I would like to acknowledge the traditional landowners being the past, present, and emerging. I currently live and perform this website Peer for Mental Health from a location on the Darumbal people’s land. Being the Woppaburra people. The Darumbal land district covers 10 000 kilometers squared. This is known as most of the coastal Central Queensland, Australia.
The Darumbal people have a totem animal of the green tree frog and the plant of a water Lilly.
My Connection
I grew up witnessing discrimination, violations, and shocking atrocities of hatred toward the indigenous people of this country. Hearing firsthand from numerous people acts of terror and racism. I remember when I was 5 years old and thinking to myself if there was any way I could help make a better life for the people I loved like family, I would do so.
I understood their connection to the land. To me everything in the indigenous culture made sense. In a nation of peace, caring for the land for over 65 000 years before colonization. I empathized with their misery of being torn from their country.
Wherever I could and can represent the injustice I would act accordingly to argue the violations.
” Always was and always will be Aboriginal Land”
This quote from NAIDOC week reconciliations celebration resonates with how I feel when I walk and breathe in this land.
Remembering the terrible history that happened not so long ago and the atrocities that still happen today to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia.
I advocate for justice and human rights
Why do I feel so passionately about justice? Because I know that when one act of misuse of power is combined with hatred and disrespect for another person’s human rights. Is one act against the whole human race!
Injustice anywhere must be brought to the service of the United Nations. That is the reason for the unity of nations all believing in human rights for the world to be a better place for everyone.
I will always step forward and advocate.
My Goal to End Poverty in Indigenous Communities
In Australia, there are communities in regions that were organized by the Churches that came with the colonisations here.
They drove Aboriginal people to live away on the outskirts of the townships the colonies were forming. Driven out of their land by force.
These communities still today have large populations of indigenous people residing there. There is no work and often medical treatment is limited. The local shops are high priced for basic food supplies and again limited in quantity.
The battle against this poor standard of living for the people living in these communities is a disgrace to the government of Australia. The public need to acknowledge the sovereignty of this land and treat the first nation, people with respect.
My goal is to raise ongoing awareness plus opportunities to create work and career, traineeships for the first nation people.
If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below, and I will be more than happy to help you.
You can reach me at my work email, erica@peerformentalhealth.com
All the best,
Erica Golding