Jazmin Bingham: Advocating climate justice for Indigenous Australians

Jazmin is a proud Gomeroi woman based in Boandik lands in the southeastern South Australia. Jazmin is very passionate about fighting for climate justice and aboriginal rights. Jazmin has a vision for a fair and just future and wishes that for everyone.

Zane LeBlond: You’re doing your research project on the impact of climate change on indigenous culture, what led you to that topic?

Jazmin Bingham: Initially I was looking into how climate change impacts indigenous people, this led me to conducting surveys with indigenous folks, and realised it was a pretty broad topic. I discovered this common theme with climate change impacting the cultural aspect of Indigenous and people, and my own Gomeroi people. As an Aboriginal Australian, I see culture impacting my people, my country, and I feel as if it’s not spoken enough in the media. People think climate change is fake, and it’s like bro we have had the hottest days, the biggest draughts, and the weather is insane. There is a lot of talk about building resilience and trying to hope for a better future, and reconciliation action plan work for people, but not the problems facing indigenous people right now. I feel like if we address the problems now, we will have better solutions, I know up in the Torres strait islands, the water levels are raising so high, that their cultural business for honouring the dead can’t be done, and so its endangered.

ZL: So, there are cultural practices that are dependent on certain environmental characteristics, so when climate change happens, it prevents the cultural practice from being achieved.

JB: That’s spot on.

ZL: You mention that media is not covering the issue fairly, why do you think that’s the case?

JB: Well only three percent of Australia’s population is Aboriginal Australians, its often hard to report it out to the media when there isn’t that many representatives. From my experiences, a lot of people don’t see the good in Aboriginal folks, people have told me in the past that because I am aboriginal, I would grow up to be an alcoholic, drug addict, and one of those crazy people. So Aboriginal people don’t have a good name, and because they don’t have a system that amplifies their voice, there is little in place to address indigenous people.

ZL: What are Indigenous people saying about this issue, how is this impacting their communities?

JB: Most people I surveyed said they did not want their voices amplified in the media because they had bad prior experiences, and they feel like its hopeless. They wish prior generations had the tools to speak out about the loggings and things that took place. I asked a question in my survey: how does climate change impact your people, land and country? Someone spoke about how the flooding stopping at home, was making them feel lost without their connection. I had another say they were always on alert for potential damaging weather events in their communities and infrastructure. It’s even impacting the seasonal hunting patterns, which are personally a major part of my cultural practices as a Gomeroi person. A huge part of our dreamtime is connected to the water patterns, so when they are disrupted, it actually prevents these stories from happening.

Indigenous people are aware of what is actually happening, and they want to share their story, but they feel like they will be pushed down, the majority of my survey respondents were young people who are dealing with the impacts of climate change – to me that kinda makes me feel powerless. It’s so sad to hear young people at such a young age are battling the impacts of climate change and are being dismissed while losing their connections to their culture.

ZL: And then that creates a further cycle of ongoing disadvantage for indigenous people once they lose their connection to country.

JB: For sure! Especially the ones in marginalised communities.

ZL: What aspects of cultural practices do you see dying out as a result of climate change?

JB: I would say dancing, song writing and singing would never be lost, but bushtucker, food, other bush medicines, even our natural environment. Some cultural aspects of dance actually may be lost although, there is a culture who did a whale story about catching whales, but we are not allowed to do that because they are endangered. Like what happens to smoke ceremonies if eucalyptus trees become endangered, they would have to be banned and that would really disrupt us.

ZL: I have to ask, and I reckon I know your answer to this question, but do you think governments have failed to recognise, listen and act on Indigenous people’s anxieties about climate change?

JB: 100 percent! I feel as though they are listening, but not taking the action required. Like even strong leaders such as Lidia Thorpe, who have such high roles, still don’t feel like their voices are heard because there are not enough indigenous people in politics. A good example is the referendum, 80 percent of Aboriginal folk wanted the voice to go through, but people still voted no. I could agree that Australia is one of the most racist countries in the world, however it is also one of the most multicultural countries in the world. Like we celebrate every other culture but ours alone.

ZL: How do you think young people, young indigenous leaders, are responding and fighting back against this?

JB: I feel like some young people don’t feel bothered because they feel like they would be shut down. There isn’t really a space. Like coming from my own perspective as an Indigenous climate activist from a regional area, it’s not really the best portfolio in a community that’s predominately farming and does not support what I do haha. Especially when it’s a small town where everyone knows each other. Otherwise, a lot of young people are joining organisations such as SEED and AYCC, doing whatever they can with their time, because their still young, they have a lot of responsibilities such as school, clubs, looking after siblings, they should not have to worry about an unsecure future.

ZL: Finally, where do you see the debate going into the future?

JB: I have approval from the National Indigenous Times, Australia’s peak Aboriginal newspaper, I have approval for them to help with my research project article. Otherwise, I just want my story to go as far as it can. I feel like it’s a very important topic that people should be aware of. Indigenous people are dealing with this right now, they are also the most impacted which is unfair. The ultimate goal would be government policies and legislation be approved with the influences of young people, but we can only dream.