Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians - Essay Example

Reconciliation is a venture carried out to end conflict between two parties. This activity helps disputing parties to restore love and trust. Reconciliation helps parties to live in cooperation and overcome the pain caused during the conflict. There have been conflicts and disparities between the indigenous and the non-indigenous Australians for quite a long period of time. These issues pertain to education, health, voting among other rights. This has triggered the concern from human rights activists in Australia and other nations. This paper therefore looks at the historical aspects of the drifts between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. This paper further elaborates on the present situation concerning indigenous Australians as well as looking at current steps taken towards reconciliation. Finally the paper explains the steps that need to be taken in order to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians (Bell, Catherine, and David, 2004). Research carried out on Australian history shows that the Aboriginal people stayed in the continent for more than ten thousand years. The pre-colonisation era was characterised by the indigenous Australians living very traditional lives. They were nomadic people and moved from one place to another searching for basic necessities such as food and water. Their lifestyle was characterised with a lot of tranquility and peace as they went about their daily chores. However, during the colonization period, when European settlers started arriving in Australia, they declared Australia as “empty land” under the terra nullius doctrine. They purposely failed to recognize the Indigenous people settled in the country, therefore took over the land and claimed it as there own. The laws and policies made during this colonization period, resulted in indigenous communities losing most of their basic rights, such as education, freedom of speech, voting, freedom of practicing their culture. They were basically ripped from their will to live (Burns, 2009). One horrendous policy developed by this newly arrived government was the right to remove aboriginal children from their parents (Gunstone 2007). Burns (2009), states that this policy was supposedly regulated with the notion that the government would help the neglected, abused and impoverished indigenous children. However, the main reason this horrible event took place, from the 1800 to the late 1960, was to start a process with the intent to breed out this “impure blood” and a desire to attain white racial purity (Burns 2009). This policy resulted in many of these children being abused, starved or even killed, supposedly something that the government wanted to protect them from. These events that have taken place have led to the onset of many disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Disparities evident in Australia include high rate of unemployment found in indigenous communities, poor housing, poor education and lack of medical facilities in these indigenous townships (Bell, Catherine & David 2004).These factors are the main cause in poor health among indigenous when compared to non-indigenous people (Bell, Catherine & David 2004).In addition, most of these indigenous Australians suffering from poor health are against visiting hospitals due to the fear of being mishandled by the non-indigenous people who have caused them a lot of pain and humiliation. They therefore go to hospitals as a last resort. All these factors show that the indigenous people are still highly disadvantaged as compared to the non-indigenous Australians. This calls for efforts to bridge the gap evident that is a shame to the Australian nation. The information relating to the indigenous and non indigenous people shows huge disparities. There is a need for the policies and laws that oppress the indigenous Australians to be stopped. However, the solution of reconciling the two groups of people is not an easy process. In 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an official apology to the indigenous communities involved in the stolen generation policy and other indigenous people who suffered hardship, loss and unwarranted grief in the hands of the government. He asserted that it was essential that the future be reconciled with the past. This apology made by Kevin Rudd deserves applause, and should be seen as a first courageous step towards recovery (Napoleon 2004). For effective improvements in the disadvantages faced by these indigenous communities the government is required to implement the principles of self determination effectively. Self determination is a policy stating that indigenous communities should be empowered to take control of their own lives in the same way other communities take care of theirs (Holmes, Hughes, & Julian 2007). In particular, it allows these communities to determine their own political, economic, cultural and social development. This policy was implemented in Australia in 1972 under the Whitlam government, and during this time there has been a growth in Aboriginal land rights and increases in Aboriginal organizations. However, this policy has not effectively redressed the disadvantage position of these communities. Issues of self determination have resulted in heated debate in Australian nation. According to indigenous Australians, self determination will help Aboriginals to achieve so much in as far as their human rights are concerned. This aspect is highly disputed by the non-indigenous Australians who assert that it is likely to result in separate rights in the nation. This is therefore viewed as a threat to national unity in Australia. It is quite imperative that a policy on self determination be enacted in the Australian government. This policy does not in any way lead to secession rights. It is through this policy that indigenous Australians will get a chance to participate fully in the society. A self determination policy will therefore help to bridge the gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. This means that reconciliation process should begin by enactment of a self determination policy in Australia There needs to be steps on the part of the government that pertain to medical facilities for indigenous people. Interpreters should be employed since some aboriginals shun away from hospitals due to language barrier. The medical facilities need to employ the aboriginals even if for cleaning jobs so that they get the confidence in healthcare. This should however not be imposed but be carried out hand in hand with the aboriginal people. They need to be consulted from the initial and be given the opportunity to participate and own the projects. This also includes housing issues of the aboriginal people. (Napoleon, 2004) They should be given chance to fully participate such that they will not rebel the projects. It is also very essential that the aboriginal people be given equal chance in the leadership of the nation. This also includes equal employment for those qualified. Schools need to be built close to aboriginals and encouraged to enroll their children. Qualified aboriginals should be recruited as teachers in such schools. There is need to appreciate aboriginal culture by giving them chance to participate in culture day. Sports and other social activities between the two groups should be encouraged in educational institutions, local levels and at government level etc (Burns, 2009) Disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous people can be traced from colonialism period. The indigenous Australians have gone through pain, humiliation and oppression. They still live in poverty, have poor housing, poor medical facilities, deprived education and poor health as compared to their non-indigenous Australians. Kevin Rudd’s apology is a very important step towards reconciling indigenous and non indigenous Australian. The solution to the problem relies in various steps. This includes change of laws and regulations. Other steps include developing medical, education and housing projects with full support of Aboriginal people. References: Bell, Catherine, and David Kahane, (2004): Intercultural Dispute Resolution in Aboriginal Contexts Vancouver; BC; UBC Press Burns J. (2009): Building an Indigenous Health Worker Section on the Australian Indigenous Health Info net; Aboriginal & Islander Health Worker Journal 33 ;(1) Gunstone, Andrew (2007): Unfinished Business: The Australian Reconciliation Process from 1991 to 2000; Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 8, no. 3-4; 16-34 Napoleon, Val. (2004): By Whom, and by What Processes, Is Restorative Justice Defined; In Restorative Justice, edited by Howard Zehr and Barbara Toews; New York; Criminal Justice Press Holmes, D, Hughes, K & Julian, R 2007, Australian Sociology: A changing society, 2nd edn, Pearson education, Frenchs Forest, NSW. Read More