Lived Experience Forum

[NatureLover]

@Tortoiseshell wrote:

I'm also feeling there's a lot for me to learn about being an ally, there are a few articles if anyone is interested: 

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally
https://www.blakdance.org.au/articles/allyship#

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I read the articles on being an ally...interesting. @Tortoiseshell 

"Just remember: Aboriginal people need to be the actors, directors and producers on issues affecting us with non-Aboriginal people can help by being the backstage crew."

-- From https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally

I was particularly interested in the information on correct use of terminology in the second article:

"TWO-SPIRIT
Two-Spirit is an umbrella term that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans/gender non-conforming identities and is what the “2S” stands for in
LGBTQ2S. The term was intertribally adopted in Winnipeg during a gathering in the early 1990’s. Traditionally, people who were Two-Spirit were thought as being “born in balance” and held specific roles within their communities. The
term is an act of resistance against settler colonial forms of sex/gender, meaning that only Indigenous people can identify as being Two-Spirit."

I like how LGBTQ2S people are celebrated, not discriminated against.

"POW WOW
A traditional First Nations’ gathering and celebration of dance, song, socializing and honoring of a rich heritage. Not to be used to describe a meeting or group of people."

-- From https://www.blakdance.org.au/articles/allyship#

[eth]

Hi @NatureLover  you reminded me of the Bungguls in the Northern Territory - I have been to many and danced in them quite a few times, even in my childhood.  A really transformative experience.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_music_of_Australia

"Bunggul[edit]

The Yolngu term Bunggul refers to song, music and dance, which form a ceremony in central to eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. It is performed east of the Mann River as far south as Mainoru and southeast across the Rose River region to Numbulwar. The songs contain specific words and use a similar structure, and there is often a "final recitative", where lyrics are sung for a long period after the didjeridu and stick beating has stopped. Some songs tell of epic journeys in the far past, of ancestors in the Dreaming; Elkin cited an example of a song series from consisting of 188 songs. Those of the Djatpangarri style, tell of everyday events. The lyrics differ much from song to song, and can vary from performance to performance, improvised by the musicians and lead "songman", within certain structures and patterns. The leader of the ritual choreographs not only the dancers, but also the music, in this form, in contrast to western Arnhem Land, where the songman leads.[22]

Bunggul is often used to describe the dance component of the ceremony, while manikay refers to the songs.[14][16][17]  

We must do everything to recognise its enormous value to our lives as Australians".

Also - from now on I'll be saying LGBTQIA2S+ - thanks for showing me the two-spirit people are included in that.  My adult child is transgender and sometimes we refer to it as 'alphabet soup' but we know what we mean.  

[eth]

Hi @jem80  sorry I meant to reply to your post about the emu in the milky way - I have a large painting of it by an Aboriginal artist above my bed.  I love how the emu is found in the spaces between the stars.