UNSW Indigenous Society Update
INVASION not “settlement” Banner Drop and Speak Out
“UNSW, Writing the TRUE History, White Australia has a
Black History”.
On March 30, the Daily Telegraph accused
UNSW of ‘re-writing history’ through its
implementation of the UNSW Diversity Toolkit.
The article discussed the UNSW Diversity
Toolkit and how it outlines the appropriate
terminology that staff and students should adopt
when referring to Indigenous Australia.
Officer), Warren Roberts (CEO YARN Australia),
Uncle Graham Mooney (Elder) and Dominic Wy
Kanak (Local Council Member).
An open letter to the Daily Telegraph
(see next page) was written by UNSW students
in response to the news article. As a result,
these events provoked media interest, with
The article explained that UNSW students and
Bridget Cama, the UNSW Indigenous Officer,
staff should use the word ‘invasion’ when
being contacted and interviewed by 2GB, Nine
referring to the British arrival. However, the Daily News and Koori Radio, along with a UTS media
Telegraph argued that it was a British
student.
‘settlement’ that occurred. The racist article
outraged both Indigenous and non-Indigenous
Thank you to all of the students and staff who
students of UNSW and also angered other
contributed to the event’s success, including the
universities.
UNSW SRC, for bookings and standing in
solidarity, to those who cooked the fundraiser
On April 14, the UNSW Indigenous Collective
BBQ and Kyana Hubbard and Scott Partlett for
held a ‘banner drop’ and ‘speak out’. This
photographing the event. Also, a special thank
involved a banner being hung from UNSW’s
you to the Indigenous collective members who
John Niland Scientia building, with the words
helped in the making and dropping of the banner
“UNSW, Writing the TRUE History, White
– Teeyanna Tapim-Savage, Nataya Ritchie
Australia has a Black History” written on it. A
Currie, Tamara Kenny, Desiree Leha, Celine
BBQ was also held on the Globe Lawn. The
Heron and Benjamin Dennison.
event was successful with approximately
60-100 people passing through the ‘speak out’
For more information about the UNSW Diversity
and banner drop. There was support from staff ToolKit and the appropriate terminology regardand students of Nura Gili, as well as
ing Indigenous Australian People, please follow
non-Indigenous students of UNSW. Speakers
this link: https://teaching.unsw.edu.au/indigeincluded Bridget Cama (UNSW Indigenous
nous-terminology
If you would like to get involved or ha