Please feel free to share your thoughts and emotions about the film, and its message, here…
All messages are passed onto Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra in Northeast Arnhem Land.
You can also join us on FACEBOOK.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and emotions about the film, and its message, here…
All messages are passed onto Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra in Northeast Arnhem Land.
You can also join us on FACEBOOK.
Just watched the trailer for this excellent awareness raising work. Is the DVD available in European Region format?
Yes, the DVD is available in both PAL and NTSC (USA) formats.
I was at garma as a volunteer and missed it, i heard how brilliant it was and also how amazingly powerful the talks were afterwards, wish i was there… love tarnie blint
The trailer made me cry. I will spread the word. Everyday I will talk to one person. I will not forget you. I will vote for a compassionate and sustainable future for all. Thank you.
We NEED to continue to fight for our injustice!!!!!! Against this RACIST government!
I very much want to get my hands on a copy of this documentary. I am running a course on Human Rights and Social Justice at La Trobe University in Melbourne and my tutor alerted me to this doco. I had a look at the trailer and just the trailer hits on so many points that are relevant and crucial for my students. Thank you, best, Kirsty
I watched this movie at GARMA and am shell shocked but determined to take action – I have spread the word to all of my top end contacts.
I cannot wait to buy it and show it to my mob down here.
I am in melbourne and if there is an opening night or any events surrounding this then I would love to help out.
Cheers, Beatrice
Too Deadly Job, praying they do more than listen this time and change the constitution. Yours In Unity, Janelle Turner. YapuRu Wamurrayn Tjiltjapuna
As a leader in a school what can I do to work towards justice for indigenous people?
Going to the Adelaide launch – very much looking forward to it.
I brought this DVD without hesitation we watched and, we cried, I still cant believe that we are now in 2010 and these atrocities still occur with OUR MOB.
Thankyou Sinem & Damien for the courage and strength to make the world aware.
Thankyou to the brothers and sisters who participated in this very moving DVD.
It is white Anglo redneck settler society which needs to CHANGE, uhh …so that we can ALL live successfully in the 21st century.
We need to help ALL Australians understand….Lest We Forget
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-of-respect-for-indigenous-Australian-soldiers/159267687432284?ref=ts
It sends many subliminal messages….I hope my facebook page plays it’s part in helping mainstream Australia understand. Time to make the connection…Respect, Awareness, Education…National Healing
Respect to ALL my People, Especially my Elders and Generations to come…We are the oldest LIVING CULTURE….This was no accident…Be the strong people you are!!!
Respect to our white brothers and sisters who see this…Peace
It was an amazing and inspiring night in Melbourne at the launch of Our Generation. Let’s keep up the enthusiasm for ACTION, and come along to the National Day of Protest against the NT Intervention.
Next Friday, 29 October. 5.30pm at the State Library in Melbourne. There are actions all around Australia and you can find the list here: http://www.jobswithjustice.wordpress.com
Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective (MAIC) meets every Monday, 6.30pm at the New International Bookshop (NIBS). The bookshop is easily found in the basement of the Trades Hall building (Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton).
It’s time to stand up!
Thank you for an amazing film and discussion afterwards. I was the woman in the audience talking about my concerns about Centrelink, the abolition of CDEP in remote communities and the problem that if people are forced by changes to Centrelink law to move into the 20 designated townships that they may become unable to maintain continuous connection with their land, and under Australian law this land could then be legally taken back by the Government. Land rights are not inviolable once granted. They can be revoked under these conditions. The only way to stop this is to force the Govt. to reinstate CDEP on remote communities and create real jobs there building infrastructure necessary for the health of the children and all members of the communities. The Govt says this is too expensive but how much will it cost to treat the ill-health that will result from removing Aboriginal people from their land, perhaps in perpetuity if they lose connection from their land? The Govt says it costs up to half a million dollars to build suitable housing on remote Aboriginal communities, but Jack Thompson (actor) has been building, in association with the Tiwi people, suitable houses for $180,000. As can be seen so so clearly in your film, there is lots of work, lots of potential jobs for working age Aboriginal people, that desperately needs doing to improve living standards needed to improve the health of the children and community in all respects but rather than do this the Govt would rather spend money building more renal dialysis machines in town to cope with the increased ill health of the Aboriginal people separated from their homelands. Very few Aboriginal people reach retirement age and those with disabilities and the aged are the only ones, under Centrelink without the remote area clause about remote areas, who can choose where they live. It is vital that we fight the planned move to townships and force the Govt to create, instead, jobs and infrastructure, housing, kindergartens, schools etc, on the homelands. I hope you will be able to emphasize these points after your future presentations of the wonderful film you have made, and which I wish I had said, in addition to what i did say last night after the screening. Dr Kay Hollingshead ( many years of experience in Aboriginal health and many years studying the problem of prevention of child sexual assault, and also adopted by Yolgnu people many years ago -my skin name is Ganambar). Thank you again – I will write to politicians and act as much as I can to prevent this heinous planned action by the Govt to remove Aboriginal people from their land.
