Bennelong Society Conference 2002: Celebrating Integration

Remarks to the Bennelong Society Conference

Anthony Dillon

My name is Anthony Dillon. I am an Indigenous Australian. I feel it is important to explain carefully what I mean by this. I have dual heritage. My father is of Aboriginal descent and my mother is of European descent. That makes me part-Aboriginal, and part-European---terms which I have no trouble with. I have been reprimanded in the past for using such terms, particularly 'part-Aboriginal'. And it is issues like this (the use of the expression 'part-Aboriginal') where I disagree with many other Indigenous people. More about this shortly.

To tell you that I am part-Aboriginal, is to tell you only about a very small part of me. My ethnic origin is only one part of me---albeit an important part of me, but it is only one part of who I am. My life does not begin and end with my ethnic origin, or my gender, or my nationality, my academic qualifications, my sexual orientation, or my religious convictions. I am the sum of all of these and a whole lot more. To put people into different camps based on these or other criteria is to see people as only 'part' or 'incomplete' people. But people are whole people. This is how our Creator created us. This failure to view people as whole people, and to view them mostly in terms of their ethnicity has resulted in an 'us/them' mentality. And for as long as this mentality exists, the road to reconciliation will be a very difficult one. This 'us/them' mentality has resulted in Indigenous Australians being portrayed as a race of people totally different in nature from non-Indigenous Australians. And when Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are seen as such separate and different races, is it any wonder that some oppose integration?

Martin Luther King said we either live together, or else we die together. And that's all I believe integration is---people of whatever race, living together---respecting and valuing the differences and commonalities. Integration does not mean that either race has to compromise or surrender their cultural identity. It does not mean people pretending to be something they are not. Integration requires an attitude of acceptance and recognition that people are individuals. Too much emphasis has been put on the differences between white Australians and black Australians. There are differences for sure, but there are also commonalities, and it is the commonalities that are far more important. Understanding cultural differences is fine, but only after understanding the human commonalities.

Commonalities include:

• the need to be valued and respected by others
• the need to make a valuable contribution to one's community
• the need for a safe and clean living environment

Most people know there are huge inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. For many Indigenous people, these needs, and many others, are often not met. This is a legacy from the cruel treatment of Indigenous people in the past by white governments. I'm not suggesting that we are responsible for the actions of our forefathers, but that we acknowledge that Australia does have a shameful past. Despite what has happened in the past, there are many Indigenous Australians who want to move forward. But what is holding us back, is the 'us/them' mentality that underlies the management of Indigenous and race relations.

To categorise people on the basis of ethnicity (or Aboriginality) leads to the flawed thinking that Indigenous Australians all think alike. This is simply not true. Indigenous people are just as individual and diverse as non-Indigenous people. While there are many good Indigenous leaders who recognise this, there are some who believe that Indigenous people are a race of people who can be understood and helped only by other Indigenous people such as themselves. Such leaders see themselves as a very crucial part of the reconciliation puzzle.

All I am saying is that the opinions of a few outspoken Indigenous leaders, or would-be leaders, are not necessarily reflective of all Indigenous people. Many Indigenous people are wanting to express their own individual opinions. They want to live a society where blacks and whites can get along with one another. They want to see others as their equals and be part of a society that they can draw benefits from as well as make valuable contributions to.

What I am saying may not be for every Indigenous Australian. However, it suits me, and I know that it does suit many other Indigenous Australians. What is important though, is that each individual Indigenous Australian be given the same degree of freedom as other Australians in deciding what is best for themselves. For example,

• If some Indigenous person finds it offensive to use the term 'part-Aboriginal', then fine---be offended by it.
• If another believes that at any public meeting the traditional owners should be acknowledged, then fine---acknowledge them.
• If another believes that he or she should only use Indigenous specific services, then fine---use them.
• If still another believes that he or she only use their native language, then use it.
• If another believes integration is not in their interests, then fine---keep your distance from mainstream society.

But let all Indigenous people decide for themselves what they will do and how they will live their lives, and remember that, like me, they are still a true and fair dinkum Indigenous Aussie.