Black Lives Matter. Everywhere.

2020 has been intense. It is a tough time for everyone with the pandemic taking so many lives but also plunging us into an economic depression that is already leading to famine in many countries. Under so much stress and uncertainty, the murder of George Floyd has been the final straw for the systemic abuse and killing of black people in the USA. Watching from afar it is easy to judge and also feel a little helpless and wonder what actions one can take when this is not happening in their own country. However, every single in the country in the world faces a similar issue. Here in Australia, indigenous people have often received the same treatment or worse. From colonisation where many atrocities were committed to the stolen generation, to deaths in custody, to just last week Rio Tinto destroying a sacred aboriginal site linking back a culture and people to their ancestors from 46,000 years ago.

I have written previous pieces on why I wanted to work with Indigenous women in Australia which you can read here. Over the past few years going out to Cherbourg it has been incredibly educational and eye opening. The first time I drove out to Cherbourg which is about 3.5/4 hours from Brisbane, we drove through many little towns that I had never been too. The indigenous liaison who was kind enough to set up an introduction to the community of Cherbourg was giving me the history of a lot of these towns which was interesting. As we drove through Gympie he told me that never stopped in this town because it was one of the most racist places he had ever encountered. I am not anglo-saxon so this gave me pause for thought and I still have never stopped in that town when I drive up. Once in Cherbourg it really feels like another country. It is only about 2.5hrs away from Noosa, which is one of the most expensive and exclusive beach towns in Australia, yet it is worlds apart.

Cherbourg was founded as a reserve to keep Aboriginal people “safe”. Visiting The Ration Shed and reading up on history (see photos) it is heartbreaking that people were subjected to this type of behaviour not even 100 years ago. The story’s of domestic workers, young girls in their early teens, sent out to work as servants for very little wages are awful to read but it happened for years and the effects can be seen still.

This post is not to hijack what is happening in the US but to awaken everyone because it is happening around the world. Look into your own back yard, look into your own mind and if you see racism, prejudice or xenophobia stamp it out. The amount of times I have told someone about this business and I’ve had them ask, “But do they do the work?” is ridiculous and heartbreaking. The “they” in that sentence referring to indigenous people. Most times it is asked in earnestness and I don’t think people realise how offensive it is as it not only shows these deeply held beliefs about aboriginal culture as a whole but each one of us an individual perpetuates it.

It is National Reconciliation Week here in Australia and we will continue to support Indigenous women and grow this business to make sure we provide opportunities to those that may not have them no matter the colour of their skin.