Wheel2Wheel

Wheel2Wheel: No easy answer

Wheel2Wheel is proving to be a platform for not only charitable endeavour, but also learning.  The last few days in Australia’s Northern Territory has provided me with an opportunity to experience and learn about one of Australia’s most complex topics – its indigenous people.

 

Despite being a curious and well-travelled 35 year old Australian, until now I’d never had any direct personal exposure to Aboriginals.  Over the years I have read countless articles and watched dozens of television programmes describing the issues.  So as I’ve met several indigenous groups over the last few days I’ve been determined to stay open-minded and listen.

 

It’s hard to summarise what I’ve heard and learnt because it was so vast.  Indeed the complexities of the Aboriginal way of life co-existing with modern Australia are incredible.  If one spends too much time reflecting on all the problems and mistakes of the past, its easy to get overwhelmed and believe it is a predicament without solution.

 

Bush Traders Office

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From a Wheel2Wheel perspective, we want to support an indigenous initiative that is free of political agenda, has a pure objective and is helping to create a positive future.  Finding such a cause is not easy in a system that is innately political and inextricably tied to government.  All six groups we met with demonstrated a keen awareness of the deficiencies in the “system”.  However, only a few are doing things to overcome them.

 

Within the aboriginal community there is an extremely high level of reliance on government funding.  Like a drug addiction, this funding controls it recipient and narrows their ability to make unencumbered decisions.  Government being the only resource has created a bureaucratic quagmire where indigenous Australians have become slaves to costly and burdensome application processes.

 

I feel there is a fantastic opportunity for indigenous Australians to broaden their resources by appealing to philanthropic organisations and socially responsible corporations, not just in Australia but globally.  After only a few days it was clear to me that many Aboriginals are now engaged in numerous innovative, environmentally and culturally responsible, profit-making activities.  With some targeted support, these initiatives could evolve into the foundations of a new sustainable way of life for indigenous Australians.

 

Wadeye elders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m confident Wheel2Wheel will select a terrific indigenous initiative and we will be part of a growing movement within the philanthropic and corporate worlds that lends a hand to this civilisation in distress.

 

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