Thank you for an incredibly moving and powerful night at the opening in Melb. The film is astounding and while I have been an advocate for Aboriginal affairs for several years, never before have I felt so fired up to act. I will be arranging a public screening in my area and have already committed at least one other person to do the same. I will be lobbying politicians and also have an idea and connections regarding housing that I would like to investigate. This injustice HAS to stop and it we have to act NOW as a matter of urgent priority. I do not want to be party to this destruction of OUR heritage and this most beautiful ancient culture. Everyone else out there, don’t just stop at watching the film. You all MUST do something and do it now!
Thanks for putting this film together. I saw it last night at the opening, and although I thought of myself as quite aware of what was going on, i was quite shocked by the statistics and didn’t realise how blatently the entire intervention was based on lies and was motivated by the greed of mining companies to open up valuable tracts of land for uranium, iron ore and zinc. in retrospect of course, it goes way back to the Xstrata zinc mine near Borroloola on the MacArthur River and has worsened ever since.
While the intervention was going on, i was working with an affected community, Kybrook Farm, doing language work, and saw first hand the incompetence with which this travesty was perpetrated. Under a veil of good intention, like building houses (never happened) and bitumenising the access road to alleviate the amount of dust in the air which causes asthma (which fell apart the very next wet season) was a hidden agenda of encouraging people to move into town or to Katherine, as it makes them cheaper to manage. More insidiously, there appeared to be a deeply-seeded motive to debase and oppress indigenous people – making them queue in a special line to use a Basics card; queue up in Centrelink to access funds, get them out of meaningful Territory-subsidised employment (CDEP) and force them back onto the dole.
It’s clear to me that the point all along was to perpetrate oppression of indigenous people in this country and keep them in poverty.
I now work with the Tiwi in Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) and now I can see the other side of the intervention. In August 07, the Tiwi signed a deal with the federal government (Mal Brough, basically) to sign over their land for 99 years in exchange for housing development. That the government would bribe landowners like this is absolutely appalling in this century, or indeed ever. Access to basic services should not be used as a bargaining chip with which to get people to do what you want, and no one should be forced to give up their hard fought-for land like this. I’m not necessarily drawing any conclusions about how the deal will benefit the Tiwi; it may well be in their interests. But to use land rights like this is disgraceful.
Congratulations on the film. I ashamed of my country that such a story has to be told, and I look forward to a time when this episode is just another a part of history from which we can learn. But I fear we have a long way to go.
With 2 friends I am grateful to have seen the film last night. With others I thought I was reasonably informed, but the film highlighted the full shame of it all.
I want to apologise to the speakers and particularly to Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra OAM because we 3 were some of those who left before the questions had finished. It was really discourteous of us, however 2 of us are not in good health and we were taking public transport home. I am very sorry not to have been there to hear the final song, as we sure needed it. We left with shame and much more understanding, but also determination not to let it stand.
Please thank Rev. Dr. Djiniyini for keeping faith in his white brothers and sisters after all they have done and are continuing to do to his culture – those who are moved into action by last night (and I dare to say none would not have been), must do the same if we are to win the battle.
Please email me the last message of Rev Dr Djiniyini which I believe was to be some particular action for us to take. I did not want to have missed hearing anything he had to say.
Together we will keep the fire going.
All strength to you all
Shalom
Katherine
I thought this movie was amazing and more messages need to be put out there like this; however, as much as documentaries, government policies, and other grand gestures/messages do to help, there is also a significant way we can all help end what is happening worldwide for Aboriginal people worldwide.
