What is the one most important idea or experience that you have discovered in the writings of indigenous authors (other than Kim Scott) or in the writings of authors about the indigenous experience
The pain of loss, disconnection, change, disrespect and heartbreak are beautifully communicated through the use of poetic language in the poem, We are Going, written by Oodegeroo Noonuccal. It is very rare to find a piece of writing, whether a story, document or poem based on the experience that the Indigenous Australians went through without feeling an empathic response toward the people. This poem, communicates a sense of deep connection with the land through the use of personifying the land – to themselves. that is, “we are the corroboree and the bora ground… the bora ring is gone… the corroboree is gone”, saying that they are the corroboree and the bora ground shows how they are one with the land. and now that is gone, so are they.
Through reading this poem, i believe the greatest experience can be a tragedy – to lose ones self because the physical land remains but the spiritual connection does not. They way in which the author has written with a soft tone allows the ready to feel empathic toward Indigenous Inhabitants of the land, allowing a deeper understanding of what they went through and that some are still going through. Although i believe that we, in today’s day and age can never truly understand their specific pain of losing themselves, we can come closer with poem written as elegantly as this one.