I have only limited understanding of ‘The Dreaming’ despite listening to and reading Indigenous explanations of how fundamental ‘The Dreaming’ is in Indigenous culture. I don’t well appreciate what it means to be ‘on Country’ except that it is deep attachment to ancestral land. I don’t really have an Indigenous view of ‘Mob’ and how it binds cultural groups together, nor of the taboos that apply within and between Indigenous people.
But all these, and more, are fundamental to Indigenous culture. I’m hoping that if we have a successful Voice referendum that these Indigenous concepts become part of our national identity in recognition of the occupation of this land by Indigenous people for many thousands of years. I think more understanding of these concepts, and many others, would enable us to understand how best to work with Indigenous people on all the areas of concern identified in ‘Closing the Gap’ reports.
There is a mountain of reading material available on how to improve Indigenous health. One study that sticks in my mind is about how a particular clinic was not having much success with helping Indigenous men because they were reluctant to attend a clinic and sit in a waiting room where women were also seeking medical assistance. It was culturally confronting. No sooner did the practice establish separate areas for women and men than many more men sought treatment, and were receiving much improved outcomes. That included fuller consultations and check-ups with a view to early intervention.
This sort of grassroots change has been happening for some time now, well before any moves to establish a ‘Voice’. And of course it’s about how medical services are delivered not necessarily about law-making.
So what’s the value of a Voice to parliament? The Voice, with its constitutional basis, means that there is the mechanism for such cultural awareness to be applied when any laws impacting Indigenous people are in contemplation by government. Australia has accepted that Indigenous people have the right to be heard on matters that affect them under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, but Australia has been a laggard in implementing those rights. So it’s catch-up time.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