We all need to look deeply within and ask ourselves how do we contribute to racism, even when we believe ourselves not to be racist there are often hidden thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that we are not always aware of. It is the little, everyday ways that keep racism alive that need to be addressed just as much as, if not more than, the bigger ways.
As a non-Aboriginal person I look around me and question why I live on a street with no Aboriginal peoples, in a city where there is no apparent evidence of Aboriginal peoples experiencing the same basic rights as me, in a country where those in power aim to keep it that way because of what they fear they will lose.
Check out the term “Whiteness” on the internet, investigate deeply, and ask yourselves – how am I contributing to this and what can I do on a daily basis to change my beliefs, actions and thoughts so that changes are made for the rights of all Aboriginal peoples everywhere.
Make it real, make a change, take individual responsibility for the collective.
Despite my great admiration for the film Our Generation, I was disappointed by the implication in one section of the film that reports of child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities have been grossly overstated. Many previous detailed and authoritative reports such as The Gordon Report, and the Little children are Sacred report strongly indicate that this is not the case. Most children who have been, or are being sexually abused are severely threatened not to tell anyone about it by the perpetrator. In my long experience working as a doctor in Aboriginal health I found that it took a great deal of time to develop the trust of children, mothers, aunties and others to the point that they would come forward to tell me of their concerns about children who they believed might be being sexually abused. When I did finally gain that trust, however, I had many children and adults coming forward with such concerns which were mostly always substantiated. Some of the last people in the world that an Aboriginal child is likely to tell they are being sexually abused are a white policeman or even a white policewoman due to longstanding distrust among Aboriginal people of the police force. Equally an Aboriginal child who is being sexually abused is very unlikely to tell a white doctor who flies into the community for a quick check of all the children present and who the child, and their caregivers realize they will most probably never see again. The statistics of the number of Aboriginal children suffering such abuse has therefore, I believe been grossly underestimated in the Intervention based statistics, even more so than it is well known to be underestimated in the general Australian community. My research – just a review of most of the literature and published reports on the subject suggests that only approximately half the perpetrators are Aboriginal, and the other half non-Indigenous. The removal of the permit system has severely hampered the Aboriginal communities rights to evict those non-Indigenous people they fear, or know, to be perpetrators of sexual abuse against children. The Little Children Are Sacred Report recommended changing the bail act, amongst many other recommendations, so that those accused of child sexual abuse would not automatically be entitled to receive bail, and thus be able to return to the communities and possibly re-terrorize or re-offend against the child victim or victims. I feel this would be a very useful change to the law which would encourage children and reduce their fear about coming forth with reports of abuse against them. The Little Children are Sacred report also had many other extremely useful recommendations about possible ways to prevent child sexual abuse on Aboriginal communities, but these have all been mostly ignored in the Intervention. I fear it will do almost nothing for these poor children in its present form – not uncover the extent of the problem, do anything to treat survivors of abuse, or perpetrators of abuse to prevent them re-offending. Interestingly the LCAS report suggests half of those Indigenous perpetrators are aged 18 years or under, and psychologists and those working with perpetrators state that the earlier a perpetrator receives treatment, the more likely treatment is to be successful, to stop re-offending. Many of these young perpetrators may themselves be victims of child sexual abuse. The Intervention, to my mind has done very little to help the children so far, and many authoritative reports and sources suggest there is an awful lot of work to be done in the treatment of victims and perpetrators, and changing the conditions of poor, overcrowded housing, unemployment, lack of support services and infrastructure such as ‘safe houses’ for children, and re-reinstatement of such effective community based bodies as the ‘Community Legal Justice Team’ that could really make a difference and help these most vulnerable children.
I saw the film last night and was aware of many of the issues, but not the bribery aspects of this current government. Until government bureaucrats are properly trained about indigenous issues, indigenous people will continue to be treated like second class citizens. For anyone who works with indigenous people, it’s the same old headbanging exercise year in year out.. Bureacrats are the gatekeepers to power and resources but don’t have the understanding or appropriate skills to manage those resources or power when it comes to community consultation. Whether about communtiy, indigenous, social or environmental issues, it’s the same old same old shit. nothing will change unless this grassroots social movement builds and walks and marches and yells and demands a massive shift in focus! Great film and thanks to everyone who has been involved and contributed their time and energy to this project. We need to DEMAND STRONGLY and LOUDLY that proper INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT consutlation occur NOW with all indigenous policy development from her on in….
