Living Dead: A Yolngu Experience of Disempowerment

By

Tim Trudgen

Posted in: Aboriginal Communities

 

This is a short video that describes living as a Yolngu person in a remote community in Australia. It is a story that the rest of us rarely hear expressed so clearly. Dianne, the speaker in this video has found a degree of insight into the mechanisms disempowering her own community, that many of us will never achieve. Dianne directs this message to the Dominant Culture people, in order that you might understand better the day to day experience of Yolŋu. But she does not stop there, coming out of questions I raised with her she goes on to explain the kind of support that is required from the Dominant Culture, to help change this situation.

About Tim Trudgen

Timothy Trudgen has worked closely with Indigenous people from North East Arnhem Land (Yolngu), Northern Territory Australia, since 2001. Today he works as a Cross-cultural educator, and as an Enterprise Faciliator to help Yolngu develop their economic and social endevours. He speaks Djambarrpuyŋu and has been adoped into this clan nation through his father, who has over 35 years experience in the region. Tim has qualifications in Biological science and Anthropolgy, and is the Managing Director of Why Warriors Pty Ltd.

3 Comments

1. Laine Barclay

   Posted September 18, 2010 at 6:53 PM

   I wish I had these words to talk to my Non Indigenous peers. It seems so easy to me, I hear what is said and I want to support Aboriginal people in becoming empowered. Why do those from the dominant culture find it so difficult to understand. When I am feeling disempowered,(in my work place), I experience symptoms such as depression, anger, distorted perception and thinking, why would Aboriginal people be any different?
   Lets stop this systemic abuse of the sovereign owners of the land we prosper from and call our own.
   Laine

2. Primordial

   Posted April 12, 2011 at 11:21 AM

   Been waiting a while for your next blog brother.

3. Alesha

   Posted December 21, 2011 at 1:08 PM

   Just read your post Laine and kind of feel sad for you, there is nothing you can do to empower anyone, you can, if anything support someone to become self empowered, there will always be those who push you down, put you down trample on you, it is how we overcome these things were the real key lies….mean passion bro, you and your father, na mihi nui kia korua…