Gurranyin Borinya (on eagles wings): effecting change for Koorie youth

This exegesis is an exploration of Koorie identity. It includes an overview of the first definitions of Koorie identity, as constructed by Government during the 1800s based on blood quantum. These definitions were used to inform policies and practices that led to the dispossession of country and dispersal of Aboriginal people; the removal of children and the fracturing of Aboriginal families, communities and societies. A review of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander definitions of identity however, reveals a marked difference from non-Aboriginal definitions because of the inclusion of genetic inheritance, kinship and country. Non-Aboriginal definitions based on blood quantum continued until the 1970s when they changed to include not only genetic inheritance but self and community identification as well. In the research project, the slippery and multiple nature of identity became apparent, leading me to conclude that identity for Koories is similarly complex. I determined that four key factors contribute to a person identifying as a Koorie including race/genetic inheritance, culture and kinship, historical experience, and Aboriginality itself. Government constructed definitions which are accepted by the wider community have led to challenges for Koories as they struggle for identity because they are sometimes positioned as not really Aboriginal as an effect of these. Young people’s struggles over identity have been caused by the impact of invasion and colonization which has resulted in cultural alienation, dispossession from country, racism, and trans-generational trauma. Little research has been conducted around the struggles for identity experienced by Victorian Koorie youth. This is despite the fact that the existence of inequalities is clearly documented as is the disadvantage that flows from these inequalities including low education levels, high unemployment rates, high child protection rates and, high juvenile justice and incarceration rates. The intent of this research project has also been to contribute to Indigenous research methodologies and epistemologies. In the project I have used qualitative research methods that are in turn informed by Indigenous ways of knowing/methodologies. I have used a Victorian Indigenous research methodology with five qualitative Indigenous methods, Ngarri-story, Nyembera-waiting, Boonyabuk-connecting, Wanga-listening and Nangak-seeing. The elaboration of these methods constitutes a major outcome of this project. The project has been both exploratory and explanatory and as well as the exegesis, it includes the development, accreditation and evaluation of the Gurranyin Borinya Cultural Enrichment Kit and the screenplay Tunno. The products that comprise this project have been developed to broaden knowledge and awareness about Aboriginal histories and cultural heritage; enhance understanding about Aboriginality; strengthen identity, and provide strategies to support and enable young people to realize their creative abilities and develop a vision for their future

Cultural determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – a narrative overview of reviews

Abstract Introduction The cultural determinants of health centre an Indigenous definition of health, and have been linked to positive health and wellbeing outcomes. There is growing evidence for the importance of the cultural determinants of health; however, to date, no high-level overview of the evidence-base has been provided. Synthesising existing literature on cultural determinants of health for Aboriginal peoples in a single manuscript will highlight what we know, and what needs to be explored in future research. It will also contribute to global efforts to capture the evidence of cultural determinant approaches amongst Indigenous populations. We therefore endeavoured to identify cultural determinants and highlight their impact on Aboriginal health and wellbeing outcomes, and outline the relationship and interconnection of different cultural determinants of health. Methods An overview of reviews was conducted. Medline (Ovid) and Scopus were searched using terms related to ‘cultural determinants of health’ and an ‘Aboriginal definition of health’. The database search was complemented by a web-based search of grey literature. Nine reviews were retrieved and included in our overview. Results Family/community, Country and place, cultural identity and self-determination were strongly identified across reviews as having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing outcomes of Aboriginal peoples. Family/community and Country and place were found to be components of ‘culture’ that shaped cultural identity. Self-determination was outlined as a requirement for Aboriginal peoples to pursue their cultural, social, and economic rights. Discussion/conclusions Cultural determinants are associated with health benefits for Indigenous peoples. A causal framework, developed to discuss the relationship and interconnection of the cultural determinants of health, demonstrates that cultural identity at an individual-level is important to benefiting from other cultural determinants of health. While self-determination and connection to culture and community-controlled organisations are integral factors to increase Aboriginal resilience and resistance and improve health and wellbeing outcomes. Further research is required to shift towards a multi-level understanding of the cultural determinants of health and to develop an Indigenous-led evidence-base around causal pathways. Such a shift would ensure priorities important to Indigenous peoples are captured in policy and practice. </jats:sec

Indigenous research and broader issues in the Academy

Martin Albrow referiert heute am Käte Hamburger Kolleg über die Aktualität der Herrschaftssoziologie und der Rechtssoziologie Max Webers. Der Veranstalter kündigt an: Unser „Globales Zeitalter", so Martin Albrow, mag zwar von der Moderne zu Max Webers Zeiten weit entfernt sein, für die Erfassung dieser neuen Wirklichkeiten liefert seine analytische und komparative Soziologie allerdings eine erstaunlich aktuelle Perspektive. In seinem Vortrag führt Martin Albrow aus, warum er Webers Herrschaf..

Indigenous research and broader issues in the Academy

The Rudd Labour Government rode to power in Australia on the education promise of 'an education revolution‘. The term 'education revolution‘ carries all the obligatory marketing metaphors that an aspirant government might want recognised by the general public on the eve government came to power however in revolutionary terms it fades into insignificance in comparison to the real revolution in Australian education. This revolution simply put is to elevate Indigenous Knowledge Systems, in Australian Universities. In the forty three years since the nation setting Referendum of 1967 a generation has made a beach head on the educational landscape. Now a further generation who having made it into the field of higher degrees yearn for the ways and means to authentically marshal Indigenous knowledge? The Institute of Koorie Education at Deakin has for over twenty years not only witnessed the transition but is also a leader in the field. With the appointment of two Chairs of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to build on to its already established research profile the Institute moved towards what is the 'real‘ revolution in education – the elevation of Indigenous Knowledge as a legitimate knowledge system. This paper lays out the Institute of Koorie Education‘s Research Plan and the basis of an argument put to the academy that will be the driver for this pursuit

“Milbulgali Bagili”: A systematic scoping review of the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy 1940‐1970

Issue addressed: Health promotion, the process of enabling people to increase control over their health, implies advocacy and empowerment on behalf of others. This does not account for the phenomena whereby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have advocated to strengthen the determinants of their own and their communities' health. This paper provides a systematic scoping review of the published literature that documents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy to improve community empowerment during the time 1940-1970. The objectives of the review were to establish: 1. The extent to which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy has been documented; 2. The extent to which the literature is written from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective; 3. The extent to which local community-level advocacy has been documented; and 4. How advocacy occurred. Methods: The Informit database was systematically searched, publications selected against inclusion criteria, and themes synthesised to map key concepts, types of evidence and gaps in research. Results: Based on this systematic search, 30 papers were found. The four key themes identified were: individual advocates, black organisations, international solidarity and black and white people working together. Conclusions: Despite the many gaps in the literature, there is documented evidence of considerable outcomes from advocacy. So what?: The concept of advocacy and indeed, health promotion itself, may need to be decolonised, and that the concept of “everyday resistance” may more accurately encompass the diverse repertoire of actions which took place between agents of resistance and agents of dominant power</p