Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have ‘lost a lot of trust’ in the Crisafulli government. – Joshua Creamer, Queensland truth-telling and healing inquiry chairperson.
On 26 November 2024 about fifty people marched on parliament to place the aboriginal flag on its gates. The Queensland Parliament opened with a new LNP government led by David Crisafulli who has pledged to toughen laws on youth crime, including locking up children as young as 10 years of age in adult prisons.
The ALP previously supported similar harsh measures. The new government has also sought to halt truth-telling inquiries, which aim to address the impact of colonization on First Nations people.
Communities like Stradbroke Island, Doomadgee and Cherbourg have called for federal legislation to support First Nations-led truth-telling inquiries.
Ethan Enoch highlighted the ongoing struggle and resilience of First Nations people in his poem about challenges of being born into a nation full of racists, and the struggle faced by his people. The bravery of his relations, the Quandamooka people from Minjerribah and the resilience required to endure hardships, including land rights struggles and mass incarceration.
Despite being labeled as violent or outrageous, Ethan emphasizes the first nations fight for freedom and the power of their collective struggle, which transcends generations. He acknowledged the impact of colonization and the determination to break free from its constraints, ultimately finding strength in shared history and the pursuit of liberation.
something about the place I’m located,
or part of me I’m born into a nation of racist,
heavily debated existence is a statement to fit in your description that you’re claiming
there’s a vision in the making, something underneath
marinating exercise my fire and my patience,
inspired by the greatness I see, the bravery of my relations,
trying to heal my people from displacement engage in meditation, enough to prep me for the conversation.
How much can I take before I rage it?
The more I’ve been here for ages, maybe since creation, and now we go to argue land rights during the rages and mass incarceration.
I woke up today to face it, how am I a victim when my people are the braves, lying down to take it. When everyone is silent and complacent,
we rise above the bullshit and fighting for enslavement.
Okay, then saying that we’re violent, outrageous,
we’re fighting for the sign we created.
The power is contagious by any means to make it our hearts freedom, because we’re breaking all cages. Been through all stages of colonization.
Couldn’t break the stories of the past two generations,
the power is contagious by any means,
to make it a halfway freedoms because of breaking no cages. Thank you very much.
Ian Curr
29 Novemebr 2024