Submitted by lisa on
Two years ago, I asked to be considered for an Indigenous community placement because I wanted to develop healthcare skills to address the many issues facing the Indigenous such as reduced life expectancy, otitis media, diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease. Early in my first placement it became clear to me that my placements would be best spent learning from the community and their way of life… walking in their shoes.
Much is written about Indigenous problems, but there are many positive aspects of Indigenous culture that are not shared with the average Australian. It is my belief that much can be learnt from communities such as Utopia, who have striven to preserve their culture.
The traditional language Alyawarr, is passed down the generations through a rich oral tradition, facilitated by community elders. Family groups still live with elders that care for their family in a tribal manner. This community still hunts and gathers traditional foods, and has ‘womens’ and ‘mens’ business, in which the elders pass on necessary life skills and wisdom to the tribes’ youth to ensure that they are prepared for adulthood, and their role in the community. They ensure that they can feed and care for their tribal companions.
In mainstream Australian society we award the best - the best at sport, schooling and many other physical, tangible measurable characteristics. It does not so seem to be so here - character is most important - who a person is, and how they treat others. As everyone in the tribe contributing and supporting each other is key to its success and sustainability, there is onus upon nurturing and passing on skills that can benefit the group as a whole. Those that have superior expertise are honoured by being enabled to cultivate others within the community. Children are happy and playful, childcare is a shared responsibility enjoyed by all.
Everyone knows everyone else, and cares for individual community members as necessity dictates; no-one seems to be ‘too busy’. When a community member is sick, there is usually an entourage of concerned relatives, waiting to provide care and support for their loved ones.
Indigenous culture is the worlds’ oldest known culture, which has sustainably operated for over 40,000 years, living in harmony with the land without exploitation. This chain of existence was only recently broken due to a lack of appreciation and understanding of the value and
importance of such a holistic approach to life. Land rights and native title are a relatively recent advent, designed to give Indigenous people the opportunity to live traditionally if they so choose. The Australian government has rightly apologised for generations of atrocities. So, by my reckoning, it is time for both cultures to put the past behind and walk together with mutual respect into the future. But what should this future look like?
I think some of the answers to this question can be found here, in Utopia, embodied by the elders, though advanced in years, they are sound of mind and body. Those that have reached this milestone have lived off the land on a supplemented traditional diet, and continue to hunt and gather. They have engaged in, and been supported by their community throughout their lives. Many have lived rough, under the stars, sleeping in car bodies when the rains come – but their faces are lined with years of happiness, and their eyes have a lively sparkle that conveys a sense of contentment, peace and nobility.
On completion of my third John Flynn placement in Utopia, NT I feel very privileged to have been afforded such an experience. Over the past two years I have seen individuals grow and change, I have seen the cycle of life, and seen relationships develop and the clinic grow and prosper. Often when you are in the one place you cannot see the impact you are having, but for an outsider such as myself, the snowball of positive change is obvious. I would like to thank the John Flynn Placement Program, the Community, and all Clinic staff, past and present for providing me with such a unique opportunity to gain insight into Indigenous Australia, and to develop as a person and future medical practitioner. I hope our paths cross in the future.