INVASION not “ settlement ” Banner Drop and Speak Out
“ UNSW , Writing the TRUE History , White Australia has a Black History ”.
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 .
The article explained that UNSW students and staff should use the word ‘ invasion ’ when referring to the British arrival . However , the Daily Telegraph argued that it was a British ‘ settlement ’ that occurred . The racist article outraged both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students of UNSW and also angered other universities .
On April 14 , the UNSW Indigenous Collective held a ‘ banner drop ’ and ‘ speak out ’. This involved a banner being hung from UNSW ’ s John Niland Scientia building , with the words “ UNSW , Writing the TRUE History , White Australia has a Black History ” written on it . A BBQ was also held on the Globe Lawn . The event was successful with approximately 60-100 people passing through the ‘ speak out ’ and banner drop . There was support from staff and students of Nura Gili , as well as non-Indigenous students of UNSW . Speakers included Bridget Cama ( UNSW Indigenous
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 Bridget Cama , the UNSW Indigenous Officer , being contacted and interviewed by 2GB , Nine News and Koori Radio , along with a UTS media student .
Thank you to all of the students and staff who contributed to the event ’ s success , including the UNSW SRC , for bookings and standing in solidarity , to those who cooked the fundraiser BBQ and Kyana Hubbard and Scott Partlett for photographing the event . Also , a special thank you to the Indigenous collective members who helped in the making and dropping of the banner – Teeyanna Tapim-Savage , Nataya Ritchie Currie , Tamara Kenny , Desiree Leha , Celine Heron and Benjamin Dennison .
For more information about the UNSW Diversity ToolKit and the appropriate terminology regarding Indigenous Australian People , please follow this link : https :// teaching . unsw . edu . au / indigenous-terminology
If you would like to get involved or have any questions regarding the Indigenous collective and society , please contact Bridget Cama on b . cama @ arc . unsw . edu . au .
Indigenous Collective Meetings When : Tuesday , 5pm Where : Nura Gili
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