Biz Rigney is Ngarrindjeri (South Australia) and Badimaya (Western Australia) woman who has lived on Kulin land for the past 12 years.
She has worked in and for the Aboriginal Community most of her life in arts, education and legal areas and most recently the out-of-home care system.
She is passionate about culture, education and design and uses those skills in her role as Content Developer in the Deadly Story team.
Deadly Story welcomes Biz as she shares her thoughts on 2019's NAIDOC theme of 'Voice, Treaty, Truth.'
What does it mean for the Aboriginal Community to have a voice in our modern society?
If we had a voice and we weren’t continually silenced, it would be the most amazing thing. We would have more power and agency. If people listened to us and considered our experiences, we wouldn’t have a lot of the issues we do. It would mean we would be respected for our opinions, because people would really hear us. So much of our voice is used to convince people of how we feel, when if they just listened to and believed us, we would make so much progress, much quicker.
We would have more power and agency
What are your ideas for how the Aboriginal voice in this country can be given a greater platform?
I think the laws in this country need to be really looked at and there needs to be an overhaul looking specifically at “free speech” (that is inferred but not stated in the constitution), hate speech, racial discrimination and similar laws. There is too much allowed in terms of how people speak to and about minorities in contrast to how you can speak to and about those that hold power.
I feel like we would be more able to speak on our own behalf and be heard and believed if we didn't have so many misinformed people speaking for us.
I feel like we would be more able to speak on our own behalf and be heard and believed if we didn't have so many misinformed people speaking for us
What does treaty mean to you?
Treaty is a negotiation process that would allow for Mob to have a little more of a say in things that are affecting us and our communities. In saying that, the system will still have more of a say in the process and it’s that bureaucracy that Mob don’t deal with well. I don’t want to think it’s something that will never happen, but the two cultures, their protocols and priorities don’t really fit together very well.
The system will still have more of a say in the process and it’s that bureaucracy that Mob don’t deal with well
What aspects do you think should be included in the conversation about treaty?
Monetary reparations, especially in relation to stolen wages and Stolen Generations. Land ownership for Community/Mob and individuals should be included. History, and especially local history, taught in school properly. Languages taught in schools. More funding towards education, health, research. It all needs to be moving towards real self-determination and economic independence.
It all needs to be moving towards real self-determination and economic independence
What is a fact or truth about Aboriginal history and current experience that you think should be widely known?
I guess just that we are human. That no matter what you think of us, no matter how much you reduce us to stereotypes and caricatures, we are human just like everyone else. We have feelings and cultures and stories and histories that are just as important as everyone else. Our lives are just as important. No matter what this system tells us, no matter what Australia wants to believe, we belong here and we matter.
We have feelings and cultures and stories and histories that are just as important as everyone else
What do you think needs to be done to make these truths known?
History and the truth need to be more accurately told in schools. Governments need to be held accountable for this as well. We can’t keep learning about bushrangers and think that’s all that happened here
History and the truth need to be more accurately told in schools