Shooting Stars Chairperson, Dr Glenda Kickett says all Australians have a part to play in Healing Country.
This year’s NAIDOC Week Theme, Heal Country calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.
“I really love the theme for NAIDOC this year because it really speaks to what we say, which is that if you heal Country, you heal people,” said Kickett.
“In order for us to heal, all Australians need to get an understanding of the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in this country and understand how we relate to the land and everything in it, everything is interconnected.”
Kickett explained the importance of truth telling in the healing process.
“We have to acknowledge the past to understand the present, and to move forward in the future, and it’s not just me saying that as an Aboriginal person, if you read any articles by renowned historians, they outline truth telling as a big part of healing.”
Acknowledging the increased focus in this space, Kickett believes there is still a long way to go.
“There’s been a lot of discussion with The Uluru Statement of the Heart, the constitutional reform and having representation in parliament but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Kickett.
“Canadian Activist, Cindy Blackstock, talks about this invisible racism and invisible colonialism and this is what we deal with every day, in the way things are done, the way we are represented and the way we are told to be patient, all because we want a voice in Parliament, and we want equality.”
Over the years Kickett has noticed a shift in the general public which gives her hope.
“Through the work I’ve been doing and the committees I’ve been on, I’ve met a lot of non-Indigenous people who are willing to walk this pathway with us and to be part of this journey,” said Kickett.
“It gives me hope for the future and that there are people out there that want to help make change and that’s really important moving forward.”
A Director on the Shooting Stars Board since 2016, Kickett touched on the importance of supporting the younger generations to see culture as a strength.
“I think it’s really important, Shooting Stars’ focus on strengthening the girl’s connection to cultural identity,” said Kickett.
“I also love that it’s a program that accepts everyone. The participants are empowered to achieve their own personal version of success, they aren’t expected to achieve beyond their measure or beyond their capacity and the program supports them on this journey.”
“I just wish Shooting Stars was around when I was a young girl, because it was really hard.”
Shooting Stars is committed to closing the education gap for Aboriginal girls and aims to change the inequalities by challenging the systems and institutions that disempower them.
