The most sinister aspect of the Federal Government’s initiative in the Northern Territory is that it is exploiting the abuse of children in order to further undermine Aboriginal rights, with the explicit intention of seizing control of their land. These grossly intrusive measures will ultimately contribute to the continued disempowerment and destruction of Aboriginal people and their ancient cultures.
Having worked as a full-time teacher in a remote Aboriginal community I am fully aware of the social dysfunction that is reported regularly in the mainstream media. Minyerri, like so many other communities is entrenched in a sickening cycle of poverty and oppression. A sense of hopelessness and despair is everywhere: from the pathetic state of housing, to the violent shouts and screams of fighting in the middle of the night, to the festering boils and sores on the arms and legs of the eight year olds I tried to teach.
Such a scenario does not suddenly occur. It is the result of generational neglect by government. Aborigines out bush are the forgotten people: the ones we have chosen to ignore simply because they failed to fully assimilate.
Now though they find themselves at the centre of a heavy-handed military-style operation which the government claims is an attempt to help children who have been sexually abused.
The Little Children Are Sacred report clearly states, "There is nothing new or extraordinary in the allegations of sexual abuse of Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory." These problems have been around for decades. Aboriginal leaders have warned politicians about the endemic problems of community life and the desperate need to provide adequate housing, education and health services.
Why is the government suddenly hell bent on assisting the people whose cries for help were reduced to whimpering whispers over years and years of inaction? Why now? What is the motivation for focusing so much energy on a problem that has been completely ignored in the past?
Each individual is entitled to their point of view. Perhaps this is a grand act of altruism, but more than likely, in my opinion, it is not.
If the government was sincere in its endeavors to alleviate child abuse then it would actively engage each community in the healing process. One course of action will not suit 60 different environments. Each community faces a different set of circumstances. It is imperative that the government works in conjunction with community elders to try to formulate courses