Saw this film last night an believe that every Australian needs to see it. Anyone got ideas of how to get it shown on free to air television?
As a part of my Bachelor of Arts Degree at LaTrobe University I have studied a number of Aboriginal based units. What I have learnt was further confirmed by ‘Our Generation’. My not so well informed 22 year old son accompanied me to the film and I am thrilled to share with you that simply watching Our Generation has been enough to cause him to do something of a turn around and state “it really is our (white fellas) fault, isn’t it?” Well done on such an effective documentary.
Currently studying at Griffith University, Contemporary First Australians visual art. I have changed the degree title from, ‘Indigenous’. Only saw the trailer, but certainly looking forward to the whole version. The course outlined at Griffith focuses primarily on Identity, really helps those who seek to know more of their Indigenous background. Apart from this course I am trying to find out is their a cultural experience offered to young men and woman to learn some form of traditional initiation. That is to say teach grass roots level of rites of passage, this would beat any ‘schoolies’ activities currently considered the most appropriate form of disgraceful human behavior!
I just saw this film at the Huskisson picture theatre. It made me shake with sadness. Heart wrenching, frustrating, SHAME. Thank you for allowing us to hear the voices of the Yolngu people. Truly powerful and moving.
In the film, the figure of $38 000 000 was mentioned as well as a figure of 50 homes to be built. Therefore the costing was approximately $760 000 to build each home. This is outrageous and one is left to assume that most of the money is going into the pockets of the contractors carrying out the work at a top dollar price.
Why can’t philanthropists such as the Richard Bransons and the Dick Smiths of this country financially assist the building of homes for the Yolngu people? Why rely on the government who has proven time and again to manipulate the laws and rights of Indigenous people for economic gain and purpose. Forget having Balandas going up there as a source of income for work generated…why can’t a well coordinated bevy of volunteers including the Yolngu people build the houses ourselves? All volunteers would bring their own tents and be prepared to ‘rough it’ for the duration of the building project. The homes would utilise principles of smart design and be built sustainably and appropriate to the climate. Surely there are enough talented architects willing to donate their skills in design to consult and create something practical and culturally appropriate for the Yolngu people that would satisfy their needs and wants. Enough of the political and academic reports and research, the community needs housing and it is our moral and ethical responsibility to provide it. Enough of government bribes, trickery and manipulation of vulnerable people. If we (those committed to action and the pursuant of assisting Aboriginal people to live their lives exactly how they see fit…which involves not being driven off their homelands) all donated our time we could have the required houses built asap. I know this is an idealistic approach but I would be one such person willing to physically assist in the building of such houses.
As a Balanda I am appalled and so ashamed of this government and the subsequent inaction to provide Indigenous people with fundamental human rights. When will the greed end? When will logical intelligent and compassionate thinking prevail over self interest. It is for the future benefit of every human being that we stand up for the rights of Aboriginal people, demand that they be consulted and their decisions respected. They have, after all, managed the welfare of the land for thousands of years without any interference and meddling from Europeans. The western model of society is completely at odds with Aboriginal system of culture. The spiritual component (connection to Country) is grossly underestimated by the Australian government. Removal from homelands is systematic genocide….connection to Country is analogous to the need for lungs to breathe air. Aboriginal people NEED their Country.
Like Penca Rafigi, I am interested to know if there is a cultural experience offered to non-Indigenous people that would enable a deeper understanding of the culture and laws so as to better inform and educate the wider Australian community.
It is no wonder that Aboriginal people mistrust white people. As a white person, I truly hope that the Yolngu people know that not all Balanda are motivated by greed and self interest but there are those that feel sincere pain at the evil deeds perpetrated by ancestors who invaded this country and the governments that continue to inflict human rights abuses. I want to help bridge this gargantuan gap and look forward to a future where Indigenous people are empowered and leading the life they should be living right now in balance and harmony with the land, as they have done for millennia.
Sad but inspired by the strength of the Yolgnu spirit.
Amazing story, very emotional. Will there be a national rally in Canberra to stop this intervention?
When will the Government cease to treat the Yolgnu as though they are children?
After living at Galiwinku for 3.5 years , I have learnt that the Yolgnu are extremely intelligent and very talented. They have a firm grasp on what the Australian Government is trying to do to them , and they will not back down! We ALL need to stand side by side on this issue and provide the support ( both vocally and emotionally ) that our Yappa’s and Wawa’s need to win this fight!
