, but the potential for growth and change is unlimited. Coming from a diverse background, it feels like I have another set of eyes, which has allowed me to mature more quickly than many. I have a lot of faith and hope for the future, even though many who fight for justice feel hopeless.
Starting as an advocate for Indigenous affairs and climate justice at the age of 12 has set me up for life. Over the past four years, I have been given many opportunities and have grown my way up through the ranks. Now, as a youth representative for South Australia, I hope to do much more in this space. However, I cannot achieve this change without assistance and guidance from the Indigenous community, which includes all of you here today. It is clear that you seek a future where climate change is not considered a theory, but a call to action, and where Indigenous injustices find sovereignty and the ripple effect begins.
Thank you so much for giving me this space and opportunity to speak about these matters. It means a lot.