Culture Check: Ella Fox // A Voice For Generations To Come

Meet Ella J. Fox. She simply describes herself as a student and a Bidjara and Waka Waka woman, though I would call her a voice and role model for the young Aboriginal generations to come.

"My Country" by Anna Petyarre

Stigma upon, stigma upon, stigma. The "negative stereotypes and assumptions about Aboriginal people..." as Ella describes it, has built a wall between the cohesion of the people and their culture. Aboriginal people have been left with a void that envelopes their lives. This seclusion and "cultural disconnect" from their roots is an emotion deeply felt through all Indigenous people, and stems from the loss of "traditions, and values... because of colonisation and the stolen generation."

"Culture is apart of me, it affects every part of my life."

To Ella, and many others, who wish to continue the legacy of her people, her "...culture is apart of [her], it affects every part of [her] life." It is the very essence of her identity. Though this void will not be the definition of her courageous people, but a new beginning of healing for the generation to come. Ella calls for hope, light and new horizons. "...Our people are survivors, and that we can achieve amazing things... we need to continue to break stereotypes and boundaries that are constantly put on our culture."

For Indigenous people their journey has been long, tiresome and built on their patience and utter endurance for the hope and outcome of reconciliation. The reflection "Dadirri" by Miriam Rose Ungunmerr affirms this notion stating that (Ungunmerr, 1988),

"My people are used to the struggle, and the long waiting. We wait for the white people to understand us better. We ourselves had to spend many years learning about the white man's ways... We have listened to what he has to say. This learning and listening should go both ways. We would like people in Australia to take the time to listen to us. We are hoping people will come closer. We keep on hoping longing for the things we have always hoped for - respect and understanding..."

"Our Aboriginal culture has taught us to be still and to wait. We do not try to hurry things up. We let them follow their natural course - like the seasons... When twilight comes, we prepare for the night. At dawn we rise with the sun... We own our grief and allow it to heal slowly... We don't mind waiting because we want things to be done with care..."

"The time for re-birth is now. If our culture is alive and strong and respected it will grow. It will not die and our spirit will not die..."

Ella will become a leader of her culture's re-birth and a voice to her people. She hopes to bring about this new horizon of growth, reconciliation and understanding through education. "Learning more about my culture and becoming more involved in my culture is something that's really close to heart."

"Learning more about my culture and becoming more involved in my culture is something that's really close to heart."

For it is through cultural education, that the people of the Bidjara tribe rejoice for the returning of their land. For it is through cultural education that the people of the Waka Waka tribe keep their language alive. It is through cultural education that understanding, change and respect will come into fruition. These small actions bring about a great change, and are steps into the future. A future that will establish the long awaited healing of Indigenous people. For "Every step towards reconciliation counts!"

References

Ungunmerr, M., 1988. Dadirri. [ebook] Available at: <http://www.dadirri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Dadirri-Inner-Deep-Listening-M-R-Ungunmerr-Bauman-Refl1.pdf> [Accessed 26 April 2020].