During my time at Galiwinku , many Government officials came to visit ( trying to brainwash locals) , but not one (to my understanding) stayed overnight and experienced life on the community! How can a Government pretend to know how to fix a problem , that they are yet to see with their own eye’s?
At times like these , I am ashamed to be a “White” Australian…..
Best of luck with DVD…..Education is the key to success!!
I watched the film in Sydney and was compelled by it. Totally support reconciliation and the improvement of lives for our indigenous people.
Maybe am missing something obvious, but why to sell DVDs to spread the message? Given that it is a matter of highest importance, why not even publish the story on the internet for free? Why can’t the ABC and SBS showed this documentary as a matter of priority? shouldn’t this message be spread freely to the australian people. The more people that know the more things will change for the better for indigenous australians.
I am saddened to see that the aboriginal people of Australia are still seeking recognition and respect. I look forward to the day when white paople can learn from the aboriginal culture and live in harmony. The day we stop listening to the govenrment who spin lies to exploit the resources of the land. The day when all can live in peace without prejudice and bigotry.
All power to you
Thanks for you very informative documentary.I saw the film today in Kakadu and found it very clever pieced together and it exposed some of the ulterior motives inherent in our largely Westernised culture which has influenced/initiated present-day Australian government’s policies towards the aboriginal people of Australia most recently in the Top End.Western culture has long been known for it’s ignominious approach to other cultures.Meaning we naturally like to ‘control’ and dominate people of other cultures believing they are less valuable.The Bininj culture here in Kakadu has quite different values to the rest of mainstream-society Australia,such as a long standing moral code to respect and protect our natural environment) and an incredibly sophisticated ‘kinship’ system that creates a close-knit society where every member has others looking out for him or her.This is probably the reason that even though aboriginal culture has been steam-rolled over for so long,it is still able to exist.
In reality this movie shows the same manipulative s*** is still going on towards indigenous Australians but the emphasis has changed -( it’s just become more sneaky).
Recently I attended an ” Australian of the Year” Awards ceremony in Darwin and one of the politicians mentioned in the film Paul Henderson was there giving out the NT awards of whom, various indigenous people dominated and excelled .
As the night progressed I thought Mr Henderson must be some sort of champion of indigenous rights as he was called upon to give away many of the awards.But seeing him mentioned in your film,alerted my awareness to the nastier policies he stands behind,which seem to be about appropriating land from the indigenous population for mining and profit .
I will purchase some copies of your film and give it to my contacts here in Kakadu and others around Australia so we can all be on the same page.People need to be on guard.
Many here in Kakadu and Arnhem land would have no idea of what the Federal and NT governments have in store for their communities and their homelands and I am sure they would be interested to know about the scenarios displayed in your film.
Thank-you.
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which ,as opposed to Balanda(non-aboriginal) culture) different and the typical way we do this is to divide and conquer.
The film “Our Generation” informs us that no matter what we think,we are not really living in under a progressive government at all,and that there are a core of Australian citizens who are still after the same thing ,i.e. feathering their own nest while placing the value of money before the lives of human beings.
Being born in America and having the plasure of going to Australia for a domestic violeance conference ; I was able to see just how mistreated the aborigional people are treated . I have been crying ever since. Oppression, abuse , historical gnencide and how aboriginnal people have internalized the trauma and pain. Also no white person who is there will truly be free if all are not free.
I am dreaming of a way to be part of this movement adn have done radio shows about OZ. I want to get back to you and shre the expereice of a blck woman in America and what we had to do to walk out of slavery to where we are now. The racism is still here very much in America and we have gone through the same things .
But even with that we have more resoures the the Aborignal people . I am wtih you in Spirit and send much love to you and the work. I have nto seen the whole movie but the trailer had me crying.where can I get the movie>
There is nothing more powerful than the truth. You have power on your side! Your children are outstandingly happy in a way that can’t be pretended. Our white children lack this overflowing enthusiasm and spirit very often. We have so much to learn from your ways of raising children. I am dedicated to your cause forever. I have promised. Thank you for your leadership and courage. Earth Mother.
