Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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The Carrolup Story is one that enhances cultural pride, which in turn facilitates connection to culture. Connection to culture is the single most important factor
in helping Aboriginal people and their communities heal from intergenerational trauma and its consequences (e.g. psychological problems, addiction, suicide). |
Development of the ProjectWhen Michael Liu and I were first shown work of the Carrolup child artists by our Noongar friend Karen Hume, we were stunned by the beauty of the art and beguiled by the stories we heard.
We started researching for a film project on one of the artists, Revel Cooper. We found a great deal of important material, experienced many strange coincidences, and met some very interesting people, many of whom were willing to help us.
Eventually, however, I became so enchanted by what had happened at Carrolup, I decided that this Story needed to be my focus. I had many enlightening discussions with Noel’s daughter Noelene. I pored over her family’s ‘memorabilia’ of Carrolup, as well as a variety of items that Mike and I found at the Battye Library and other places. I knew I had to write a book about Carrolup, using the ‘voices’ of the people from that time. I also knew that this book had to be part of a wider project, one that helped facilitate healing amongst Aboriginal peoples and enhanced awareness in wider society. I started to write and soon became deeply immersed in the Story and life in 1940s Western Australia. I was sometimes brought to tears thinking about what had happened. I felt strongly connected to those young Aboriginal artists of yesteryear. Meeting Edith Smith and Alma Toomath (then Alma Cuttabutt), two of the Aboriginal children from Carrolup, was deeply moving. I first met Edith at a photograph exhibition organised by Robert and Selina Eggington. As she showed two other women who the various children were in the Carrolup schoolroom photograph, Edith said, 'That's Revel Cooper, that's Parnell Dempster, that one is Reynold Hart, and this person here is me.' I heard those words, rushed over and said to Edith, 'Where have you been? I've been looking for you for the past 18 months!' We had a good laugh and Edith introduced me to her husband, John Degiambattista. I cannot begin to tell you how emotional I felt listening to Edith talk about life at Carrolup. Earlier, I had met John Stanton, former Director of the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, a truly inspirational man who has become a close friend. John had been working on the Carrrolup Story for 40 years! He shares my passion for helping the voices of Carrolup reach out again to the world. He too has many times been brought to tears thinking of the events of the past. I was thrilled when John agreed that we develop a project together. For me, it is a real honour to work with someone who has cared about something so passionately for so long. Someone who has expertise different, but complementary, to my own. We'll keep you in touch with how this project develops. Keep an eye on my Blog. Meanwhile, I'm ploughing on with the book I am writing about Carrolup... it's getting close to completion. An interview with Noelene White, daughter of Carrolup teacher Noel White. Filmed and edited by Michael Liu, not long after we first met Noelene in mid-2016. Noelene was 12-years old when her family moved to Carrolup in May 1946.
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Reaching Out AgainSeventy years ago, Aboriginal children of Carrolup ‘reached out’ to white society with their beautiful drawings. However, their efforts, and those of Mr. White, Mrs. Rutter and others, were thwarted by a government decision to close Carrolup School. Things might have been very different for Aboriginal people had the government taken a different course of action at that time.
We will now help the children reach out again, but this time not with just their art, but also with their enthralling Story. We will not only celebrate their artistic talents, but also their scholastic, musical and sporting achievements, and their strong personal values and sense of community. Mrs. Rutter told the Carrolup boys that she would do all in her power to make their work known throughout the world. We will take up Mrs. Rutter’s mantle, having in our possession far more powerful tools to tell, and distribute, this Story to the world.
Mrs. Rutter believed that the boys could help show a way forward for Aboriginal people in Australia. Even though the boys have passed on, their spirit remains today, and they can still help 'show the way'. Their Story illustrates resilience in the face of considerable adversity. The Carrolup Story is one that enhances cultural pride, which in turn facilitates connection to culture. Connection to culture is the single most important factor in helping Aboriginal people and their communities heal from intergenerational trauma and its consequences (e.g. psychological problems, addiction, suicide). Noel White was a man ahead of his time. His approach to education, using the arts to facilitate communication, learning and creativity was revolutionary for the time.
He showed the essential elements underlying the healing of trauma (and its consequences) long before researchers and practitioners outlined their ideas. He demonstrated the key importance of empowerment and connection, and creating an environment of safety. He provided hope, and helped create in the children a sense of belonging, a sense of pride, and a strong identity. By telling the Carrolup Story, we can enhance awareness of what is required to help people overcome trauma and its consequences. Our Story shows the impact of prejudice and racism, which are strong barriers to healing from trauma and its consequences, and how people rise above prejudice and racism. By enhancing public awareness of the issues that have been faced by Aboriginal people, and celebrating their successes, we aim to help reduce prejudice and racism. We will also help non-Aboriginal people learn from Aboriginal people and their culture. For example, there is much that Aboriginal people can teach us about protecting the environment. Moreover, their holistic approach to wellbeing is far richer than western culture’s view of mental health. It is time that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal walked alongside each other on equal terms to help create a society where people have an improved wellness, are more respectful, caring and empathic towards their fellow man, and more protective of our planet. Telling the Carrolup Story is a stepping stone towards us contributing to this ideal. > If you wish to learn more about facilitating Indigenous Healing please read my blog.
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