FIRST Nations groups in the region are asking people to remember the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect.<\/p>\n
Leaders came together to release a statement after recent incidences of racial discrimination towards Indigenous people ahead of the referendum of a voice to Parliament later this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have the power to ensure racial violence under the guise of political and social debate is not tolerated,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter said some of the incidents occurred during NAIDOC Week and included \u201csnide\u201d comments about Indigenous culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to support the calling out of this behaviour which I think is childish at the least,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what we say right around all forms of anti-discrimination and reconciliation is people need to be a bit more open-minded.<\/p>\n
\u201cA bit more tolerant of people\u2019s cultural background, the colour of their skin, gender, all those things that we know are really good for a more well community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Carter said he would like to see people actively calling out bad behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf somebody\u2019s exposed to this, I don\u2019t necessarily think them even arguing the point is a complete solution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what I would like to see is community intolerance of bad behaviour, more heightened and more aware.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think calling it out is as simple as \u2018look I understand why you think that way, but I don\u2019t agree with you\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a way of dealing with racial or other discrimination, Mr Carter suggested withdrawing from the conversation and talking to someone trustworthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t keep this trauma to yourself, but don\u2019t turn it into anger either,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bendigo District Aboriginal Cooperative CEO Dallas Widdicombe said one of the reported incidences of racial abuse related to a woman wearing an Aboriginal top at a cafe who was confronted by a stranger.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was called out with \u2018why do you need a voice when you already have everything\u2019,\u201d said Mr Widdicombe.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow powerful would it have been if at that cafe a non-Aboriginal stood up and said, \u2018hey what you just said there was not okay\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re voting yes or no, it\u2019s about being respectful.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FIRST Nations groups in the region are asking people to remember the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect. Leaders came together to release a statement after recent incidences of racial discrimination towards Indigenous people ahead of the referendum of a voice to Parliament later this year. \u201cYou have the power to ensure racial […]<\/p>\n