Yeah I was moved with shock and anger! Shock that I have been so ignorant of such racism in the government and this country that I call my home. And anger at the lies and apparent cover ups with government and media that is supposed to represent me and everyone who call Australia home.
But I am a man who is a proud parent, and in my children and in my own heart I find hope. And with hope I found this movie also motivates me to find ways of expressing the hope I have. My life is changing as I begin to find ways of speaking out, not just with anger but with the positive vision of how things should be in this country where everyone deserves a fair go. I believe the voices of my children will be raised up with the voices of the elders and the traditional owners of this land whose culture is older and whose spirits are stronger, and my children will walk in harmony with mutual understanding and respect for each other and this beautiful great land. I hope and pray it will happen soon.
I have lived in alice springs and have many friends living in town camps. It is clear that human rights are being violated. Not by the government but by other aboriginal people. What people complain mostly about is drunks and violence and humbugging (demanding money) What goes on in many town camps is dictated by the more agressive members. Inspite of the governments promise to protect the more vulnerable, town camps are still dangerous places to live especially for women and children. The govenment builds peole houses but too often i have seen people unable to control their families from trashing them and they have move back into the tin shed where they are more likely to be left in peace. Anyone serious about aboriginal rights in the centre should come and work with many of the agancies and spend some time listening to town camp people.
I just wanted to say thank you once again to Sinem and Damien, and Dr Gondarra, Rosalie and her grandaughter, and Xavier for coming to Adelaide and sharing the film with us. It was a very special moment for me.
Im writing my second article for uni on the film, and we are on our way to getting a collective going in SA, and planning out film screenings – thanks to you for inspiring us and drawing people together.
I very much look forward to things you do in the future.
Bob Hawke an allie?
I don’t want to be negative here but truth must be told that Hawke lied about TREATY. He also done deals that had negative affects for the first nations of Australia and deals that have come back to currently pressure a black president. People shouldn’t be so naive.
Our Generation is a very powerful documentary that brings you to tears. How can we beat the greed of the mining and tourist thuggs? The message to stand together and act, write to the opposition and Julia Guillard before the 1st of Janurary is the first step I will take. I have sent the web address to people who work in the film industry in LA as well as people on my email addresses. I have known Yolngu people for 20 years now and I can tell people the sex abuse is a lie and totally fabricated so the government can take land. Many of my friends realise that the children are better off in the homelands and that Australia is a better place with Aboriginal culture alive and well. Aboriginal culture is an Education, Aboriginal knowledge is valuable and how sad ignorant people keep saying we need to educate Aboriginal people, ……..’the home lands are safe and viable’.
Thank you to all the people who made this outstanding documentary.
I’m dumbfounded. It is so clear that the purpose of the intervention is to undermine land rights claims by breaking the continuity of the connections necessary for native land title. The cynical manipulation of our indigenous people by the government which introduced it can only be described as reprehensible. The continuation of it by the government which succeeded them is even more reprehensible, given their professed concerns for our indigenous people.
Does de DVD included subtitles in other languages…. For thus that do not speak English … I am Spanish and I will like to share it with friend that do not speak English… if there is subtitles in other languages is Aboriginal language one of them ?…
Can you suggest a few appropriate email addresses to which we can send our letters of protest at the Australian government’s “intervention” policy.
I was very moved and disturbed by the film at the Royal Geographic Society premiere, and thank you for making it.
Hi im Ashton and i am proud Gamilaroi woman, i currently work for a very powerful Aboriginal organisation and i am spreading the link for your site throughout out email network!
Im also sending it out to my mother who is an Aboriginal Education officer in central NSW, hopefully we can organise some screenings out that way for the smaller rural communities, and get them involved too.
Keep doing what your doing, you have the support of whole generations, and nationalities behind you!
