Multi-cultural living
August 3rd 2007 01:28
Sharing Culture - photo from "The Kodja Place
All Australians are migrants – including the Aboriginal people, but their's is a level of occupation of thousands of years compared to the meagre 200 years of European and other nationalities.
As I know my community, I will use it as an example. When British settlers arrived in this area they shared it with the Noongar people (Aboriginal name for our local people) for nearly seventy years. However even then, there were others wandering through the area. Then in the 1890’s things began to change. Italian settlers began to arrive. This population increased early in the new century after the Italian Consul visited the areas and recommended it to his people. We have a great local story of the Italians and Noongar people working together – and teaching each other swear words in each other language – no doubt to try out on their British bosses! Slowly these Italians were able to buy their own farms and build a Catholic Church to give them spiritual and social identity.
Other early workers to the area were some Chinese who were employed by a large Estate to clear the land. There are still remnants from their settlement and a dam called China Dam which is on the Municipal Inventory as a place of significance.
There are people from the Netherlands, Germany, parts of Russia, Hungary and Scandinavia – all having to learn English and somehow fit in the community away from others of their cultural group.
In our town the most recent group of migrants are Maori New Zealanders. They have come with their families to fill in the employment needs as shearers and in other work. Several have intermarried with Noongar people and others and are beginning to become part of the community as well.
Other communities have different groups – our neighbouring town has a large population of people from Christmas Island who have built their own mosque and share their culture in a festival each year. Broome also has a festival celebrating their Chinese heritage.
Why do I write about such things? Perhaps it is a concern I have that there is a perception among some policy makers that in most rural towns only Aboriginal or people of British origin are in residence- that there is not the diversity of cultures and a need for suitable infrastructural assistance for these people. Just as we all still need to learn the cultural mores of our Noongar people, we also need for our education system, medical system, law enforcement officers and churches to be educated in the cultural mores of other groups – so that we can work and live with understanding towards one other. Perhaps this recognition will help to break down the real prejudices that still exist in some pockets of the community.
However developing personal relationships and friendships could do more to unite any community. So, when we hear the old “them and us” comments we can confidently stand up and say “You are talking about my friend”
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