Partnerships don't just happen. We have to know, understand and trust each other over time before we can confidently talk about partnership. First Nations communities are diverse, like any group of humans there are similarities and differences. What is underpinning all in the First Nations communities is that they have ancestors who go back tens of thousands of years. That this culture has survived is an indicator of how successful the oral tradition is. Working with First Nations people continues to teach me about the complexity of that culture and the importance of respecting the ways of the ancestors.
There are tons of resources out there - but the most important of all is your ability to look within yourself and not assume that you "know" it all. There are more and deeper lessons that we soak up when we are open-hearted and come from a position of understanding our own ignorance. This is not our "fault". It is what happened in Australia for generations. Many generations including mine since colonisation weren't taught about the original history of our shared part of planet Earth, like we learned about British history. I am grateful that some of the original history is coming through in the experiences of younger Australians now.
I believe that until we recognise and acknowledge that post colonial history, warts and all, we cannot move on. Lets learn from and build our relationships so we can progress as a nation.
Real relationships are at the heart of real partnerships.