Much Love
I am New Zealand Maori living and working for an American owned company in Melbourne and drive past the nibs building nearly everyday, I cant wait to hookup with all the mob at MAIC on Mondays
Kia kaha
I am a kiwi, and aussie, and a woman of the world. I am traveling in Europe and spreading the word about the Aboriginal situation to everyone I meet. I will make a post about this film on my small blog. It made me cry. I am so pleased that this film has been made, and am sure that it will generate much needed action by Australians and the world at large, to combat the viscous genocidal policies which the OZ govt has saddled the NT peoples with. I am so proud of being from a country where the native people have such a massive, beautiful and sustainable culture. We MUST do everything we can do to preserve their knowledge, their connection to their lands, and their dignity. Big Love x sharky
This is a beautiful documentary which I would suggest could be made available free of charge with the option to donate. We are all one and face the same danger as the indigenous of Australia who are us with a different life story and part of ‘our’ history. At the end of the trailer for the movie the Aboriginal man asks us,”to put our heads together and fight the system”. Certainly we need to come together and stop seeing ourselves as separate and different, these labels and judgements are what keep us apart. I don’t feel ‘fighting’ the system is the way to change things it is an unconscious and programed response, it may be this man is less familiar with English but it carries with it resistance to what is, which I certainly understand his frustration. What you resist persists. Like mother Teresa she would stand in any peace rally but not against war there is a deeper understanding in her actions. In my opinion we need to put our attention on what we love and support that but there is no need to energize what is not working. We have all the power, not the government. We need to get together on a mass level and stop allowing the small corporate money power driven few to govern our choices. I feel it is very important to educate each other especially in the area of awareness and the use of language which is a form of symbolism and like media and advertising has a great impact on how we choose, which we think is us choosing. Question everything especially your thoughts.
with love,
Christopher
Hi ..I hope the premier of this documentary in London went well I hope now that the required ‘critical mass’ of global public outrage can make change in this country.. a home that i am ashamed to call mine after watching this… a place which breeds fear that an inanimate object such as ‘uraniam’ can be valued over human lives… fearful that this government will continue to carry the legacy of the appalling times under the previous government where we literally THROWN BACK to the dark ages of ignorance and apathy.. no wonder the world labels Australians as apathetic NO OTHER CIVILISED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD would stand for this.!! and if it was happening in another country AUSTRALIANS would be horrified and signing petitions!! … I do have to thank you Sinem and Damien for opening our eyes to the truth…Aboriginal Australia – the 3rd world inside 1st World Affluence. Structural and Institutional RACISM at it’s most overt. funny how the WHOLE WORLD got together to abolish Apartheid in South Africa but even Australians don’t know about what’s going on in Australia… the Aboriginal elder in this film was correct when he said the media shapes our beliefs because they only tell us what the government wants us to know…shame on them for ‘selling out’.
The producers/director should have kept away from Hawke, his presence smeared the films credibility. Am I the only one who remembers Hawke’s sell out of Aboriginal Australia to the wealthy oligarchy regarding Treaty and Universal Aboriginal Land Rights.
Plus, the film should be free on the internet and rely on donations. Why does everything have to be about money? That is one of the root causes of the problems. Free Important Rights Violations Information + Donations Requests = Credibility. I’ll go to YouTube independent community Aboriginal videos for updates thanks.
A group from Reconciliation Manningham (Melbourne) sponsored Our Generation for Rec week May 25 – 11th June for a gathering of 50 or so people, all of whom were shocked and appalled by it. There was a good discussion about it afterwards but many left feeling angry and frustrated about how to help. Someone must be able to get this film shown on the ABC or SBS, perhaps with an informed panel chaired by a community leader or leaders. This govt will soon find itself in breach of a gross violation of human rights in the NT. As politicians are our (public) servants, it is up to us to keep pressing for greater accountability and transparency from them. The Age ran a story 14/6 about the Yindjibarndi Ab Corp
who have released a letter sent from the law firm Slater and Gordon alleging serious deficiencies in heritage surveys conductd by Fortescue which it gave these indigenous people no time to read. This has been a common happening and must be stopped.
Can I make an apology to our fellow citizens for the utter stupidity,rudeness and ruthlessness of many of the Balanda people
and tell them that so many of us admire and respect our fellow indigenous australians and will keep working with them in any way we can for justice to finally prevail.
Incidentally, when my son and his wife were in Yolongu territory a while ago he said he had seldom seen such happy kids.There must be a way forward for all of us. Keep the Faith
Wow it great to see the site up an running I suggest to all that they see this doc an let them know how I presented it at redfern not stics with Jeff M
This is a brilliant exposition!
I’m so sorry I missed the premiers.
It reminds me of a film from 2005 called Time after Time, which featured extensive footage from the same area:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lyrebirdchannel#p/a/u/2/Z46VjOT-H9c
Thank you bringing this great gift to the world.
