Will the circle be unbroken? Cycles of survival for indigenous Australians

Abstract

I want to talk about three circles today. The first circle refers to the Kardiya circle: This is the circle that was formed when European people brought their values, their behaviour, their attitudes, their culture - the circle that encloses us all in some form or another. The second circle is the government circle: From the days of the empire and colony through to nation, state and territory, the circle formed at the moment of colonisation of our sovereign lands. Laws, policies, programs make the shape of this circle. The third circle is the blackfella circle: This circle nourishes us. It refers to where we come from and live within – our lands, our seas and the traditions, cultures and laws that are part of the land – our people and our country. These circles are distinct and separate in their essence. However, they overlap, push and pull on each other, so that change in one circle causes change to happen in another circle. They are often in tension, pushing for dominance, and against that, for survival. Nugget knew that. He knew that the indigenous circle was being hooped in by the government circle. Put under pressure, he saw the laws and policies of governments being used to restrict and confine the Aboriginal law, the Aboriginal people.