My name is Elsa and I’m currently studying Community Services at Richmond TAFE Institute, as a part of my study I learn about Cultural Awareness and Indigenous support services, so I practically study part Indigenous studies as well as Community Services.
I only just watched the Trailer to “Our Generation” and it touched my heart, deeply. I will be watching the documentary as soon as I can, I’m very interested in viewing it.
I will also leave two other sites I have visited tonight and leave encouragement to check them out and join their organizations, which would never go unappreciated. Every little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Edited**
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/ and http://generationone.org.au/
Every little bit helps.
Hi. I am Angelique, 12 years of age and I’m a white australin. In SOSE we were learing about Indigenous Australians. Our teacher got this DVD and I feel very strongly about setting free right. I found your DVD was so touching it made me cry. We all felt so strongly about it that we are writing a letter to the Queen who just recently stopped past Australia. I totaly support you guys and hope for the best.
Kind Regards,
Angelique xoxo <3
Okay so I’m back and this is what I wrote to the queen.
Dear Your Royal Majesty,
I am Miss Angelique ——–. I have 12 years of age and I am a white female Australian with a polish background. I have attended Seton Catholic Collage where we are learning all about Indigenous Australians. Our whole class watched a documentary called ‘Our Generation’. In this documentary we learnt how much the Indigenous Australians suffer because of our actions.
We have taken away the rights, their children and even their land! The movie stated “Taking away their home is like taking away a piece of your mind”. Meaning of land to Indigenous Australians is very strong. Their land has a spiritual, physical, social and cultural meaning to their race. They see it as their mother. Why do we do this, all this judging and stereo types just because of their color! We have accused them of steal, murder and pedophiles because white people think that we have the right, the audacity and the nerve to treat people like they are rubbish. This is appalling behavior and the government should take immediate action. No more forcing Indigenous Australians to dress, do or eat like white people.
Please help our Australian’s and International Countries to understand the suffering and pain these poor people are going through and that they have just enough equal right as any other human being does, no matter what color, race, cutler, town, state or continent we come from, we are all human beings and all have the same rights and freedom.
Kind Regards,
Miss Angelique ——–
Feedback on the edited version.
Thanks so much for this docco. I first saw the extended version at a friends house.
It left me feeling angry and sad but it also inspired me to get back into action.
Last night at the Mullum Civic centre i saw the new edited version. I felt it was nowhere near as powerful as the long version. My friends even commented that it was not as upsetting and hard hitting as i had made out – (they were helping me pick-up the pieces after i saw the long version).
I understand you are trying to pitch to mainstream media but some of the original footage was stunning and the general flow of the docco just wasn’t there.
In the first unedited version there were powerful, cinema like scenes that pulled you right in. There was one scene of men performing ceremony around smoke and then the scene erupted when they threw the ashes and ambers into the air. This scene is on the trailer but not in the film.
Another missing thing was all the hard hitting facts that popped up on the screen. The $ figures. The amount of children who had been checked for abuse. Housing figures etc.
Did you ever hear of a docco called “the power of nightmares”?
A friend who was working at the ABC at the time said they would never play that on Australian tele. About 3 years the entire docco was- (it was about 5 hours long and played over 5 nights)
Why not aim for 2 one hour segments with a Q and A to fill the last half hour?
Anyway, these are my thoughts and again – i thank you on behalf of my entire Goreng Goreng family.
x
Troy Johnson
Please look into maritime admiralty law, this could really help, there is loads of stuff on the net.
I’m Writing to you to show my total Support and to say Thank you for the Eye Opening Documentary!!!!!
I’m 6th Generation Australian Born in Port Hedland WA, Both my Grand parents was in the Royal Air Force and Navy .
My Grand Father Grew up with Aboriginals and my dad did also all his life in Port headland until we moved in 1986 to Perth.
I’m So Ashamed with the AU government, need to wake up and stop playing Dirty Games with the Indigenous People of Australia . the Land is for the people the Indigenous people of Australia not for the governments greedy needs …
”’Something is WRONG!
Wrong with the government in which we live
Wrong with the leaders that lead us
Wrong with us… and the way we respond, to our enemy and each other
This nation is not about poor people!
Whether they’re black, brown, red, yellow or white
This nation is about RICH people!
And to hell with the weak, the poor, they must serve~ ”
we need Change !!!!!!
Please don’t stop the Movement
GOD BLESS